Exhaustion bloopers

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

So I finished night shift on Monday morning. Strangest night ever............had to give a delierous man a bucket of water to clean his windows! (window cleaner by trade) once he cleaned it he settled. And 2 patients decided at 4 AM that they wanted to self discharge. Admitted a 200kg (440 lbs) man on spinal precautions and waiting on a hemi arthroplasty (called him as ASA 4 correctly).

Went home having not eaten and craving eggs from my local cafe. Went there, people on either side of me complaining about nurses - me in scrubs with my hospital fleece on. Both tables noticed about the same time that I was a nurse and went silent............... I don't care I have my eggs! And the hospital that they were talking about is a hellhole.

went to bed got 3 hours sleep thanks to the neighbors new yappy little dog that is so stressed at being home alone.

Went back for an arvo shift today. eyeballs hanging out of my head with exhaustion. Had to ring the surgical registrar about a crazy patient that needed to be discharged and he refused to go without speaking to the surgeons - who had spoken to him an hour earlier. Rang him up spoke to him, he said he would be up. for some reason finished the conversation with the words, "OK, great, see you soon, LOVE YOU". WHAT??????????? In front of my NUM, 4 security guards and 2 consumer liaison officers, one who was dealing with the aforementioned pt and various staff members

I do love my registrars but not that I tell them that! he arrived to the ward and came up to me and said "K+MgSO4, I like you too, but I am happily married! please don't make me uncomfortable" Then he burst out laughing!

I then got a call from the bed manager stating what I thought that I would never hear "we can move you medical boarders off your ward to their home wards." confirmed that I did hear that. Yes. I then called 3 different wards and handed over the wrong pt to each of them until they all corrected me. I then sent 2 of them to the wrong wards again!

I then got an admission from ED. Pulled up the ED enotes, and read the statement "bathtub vs big toe". At this point I thought that I had lost the plot! But no, true. But try explaining that to the nurse that you just sent on 2 wild goose chases with patients. My poor nurse, he was my grad a few years back and thinks I am a bit nutty anyway! He took me into the tea room sat me on the couch and said "there, there you are sleep deprived. Have a little break and a nap."

sleep deprivation is BAD!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just wanted to say this post made me laugh! I have done the "I love you" thing to -- I just tried to pass it off as if it hadn't happened. :laugh:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

At times when I'm tired and I've let my guard down, I have called some "hon" and "darlin". Catches folk off guard! LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Funny post! Hope you get plenty of rest. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Introduced a doctor to a patient...except that I used the wrong doctor's name and inadvertently gave the doc a gender-change. Fortunately, said doctor laughed it off.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your story, that was great.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Just wanted to say this post made me laugh! I have done the "I love you" thing to -- I just tried to pass it off as if it hadn't happened. :laugh:

We had a nurse do the "I love you" bit to one of the docs. With a completely straight face he replied, "I love you too." The rest of us were hysterically laughing.

He was a good sport about it. So was she. All of us--including the nurse who said it--spent the entire day saying "I love you" to each other and giggling. I'm sure the patients thought we, and not they, were the ones that should have been admitted to the unit ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I Was talking to the doctor asking for clarification regarding SCDs and multi podia boots. His response was "yes, she has STDs" and after an overnight shift, the inner 12 year old came out and I burst into fits of giggles.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

"Went back for an arvo shift today. eyeballs hanging out of my head with exhaustion. Had to ring the surgical registrar about a crazy patient that needed to be discharged and he refused to go without speaking to the surgeons - who had spoken to him an hour earlier. Rang him up spoke to him, he said he would be up. for some reason finished the conversation with the words, "OK, great, see you soon, LOVE YOU". WHAT??????????? In front of my NUM, 4 security guards and 2 consumer liaison officers, one who was dealing with the aforementioned pt and various staff members

I do love my registrars but not that I tell them that! he arrived to the ward and came up to me and said "K+MgSO4, I like you too, but I am happily married! please don't make me uncomfortable" Then he burst out laughing!"

I am sorry you had such a night...but this had laughing hard....LOL.....like, big OOPS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

Great story, thanks for sharing. Love ya, I mean loved it :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.

Made me laugh out loud!!! Heres hoping you got some sleep!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

and i bet money, GOOD money, that the toe .vs. tub got narcs! lmao.. had to say it! sorry

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment