[Megsd]

I thought this was hilarious.. hopefully others will too.

I work on a neuro step-down unit, so we deal a lot with people who aren't in their right minds for one reason or another. Most of the ancillary staff realize this is part of dealing with neuro patients, and they are prepared.

Anyway, I had a pt who had a massive stroke and is completely aphasic, but she is alert and is able to move all 4 extremities. She was on a heparin drip and needed a stat APTT drawn.

I got a phone call while I was in another pt's room, which went something like this:
Lab: "Um, hi. I'm trying to draw this APTT from 27B, and she's totally ignoring me. She didn't even acknowledge me when I came in the room and she won't even tell me her name!"
Me: "Well, that pt had a stroke and is aphasic. So.. she's not going to say anything."
Lab: "Well. The LEAST she could do is tell me her name."
Me: ".... she had a stroke. She can't talk. She can't tell you her name."
Lab: "Well I can't draw her blood until she tells me her name. So do you want me to draw this blood or not?"
Me: "Yes, she needs the blood drawn. But she can't speak."
Lab: "Fine, whatever. "

I've never had anyone be so insulted by an aphasic pt!

[MeghanRN]

Oh..my..

LOL!

How Rude of the aphasic pt not to tell the lab her name!!! How else are they supposed to draw blood, by just looking at the nameband??

Hehehe..wow..some people..

[grace90]

hmmmm..... must've been a new phlebotomist, wonder if she's ever had to draw a sedated, vented pt in ICU?

[Megsd]

Yeah, this woman had been getting blood draws every 6 hours for 4 days, and not one lab tech had called me to tell me how rude my pt was until now.

I wonder if she does go to the ICU if those nurses will get calls like "Um, can't your patient take that tube out of their mouth for just a minute to tell me their name and birthday?"

[grace90]

Originally Posted by Megsd

Yeah, this woman had been getting blood draws every 6 hours for 4 days, and not one lab tech had called me to tell me how rude my pt was until now.

I wonder if she does go to the ICU if those nurses will get calls like "Um, can't your patient take that tube out of their mouth for just a minute to tell me their name and birthday?"

:

[Altra]

I see the humor ... but I also would have been ******. ****** at the incredibly unaware phlebotomist, and ****** at the dept. manager that hired him/her.

[nrsang97]

This person needs to get a grip on reality. To think that the pt was ignoring her on purpose.

I have had the following conversation with CT one night at a previous job.

Me: "I am sending Mrs.Smith down for a stat CT head r/o CVA. How fast can you send transport?"

CT: "Mrs.Smith had a CT head yesterday which was negative and she dosen't need another CT".

ME: "Yes she does. She is now non responsive from being alert x3 and following commands." "Again I am sending her now!"

CT: "Will she cooperate and lay still?"

ME: (banging my head into the wall) "I just told you she is non responsive." "Of course she will cooperate."

CT: "If she won't be cooperative you will need to medicate her."

ME: (crazy look in my eyes and ready to throw the phone across the room) "Listen THE PT ISN"T RESPONSIVE!!!"

CT: "Well then medicate her and we will do her scan now."

ME: (exasperated) "Ok fine she will have your undivided attention and cooperation, the pt is on her way."

CT: "Ok fine."

Later pt returns with CT result on front of chart. MASSIVE CEREBELLAR CVA. I was wanting to scream. I ended up coding that pt later that night.

Reading the OP 's story made me remember this. I also see the humor but also the major frustration we all feel when someone has NO common sense what so ever.

[grace90]

Our lab has a nasty habit of deciding pts don't need certain labs drawn so they can make their job easier. I've had them draw stat labs over an hour after ordered despite multiple phone reminders, or timed heparin aPTTs 2 hours late.

I had a TPN pt that a calcium of 13. Of course, internal medicine ordered a stat redraw. Not re-running of the lab, he meant a re-DRAW.

Lab called up and argued that they had re-ran the lab a few times and it came up the same, so it didn't need to be re-draw. I argued with them and then so did a veteran co-worker.

They made a big stink but then came up and re-drew her. I should have asked them where they got their medical licenses.

[Jessiedog]

I now work in a private clinic, and while nowhere near as stressful as the hospital I just left, it does have it's moments.

We had a lady brought in by ambulance after 'fainting' at the local supermarket. We did the usual workup, including an ECG, which showed inverted T-Waves and probable AMI. The attending doc asked us to call an ambulance and have her transferred to A&E for treatment. The phone call went something like this:

Me "Hi, we have an elderly female patient we need transferred stat because of a probable AMI"

Ambo "OK, what's her details, and your address" (details given)

Ambo "So, she's got chest pain."

Me "No, no pain, but she's showing ECG changes."

Ambo "What kind of changes"

Me "Our GP has seen her, and is certain she's had an AMI, and needs transfer to the hospital."

Ambo "OK, so she's got chest pain."

Me. "NO chest pain, but a diagnosed AMI"

Ambo "What's her past history?"

Doctor (standing on my other side) "Her history doesn't matter, she needs transfer NOW!"

Me "The doctor wants a stat transfer"

Ambo "Ok, so chest pain. What medications is she on?"

Me "Just wait, I'll check her history"

Doctor "It doesn't matter what medications she's on, I want her transferred NOW!"

Me "Can you get someone here to transport this lady?"

Ambo "How bad is her chest pain?"

Me (In despair) "Chest pain is 8 out of 10, radiating down left arm. I will have her history and medications printed out for you when you get here.

Ambo "OK, be there as soon as I can find a team."

Transfer team arrived 6 minutes later. Boy!!!