Patients have some crazy requests sometime

[MScott1851]

I agree.. Until you've walked a mile in our shoes and had your rear-end handed to you on a plate three hundred times in one night, don't DARE to criticize...

I work my butt off every night while I'm at work and do my very best to make sure that each patient gets my undivided attention and the optimum care possible. I leave exhausted and in tears many mornings because I am just worn out. I do my best to make sure that both patients and families know what is happening, and what they can expect. But when the frequent flier patient who has been in the ER 83 times in four months comes in by ambulance AGAIN c/o chest pain, shortness of breath, etc, and the first words out of their mouth are "Can I get a tray? What about something for pain? Is Dr. So and So here? He ALWAYS gives me Dilaudid." and then you see them walking outside to talk on their cell phone and smoke as soon as your back is turned, you get a little jaded.

So everyone who feels like giving us grief because we are trying to vent and share a little humor, lighten up! I bet you money that most people wouldn't last two days up to their elbows in bedpans and drug-seekers..

While we're at it: My LEAST favorite thing: People who go on the internet and diagnose themselves, and then if the ER doc or nurse doesn't agree with them, they get mad....

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Look I'm not trying to be rude but what is the saying, "Unless you've walked a day in my shoes" I've been called every name of obscenity under the sun by patients and family, I've had to be a monitor of family arguements, the doctors attitude that they are better than me, getting upset because we(nurses) call them in the middle of the night about their patients. " hello thats why you became a doctor and live in a $600,000 home" Deal with it, its your patient. I've seen nurses screamed at by doctors for something that wasn't their fault in the hallway for all to see. I've even had to help break up a fist fight by 2 family members in the hospital hallway. And these people I'm sure we are talking about are not ICU patients most on this thread are post-partum patients who can do and should do for themselves. Granted, your situation with your grandmother was an example of a bad nurse and you did the right thing. But this is just a sad example of the crap we have to deal with, and one of the reasons among many many many others why men and woman do not want to go into the nursing profession. I know plenty of nurses who work retail or sell real estate now because they just couldn't stand nursing any longer. I work 1 day a week doing home care now and love it. But if I was younger and knew back then what I know now I definetly would have done something different.

 

[chrisney]

Sorry, I have to jump in here. Memories are just too fresh. My son was in a very highly recognized hospital less than a month ago to have a colostomy reversed. As soon as you walked in the door there were numerous awards posted, listing it as one of the "top five" in various areas. His physician care was wonderful. The nursing care.....abysmal. To the point that I stayed with him overnight. At the age of 21, he hadn't wanted that, however he agreed quickly that it was necessary.
Examples? Sure. The first time he needed to use the restroom (after our relief that the surgery had worked) we called down for a nurse to assist him BECAUSE HE HAD NOT BEEN UP OUT OF THE BED YET and was still attached to numerous devices. After 25 minutes, and another call, I went down to the station. I was informed that they DID have other patients. Sorry, my response was that at that moment, my son should be attended to.
His pain management was via epidural, a very smart decision because it worked magnificently. Except for the time that the nursing staff didn't check to be sure that the bag still had any medication in it before coaching him to use visualization to help with pain control. That took a visit from the anesthestitist (darn, know that's not spelled right) and something like three bolus' of pain meds to get under control. On the next shift, a nurse showed us how to reset the alarms on his pumps because they kept going off and we would call down to have them checked. We did it, but did it occur to them that we might be prolonging a problem situation that they would then be unaware of?
We don't expect to be waited on. I brought my own sheets from home for the rollaway. I asked where the ice machine was as well as where I could grab a chux to help maintain his bed. I never used the restroom in his room, and never requested help when we could do it ourselves. In return, we rarely saw a nurse.
I find this situation very sad. My mother was a nurse, my sister-in-law is a nurse and I think they would find the situation even sadder.

 

[MScott1851]

There are always going to be examples of bad nursing care. It's the same with any profession. There are good teachers, and there are bad teachers, etc, etc. But the truth remains that the majority of us truly try to do our very best and make sure all our patients are happy and safe. I can assure you that where I work, the squeaky wheel will definitely get the grease. If you think you are being treated poorly, SAY SOMETHING! Even if your nurse is a dud, some of her co-workers might not be, and will help you...

 

[pw2pp]

Okay, let's get this thread back to the funny, light-hearted thread that it started out as. Here's mine:
One of my fellow nurses had a woman who she put on the bedpan tell her she needed for the nurse to press on her cl*toris in order for her to be able to urinate.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

I think what bothers me the most about this thread is the attitudes and sarcastic remarks. The title implies that patients and their families are "idiotic". That is a strong word.

You are laughing and making fun of your patients on a public message board. What if someone started a "What is the most idiotic thing you've ever seen a nurse do" thread. You'd be right there defending yourselves. Like it or not, you are there to serve the patients.

I was a teacher before I had my daughter and I would never think to start a thread about idiotic students or parents. Lke it or not, I was there to serve those students and parents.

BTW, I give my full respect and gratitude to the great nurses I have come across as a patient and a family member.

 

[AZKathy]

I think the OP was just trying to share some fun and silly things that have happened in our line of work. You may be offended by idiotic word, and I am sure that the OP never meant to offend people. I don't think that this thread was supposed to be 'Lets bash nurses", either.

I, too, have had a horrendous experience with the medical field with the care my FIL had and did not have last year prior to his premature demise. And I say PREMATURE. I was horrified at what what happening to him and we, as his representatives, intervened the best way we could. I was ashamed to be part of the medical field with what happened. I will not go into the problems, but let's say we have filed many complaints to the proper authorities about this. Unfortunately, we cannot do more that this. So, I do have a bitter taste in my mouth with the medical profession (and nearing the one year anniversary of his death, I am reliving all the terrible care he received all over again!), but I am not letting my bitterness interfere and HIJACK this thread that was supposed to be light and funny. Yo wanna hear idiotic things nurses do...okay here ya go. One of the nurses I work with came out of the lavatory with one of those toilet seat covers stuck to her behind; it got stuck and she did not know that. She walked out down the hall until finally someone said something to her. She was terribly embarrassed. Okay, are you happy?

So, why don't we just gab a little bit and have some fun sharing things and turn this thread around to where it was supposed to be by the OP.

 

[pw2pp]

maybe you picked the wrong profession.

Well maybe you picked the wrong thread to be on.

I think this thread was meant to be light-hearted and humorus. If it offends you so much, maybe you shouldn't click on it (over and over).
Life is too short to not laugh once in awhile.
I sure am glad that I have a sense of humor.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

Originally posted by AZKathy
Yo wanna hear idiotic things nurses do...okay here ya go. One of the nurses I work with came out of the lavatory with one of those toilet seat covers stuck to her behind; it got stuck and she did not know that. She walked out down the hall until finally someone said something to her. She was terribly embarrassed. Okay, are you happy?

.

Well,no. That was not about how well she performed her job or not.

BTW, I've seen posters on the Dis say some light-hearted and funny things about celebrities on the Dis and goodstarr (the op0, was appalled. I guess it's ok it ridicule your patients though.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

Originally posted by MScott1851

While we're at it: My LEAST favorite thing: People who go on the internet and diagnose themselves, and then if the ER doc or nurse doesn't agree with them, they get mad....

Yep, this was the same attitude I got from the nurses about my grandmother, but as it turned out, I was right.

 

[m&m's mom]

This thread clearly is labeled for Nurses!!!
They should have a forum to release the frustration they must experience.
Have at it and ignore the others that want to turn it into their commentary on the nursing profession.
I am getting a kick out of reading the medical professionals comments.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

Originally posted by m&m's mom
This thread clearly is labeled for Nurses!!!
They should have a forum to release the frustration they must experience.
B]

That's nice. However, this is a public forum. Maybe they should find one that is strictly for nurses.

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by Disney's Deluxe Princess
Well,no. That was not about how well she performed her job or not.

BTW, I've seen posters on the Dis say some light-hearted and funny things about celebrities on the Dis and goodstarr (the op0, was appalled. I guess it's ok it ridicule your patients though.]

Want one about performing job. Okay, here goes. This same nurse and I started in the OR at the same time; we were in our early 20's. One surgeon asked the nurse for something that did not exist as a joke; this poor nurse ran out of the room to find this bizarre thing frantically looking for it to find out that he sent her out on a wild goose chase. There you go! You may not understand the joke in this, but she was horrified at first that she was the brunt of a joke, but then realized that was just an initiation into the operating room silliness.

I don't think anything that has been said before has shown ridicule except maybe calling someone an old fart. Well, I call my DH an old fart sometimes! None of us are trying to ridicule anyone. There are things that happen while we are working that are funny and silly and sometimes outright weird. I think that is where the OP started this thread out for. No one is here to ridicule anyone. And, you know what? Sometimes, we get a little jaded with the oddness of people...that is normal human reaction. It is one way to maintain our sanity.

 

[lilallybean]

I have been a nurse in a mental hospital for almost 10 years now. I worked as an aide in the same hosp for 3 years while going to school. During that time I have met some great nurses who have taught me more than I could ever have learned from a book. Number one lesson treat each patient as if you would want your Mother to be treated if that was her in their place. Number two, pain is always an emergency. Number three, humor does the heart and soul a world of good. There have been some nasty posts on this thread and it is so sad. There are always bad examples in an profession. We all have surely had a bad mechanic, bad waiter, etc. I have to say that some of the 'nurses' posting here even worry me. We must have gone to different schools. I enjoy my job and my patients. I think it shows in the work I do and the respect that I have earned from MOST of my patients. There are the rare ones that are very difficult to deal with, but Istill deal with them and ask for help when needed. I have had my jaw broke by a violent patient, and been thrown against a door by another. I have been bit, spit at, and cursed. Still this is the job I picked. I love it and will stay with it. The rewards outway the bad.

My funny story: I had a patient who insisted that I was his wife. He told me and the other staff that he KNEW I had six toes on my left foot and that one toe was neon green. That would prove that I was his wife. I had to go in front of the entire team and the patient, take my socks and shoes off to prove that I was not his gal. Got lots more, working in a mental hosp is never dull!

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

lilallybean, you sound like a wonderful nurse. I like your funny story too because you did not laugh at patients who are only asking for your help. That's what bothers me.

 

[ckmommy]

Let me start out by saying that I am not a nurse, and would NEVER want the job ya'll have. I hate most gross smells (throw up), and have to call DH to come home if one of the kids is throwing up. I would never do well at your job! I have a few stories that more than likely sent a few nurses home laughing or thinking me or my DH was really stupid!

Story #1: After the birth of our first baby, my DH laid down in the hospital bed and fell asleep. I was sitting on the couch (2 hours PP) and looking at my DD w/ my mom. LOVING LIFE!!! The nurse came in and yelled at my DH to get up, if he needed to sleep he should go home! We all just laughed, but got a picture of DH in the bed before he "got caught!"

Story #2: I hate HATE needles! With baby # 2 I had to have a c-section. I was deathly afraid of getting a spinal. The nurse (and I still love her for it) got me a numbing patch for my back. It was something that they use for BABIES (yes, that was me) who have to get stuck a lot. It worked really well. I never felt the stick! I am sure the nurse went home and had a great laugh about her patient (me) that night.

Story # 3: Again, I HATE needles. I needed another section with the twins, this hospital only gives epidurals for c-sections. I asked the nurse for the numbing patch that I had with baby #2. She had no idea what I was talking about. She did find something, but it did not work. The epidural did not take. Tried a second time--nothing. My Dh had to leave when they do shots of anysort, so the nurse had to deal with my whining. SORRY!! I warned her though. After the second epidural did not take, they decided to do a spinal. Great ONE MORE needle. Get to the OR. Do the spinal. Takes no problem, except I go crazy! Maybe you nurses know, but does a spinal make you go MAD? I thought I was going to be sick--Which I hate, felt clausterphobic -sp- scary. couldn't breathe--normal, I think, just plain wanting out of the whole section deal! Yes, for those 2 mins, I thought I could have stayed pregnant forever! When I stopped being crazy, I was sooooo embarassed! I tried apologizing up and down to everyone that was involved, but I still do not think they know how ashamed I was. I am sure that these nurses went home with a great story about me!!

Story #4: Gall Bladder went out on me! Had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. Shared room with an elderly lady who bit and kicked the nurses. I felt awful for the nurses. They ended up calling for a pshc. consult. She was MUCH better after that guy visited!

Hope I made some of you laugh at my stories. Maybe someone can help me with what to do during my next spinal???

 

[kozmo]

I am lucky too,i have always dealt with wonderful nurses and when a family member is in the hospital i bath them and do whatever i have to in order to care for their needs ,if a bag runs oot of medicine i will call for a nurse and have alwys been lucky,my best friend works at a hospital and i know of all the wacky requests they get and some are not even funny!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Fun and lighthearted for nurses, disheartening for patients to read. How sad to read that an OB nurse wouldn't help a patient care for a new baby because "what are you going to do when you take the baby home?" Obviously a nurse in the wrong department.

I've had wonderful nursing experiences, and I've had horrific ones. My 81 year old, VERY healthy, independent, active mother, just had spinal cord surgery (a tumor removed) Feb 4th in one of those "prestigious" Boston hospitals. Within a few days, she appeared almost paralyzed, and completely paralyzed on her right side. I arrived at the hospital to see her sitting in a chair, her body tipped over to the side, because she couldn't move herself to get herself back into an upright position, her foot hanging off a footstool because she couldn't lift it to put it back up, and she had no use of her right arm and hand. Mom was devastated that she had deteriorated to that point. They had done an MRI that morning, to see what was wrong. (Turned out to be swelling and the compressed spinal cord rebounding...no stroke, thank God.) And beside the sickening feeling I felt when I found her like that, she told me...as little as she could speak, she was so weak...that "Mary" (a.k.a. The *****) kept shoving her around and yelling at her..."sit there" "stay there" "lift your arm" "do this" "do that". I wanted to vomit.

I had had many other relatives visting over the weekend, but they had gone home by then; when I told them about Mary, they ALL guessed that she must be the one with the long gray hair in the pony tail. Never saw her crack a smile, never heard her say the simplest thing without a snarl. After the "shoving around" incident, I complained to the charge nurse, and she said that sometimes Mary gets frustrated when Mary thinks that a patient should do more for him/herself. Awww, shucks! Poor Mary! Well, screw Mary! If Mary has such a hard time dealing with elderly people and the effects of neurosurgery, then she needs to work with inmates or something. And from the roundabout excuses the charge nurse had, I'm sure I was labeled one of those "difficult" family members. And could Mary be here relaying stories about patients who want things done for them?

After that, "Mary" was no longer mom's nurse. However, she was the nurse for the woman in the next bed. The next day after I got Mary "fired", mom was in bed and couldn't reach her call button, and as Mary went past mom's bed, she asked Mary to hand it to her...Mary refused. A little revenge, no doubt. Maybe we should knickname her "Baby Jane."

And then there was Stephanie, who was otherwise a very nice, efficient, perky little thing. When she and a nurse's aid would move my mother up in her bed, they moved her about 18", very quickly, with my mother's neck, with the 5 inch incision, dropped back...it was excrutiating for her. Luckily, I was totally and completely exhausted, after days and days of 9 - 10 hours at the hospital, and only had enough energy to calmly tell her..."you know what Stephanie? My mom is fairly comfortable EXCEPT when you move her. Yesterday, my 13 year old daugher was here, and we moved my mother several times with minimal pain. It didn't take any more effort than you just did, to do it gently." And she agreed...while I was there, anyway.

There were a couple of AWESOME nurses over the 13 day hospitalization, most "good", and a few *****es.

My father died 6 years ago, and I'll always remember Jill and Bernie as WONDERFUL. But there were a couple of horrible nurses who made our painful loss that much more horrible...like my father was a piece of crap. I'll never forget how Bernie would comb his hair and stand back and make sure he looked nice, as if he was having dinner at the White House. She treated him as if he were a valued human being, which is more than I can say for some of them.

Mom's in rehab now, and I am impressed with every single person I've met there. Mom can't stop saying how nice they all are, how gentle and caring. Thank God.

(liallybean, you sound WONDERFUL. Funny story, too. )

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Fun and lighthearted for nurses, disheartening for patients to read. How sad to read that an OB nurse wouldn't help a patient care for a new baby because "what are you going to do when you take the baby home?" Obviously a nurse in the wrong department.

I agree. For the most part people in the hospital are very sick and feeling vulnerable. Whenever I am in that position I hate being dependent on strangers for personal care, and the thought that they secretly resent me or are running back to the desk to make fun of me is upsetting.

Yes, I'm sure there are some wacky people who carry it too far. But at the same time my guess would be that we all also have our share of hospital stories in which ourselves or a loved one was in incredible need - and the staff was simply non-responsive. In today's hospital climate, everything is so understaffed and the training just isn't nearly what it used to be.

btw - with all 3 of my deliveries the baby went to a Nurse while I needed to take care of things in the bathroom. I would have never felt comfortable leaving my baby unwatched -- I've seen way too many stolen baby movies on tv.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

Originally posted by MaryAnnDVC
Fun and lighthearted for nurses, disheartening for patients to read.

So very, very well said.