Do you have funny stories of things that a frustrated provider will say...especially if it really mirrors what you are feeling at the moment?
Here is one that stands in my brain when I first became an LPN in 2006. Was working in the Coumadin clinic. This clinic functions 5 days a week to keep up with the enormous demand of monitoring their INRs and dosages, especially since this medication has counter reactions to many drugs. Many of the patients truly take advantage of this by not showing up for their appointments, but coming in at the last minute when we are about to close saying that they have no more medications, they missed their last appointment because they drank, went out of town, or numerous frustrating and inconvienent demands.
The Physician Assistant assigned to work in this clinic usually takes measures to have a stress free day by setting up jazz music to relax him (many of the patients enjoy this), using colors to help relax himself and many other new agey things. Strange fellow, but is usually a likable guy. He told me at 3:55pm, after a very frustrating day of seeing 40 patients (we really have slots for about 27 on a full day) not to take anyone else in, especially walk ins. As soon as he says this, and closes the door, a patient strolls in -one of them that always does this (this clinic ends at 5:00pm). I sort of stuttered when she came in, because I knew what mood this guy was in, and she said she didn't have medication. I slowly went to his exam room and told him that another patient arrived, stating that she had no more meds, had not had any in over a week. Well, Mr. Cool walks over to the patient and says "What do you want from me...blood?? Do you want my soul?? Do you want me to just lay down and DIE
???" The patient looked shocked out of her mind (of course). I had to close my door because I could not stifle my laugh
, and when I did, I had literal tears coming down my eyes, looking at this man at his wit's end, asking and really wanting an answer from this poor woman. After choking for a few minutes, I told the patient to sit down, and went to the PA, took him to his room, and had to tell him that he needed to calm down.
I know that this patient does this religiously...in spite of all of the talks people have had with her regarding adherence to her appointments, medication dosages and time management. It is annoying. Each time she walks in, she demands service with a smile, not caring who she cuts in front of, and makes scenes that make a reality show producer cringe with shame. In other words, the man said just what I was thinking, but knew it was not therapeutic to say, but for a moment in time, it made me feel good. He did see the patient, by the way. And when the visit was over, she still looked shell shocked. She also still comes days or weeks later, with no appointment, but she is more humble now. And, this man still listens to his jazz and new age music with different colors flashing. I guess he just had his moment, and he gave me mine.
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Yeah...I plan to build a marble statue of him...he really made my day!
Funny, funny, funny!!!
