Anyone ever said something completely dumb because they were really nervous?

Nurses General Nursing

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Once, in an interview (non-nursing job), I was asked that age-old question, "Tell me about some of your strengths and weaknesses". My reply for my weaknesses:: "I'm always late." Needless to say I didn't get the job.

scottaprn

292 Posts

I had an elderly female patient tell me how much she liked doing card tricks.

Later on, in front of her entire family (including a nurse I knew), I promised her we would have her "Out turning tricks in no time"

laKrugRN

479 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Oh my gosh I have said so many things! I was nervous answering the phones when I started my job. A person called in wanted to speak with a doctor that had left the practice. I said "Dr. SoSo is no longer with us." The person FLIPPED. "She died?!" I exclaimed, "no! she just left the practice. I'm so sorry!" Hehe my coworkers were busting up laughing!

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

I posted this before, but anyway.... I was taking care of 40 something year old female patient. I was giving her some liquid medication that tasted awful. I told her to just pretend it was an ice cold margarita. Her husband interjected and said" That's not a good idea, being that she is a recovering alcoholic". Needless to say, I've never made that suggestion again.

ICURN3020

392 Posts

I've also learned my lesson about assuming and saying so out loud that the young female visiting the older male patient is a daughter or granddaughter, when in fact it's his wife/girlfriend.

amoLucia

7,736 Posts

Specializes in retired LTC.
I've also learned my lesson about assuming and saying so out loud that the young female visiting the older male patient is a daughter or granddaughter, when in fact it's his wife/girlfriend.
:yes: Yes, but it can also be the other way around - young male and older female. Let's hear it for all the cougars out there! :cheeky:

Caffeine_IV

1,198 Posts

Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

In an interview I was asked something along the lines of "where did I see myself in the future with my nursing career" and I replied, "I don't know. I haven't given it much thought"

Instantly, I was like did I really say that.

not I - but one of our LPN's loves to tell the story of when he was on orientation - first day and was nervous. He hums when he's nervous. Went into a patients room to hang an abx and was humming the death march. Patient picked up on it and was like "are you trying to tell me something?" LOL

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Working on an 'overflow' floor where we had ALL manner of patients. Helping deliver supper trays, and walked in to room/patient I was unfamiliar with. It was a liquid diet tray. I smiled and said (because the pt. and person w/ her were laughing when I walked in)

"SOUP TO NUTS!" Found out later the patient was on suicide watch and who I thought​ was a relative or friend was actually a sitter.

I actually talked out loud to myself during my last interview. The question was one of those "behavior" questions and wasn't difficult, but my mind was absolutely blank and I couldn't come up with a scenario. So, instead, I turned my head to the side and said-out loud- "Come on, Student Mom, think for crying out loud, think!"

They must have liked that because I start next month! Needless to say, when I struggle with an interview question I always go for the sense of humor/likability angle!

SeattleJess

843 Posts

Specializes in None yet..
I actually talked out loud to myself during my last interview. The question was one of those "behavior" questions and wasn't difficult, but my mind was absolutely blank and I couldn't come up with a scenario. So, instead, I turned my head to the side and said-out loud- "Come on, Student Mom, think for crying out loud, think!"

They must have liked that because I start next month! Needless to say, when I struggle with an interview question I always go for the sense of humor/likability angle!

Who could not love someone who responded like that? The response says, "honesty, integrity and trustworthiness" more than any flat statement that you own these attributes could ever say. We've got to all know how many neurons are crazily firing away to craft answers to interview questions. Dang, I wish I could hire you for something right now.

TeflonNurse

52 Posts

Oh I'm a walking talking disaster sometimes. let's see, once as an aide I was doing my 1st round of the morning. A family member asked how the system worked for calling in the pts breakfast order since they had a special diet. i assured them that the people who answer the phones won't allow you to order anything that's not allowed on your diet. trying to be helpful i jokingly made the analogy of a diabetic trying to call and order a whole cake or something (ha... ha?!) of course the fam member then says "Hey wait a minute, I'M diabetic!"

I was doing an admission on a lady in her 70s. She was out of it so her family member is giving me all the details. I'm going down the LONG list of questions and before i can even think about it i blurt out "Do you know the date of her last menstrual period?" the family member looked at me so crazy.

the other day I was naming off the drugs i was about to give a pt and when I got to Keppra for some reason i said "and here's your antibiotic!" i have no idea why. to be fair my brain naturally thinks the word Keppra SOUNDS like an abx but i know it's not!

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