I Never Said That!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Can you guys help me? I am so upset and depressed I just don't know what to do!! Situation:

We have a resident, who is a hypochondriac. It is hard to tell if she is really sick, as she has cried wolf so many times. Anyways, she stayed in bed all day yesterday, nothing charted except she stayed in bed and had tray service. So I go with her supper pills and she's sitting up, in NAD, so I said that of she wanted her supper, it was on the table and she could come and get it. An hour later, family member comes and said he was taking her home for a few days as she is so upset because the nurse told her "get your a$$ out of bed and get upstairs, this isn't a goddamn restaurant." I was so shocked because I never said ANYTHING of that sort, and I told him I do not speak to people that way. He was like "whatever," so I went and told the resident in front of her family member that I did not say that, and she just said, "I don't want to talk about it." She was collapsing in his arms, carrying on....

So now what is my recourse? What do I do? I did not say such a thing and I know it will come down to my word against hers....she is "with it," and I am upset because she out and out lied, and I can get in trouble for something I never even said. I have been there for a long time and have never had trouble like this....Please give me some advice!!!!!

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

when any resident has behaviors such as these, you document every single day or shift what they did or said and what you did or said and let your supervisor know what is or has taken place.

have you spoken to your supervisor and did you make a notation as to what happened? hang in there.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I charted it and quoted what was said and called my boss at home, she didn't seem to concerned....but I am still a wreck....

You said it yourself in your first post, she has a record of hypochondriaisis and crying "Wolf", and you have an unblemished record of several years working in this place. Who would you choose to believe? It's upsetting when stuff like this happens. ((((((hugs))))))

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Don't sweat it, Paprikat. If this family takes the patient home for a few days, they're doing you a favor ;). I doubt given the woman's history anyone will believe her, and from her reaction when you confronted her, she's not willing to lie directly in your presence. Manipulative cowards like this exist; if she's enough of a pain, then the ECF can give her her 30 day notice letter and say see ya!

And let's see how the family reacts when she starts pulling this nonsense at home lol.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Thanks for the encouragement. I really appreciate your advice, everyone!

How does this patient generally feel about being there? Could it be she is claiming bad treatment to get someone to take her out of there?

Specializes in LTC/Peds/ICU/PACU/CDI.

as don & others have said, ;) don't worry about this particular patient & her antics...she has past documented records of being a :uhoh21: hypochondriac...i wouldn't be surprised if there's documentation on her for lying or stretching the truth as well!!! i understand that she'd compromised you to her family member...but don't forget one thing...they're family whom already knows who she is & how she can be. perhaps that's why he said :rolleyes: "what ever"...because he knows that's her way of getting a home visit...this patient sounds like a real pro manipulator :p & her family knows this...why do you think she's where she is in the first place...they probably don't want to put-up with her antics on a daily basis...:lol2: lol!!! so again, :nono: don't sweat it...especially when your boss has expressed that there shouldn't be anything to be concerned about. if you have a great record with them, i'm sure that they'll do everything in their power to support you in this matter!!!

Specializes in Critical Care.

I agree with the above posts, document what the patients behavior and what she said and what you said. Be thankful you have a understanding supervisor. I hate it when patients act that way, which is probably why she doesn't live with her own family they couldn't put up with her either.

you handled that so well...

i had nearly the same thing happen in the same way....pulled the breakfast tray over for her. she was 23 years old and wouldnt do anything for herself. she wouldnt even wipe herself. i told her she needed to get out of bed some time that day because she had been in bed for 2 days and it wasnt good for her. this somehow translated to:

get your azz out of bed and go get your breakfast tray yourself

meanwhile the tray was right beside her.

and stupid me argued with her....this only made things worse.

since i was orienting at the time this went into my record under people skills.

now i just document it.

i will go in the room and say ...mrs k...did i say something to offend you?

if i can correct the situation that way (like you tried to do) then ok, if not i do let the mgr know there is a problem and thats all you can do.

and it really stinks

She seems to be exhibiting passive-agressive and manipulative behavior. It obviously works with her family - they took her home for a few days, which is probably what she wanted. Some people don't know how to ask for what they need.

Don't let emotionally disturbed patients get to you. Toughen up!!

Just document well and notify your supervisor and let it go. You know you are a good nurse and this patient was way out of line.

"It's upsetting when stuff like this happens"

and you wouldn't be in nursing unless you were a caring person,

so it does make you worry, fret and otherwise ;/

I have been practicing my lines " would you like fries with that "

but then I have heard directly from people employed at the fast food restaurants that the same public that we deal with also eat at fast food............

can't win :(

hehehehehehehehehehehehe

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