Having a celebrity as a patient

uswoman · Nov 5, 2012

I once took care of a locally famous person who hosted a children's show, for many years. He had had CABG. I was on nightshift, a busy one, and answered his call light. He opened one eye and said, "So what do you want to be when you grow up?" I could only stammer , "A nurse, I guess." That's all he wanted and I was a little peeved that he wasted my time. And no, there wasn't anything "therapeutic" to do; he was known for wanting attention and acting like the nurses were his personal attendents. I've also had some locally famous business people and have found them to be the nicest people with nice families. One received so many flowers - and he had us give many of the arrangements to other patients, which really was nice.

JustCheckin' · Nov 5, 2012

I have not had a celebrity yet....cant wait to get to take care of one!!!!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

Have had children of royal families in the Middle East and children/grandchildren of celebrities on my hospital floor. I don't think I ever personally took care of them but it was always annoying to see how the hospital pandered to these people.

mariebailey, MSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

I gave a celebrity's kiddo a shot once...a true privilege.

amoLucia · Nov 5, 2012

I never had a VIP pt, myself, but a girlfriend nurse did. She was a VERY important VIP pt. MY girlfriend cracked me up with "well, she had holes in her underwear too".

suga_junkie, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

I was still a student and doing a rotation on L & D. I was spending the morning in theatre watching Caesarians. That day we happened to have a rather infamous (d/t drugs, scandal etc) ex-football star's partner giving birth. He was present, of course. Was rather surreal watching their baby being born, I watched his face, he was clearly awestruck at the birth of his first child. He was quite humble and friendly, to our surprise, joking around with staff. It was his partner who was a bit strange. Afterwards on the ward, he even asked another student and I to help him give his baby it's first bath! His whole family was there watching, we chatted to them, they were proud and friendly also. The magazine spreads that followed claimed he'd "turned his life around" etc etc now that he had a child. I had hoped so. Unfortunately it wasn't long until more drug scandals occured. I was so sad, he had been so excited to be a father. Just shows the terrible hold a drug addiction can have over someone

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

Anyone ever had a celebrity as a patient or a celebrity in your place of work? Please share any information if possible. Did you experience any problems because they were there? ie. fans, phone calls, etc

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Many moons ago I had a well known celebrity that was brought in relation to a motor vehicle accident. Needless to say, most of the female staff were prepared to pay me top dollar just to let them give him a bath (grin). However, his entire entourage stayed 24/7 with him, which at times it made the most simple task impossible to perform. Having said that, he's back on the news for other reasons... Aloha~

wooh, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

Meh, a few. (Or kids of a few.) I'm not easily impressed. Only problem I've had is the very negative impression I got of someone that's quite idolized. When people are rambling on about how great he is, it's soooo hard to keep my mouth shut about what a loser he truly is.

monkeybug · Nov 5, 2012

Speaking of entourages, I always found it to get a little crowded in the rooms of inmates with all their guards!

I always hated having the jail patients in L&D. Part of me (the part that realized I was in a room with a violent con) wanted the guards to stay there, but the nurse part of me wanted them to get out to give the patient some dignity. Amazingly, we rarely had female officers. I can remember one long labor where the medical student's sole job was to hold up a sheet at the foot of the bed to provide privacy.

KbmRN, ADN · Nov 5, 2012

I delivered Jay-Z.

wooh, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

You're Jay-Z's mom?

netglow, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2012

In private practice (I wasn't a nurse) we had football and hockey players, a high-up presidential staff person, a well known writer, etc. They all were pretty normal. Only, one or two of the wives were a little disrespectful in that they'd no show, and when I'd call to check up on them they'd say stuff like: Oh, I decided to go canoeing today instead... Oh, I am having lunch with friends now... no apology or oops I forgot to call you and cancel -- just more like: I'm busy now...

My doc was such a fanboy though that he'd never charge them no show.