Time to admit .. things you've said to pt's/family members that you shouldn't

Nurses General Nursing

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In the hospital where I used to work, family members would come up to the desk all the time to say "dad needs a _______ (blanket, cup, straw) and I developed a nasty habit of saying (in a perfectly innocent tone) "Does he know how to use the call light?" Gradually my tone started getting more and more sarcastic. Had to stop that one after a few nasty looks. oops.

Or "that's not real high on my priority list"

I know there's been plenty more....

At least I knew I had to leave the hospital setting for a bit before my mouth could get me in too much trouble. Feeling much better suited to home health, where you can throw whatever you like at me! I'll be out of your house in less than an hour!

Family visits:

me: "You look just like Mrs. X. Are you her mother?'

family: "No, I'm her younger sister."

Oops.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I haven't really mouthed off to a pt or visitor. However, there is one incident that I'm not proud of when I mouthed off to a physician in the middle of a respiratory code. Background, pt had a hx of respiratory issues, Bi-pap dependent at night, was getting chest PT and cough assist at home, and got admitted for pneumonia. Anyway, we're in the middle of this code, bagging the pt, and I look over and the attending pneumonolgist walks in to see what's going on with his pt. He asks what's going on, not really addressing anyone. I hollar at him across the room, "This is what you get when you take a pt with known respiratory problems with pneumonia, and put them on breathing treatments only while awake!!" I am fortunate the physician actually said "OMG, you are right, that is exactly what happened here." And yes, everyone in the code heard my accusation. :o

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I don't think that was rude at all, it is a fact. :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"My pet peeve is when the families come out to the desk to ask for stuff. I also tell them to put on the call light."

A little off-topic, but I have a confession. I have been out of the inpatient hospital setting for more than a few years, so I may have forgotten the dynamics involved, but....

Whenever I am visiting with family or friends in the hospital, I do my best to help them in whatever way I can in my short visit, without being a burden on the nursing staff. Maybe it's because I'm a nurse, but it feels so wrong to sit @ the bedside and ring a bell for someone to wait on me. If I go out to the desk and ask where I can locate whatever....why wouldn't that be helpful? (well, assuming that the "whatever" isn't located in a restricted area)

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
"My pet peeve is when the families come out to the desk to ask for stuff. I also tell them to put on the call light."

A little off-topic, but I have a confession. I have been out of the inpatient hospital setting for more than a few years, so I may have forgotten the dynamics involved, but....

Whenever I am visiting with family or friends in the hospital, I do my best to help them in whatever way I can in my short visit, without being a burden on the nursing staff. Maybe it's because I'm a nurse, but it feels so wrong to sit @ the bedside and ring a bell for someone to wait on me. If I go out to the desk and ask where I can locate whatever....why wouldn't that be helpful? (well, assuming that the "whatever" isn't located in a restricted area)

Because whatever you are asking for IS in a restricted area. (At least on my

unit, it is all restricted.) Because perhaps you are not asking the right nurse

assigned to the patient and she now has to drop whatever she is doing to

fulfill your request - which is probably something like a waitress order.

Because maybe a nursing assistant could have answered the call light and

fulfilled the waitress order.

Now if your friend is having difficulty breathing, or something of an extreme

nature, please come interrupt the nurse. Do not interrupt the nurse to say

your friend would like some Ginger Ale instead of the Seven Up I had to get

her 5 minutes ago.

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I've never said anything to a patient I've regretted. All those "you're an idiot" and "shut the F up, you stupid druggie" were entirely justifieid.

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Specializes in MED/SURG STROKE UNIT, LTC SUPER., IMU.

I had one the other night:

PT family: two days

Me: raised hands in the air and said yeah!!

Pt family: looked horified

Me: Uh two days?

Pt family: two days until she is DCd

Me: Oops, I thought you were saying that it had been two days since the patient hit or verbally abused anyone.

Me: tucked tail between my legs until I got to the office and with raised hands in the air said "YEAH!!!" very quietly. :lol2:

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I've never said anything to a patient I've regretted. All those "you're an idiot" and "shut the F up, you stupid druggie" were entirely justifieid.

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

I dont really have any to add right now, but keep it going... Im enjoying this thread!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I think the most point blank I've said was "at some point this has to be about your mom and not your inability to cope, death is a natural progression in life. Putting 102 year old mom through a trach and a peg cannot possibly be about her wishes... let's give you another 24 hours before you sign consent".

After three weeks of trying to be therapudic, a doc whom hides from family... someone has to be a patient advocate, no matter how harsh the words.

Trached and pegged 48 hrs. later..... 102 years old.

One of my worst... "where will I live if mom dies...".... i said "have you considered getting a job, moving out and supporting yourself to be able to honor mom's wishes? Just giving some alternatives here"..... no DNR:mad:

Ah the fun life of an ICU nurse that turns off life support after the monthly check is cleared.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

hehehe I have a lot

  • to the patient with uncontrolled afib with nonpulsatile QRS complexes: "it's like she has PEA but is not dead"
  • to the family increasing my neuro patient's agitation: "go home, he is yelling at you. if you arent here, he wont yell."
  • to my rapid cycling bi polar patient: "go ahead and chew on your restraints all you want. it still wont get you out of here"
  • to the md at 0200 re: said bipolar patient: " you dont understand dr. he is crazy! I need a consult for an exorcist! thats how crazy he is."
  • when said md said "oh he's just a neuro patient, it's not mental illness," I say "If he has the absence of ataxia to land a swift punch to a jaw with force behind it, he's not sick enough to be here."

Im sure there are more. I can get a bit snarky when grumpy and Im a little too assertive at times. Im working on it ;)

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"My pet peeve is when the families come out to the desk to ask for stuff. I also tell them to put on the call light."

A little off-topic, but I have a confession. I have been out of the inpatient hospital setting for more than a few years, so I may have forgotten the dynamics involved, but....

Whenever I am visiting with family or friends in the hospital, I do my best to help them in whatever way I can in my short visit, without being a burden on the nursing staff. Maybe it's because I'm a nurse, but it feels so wrong to sit @ the bedside and ring a bell for someone to wait on me. If I go out to the desk and ask where I can locate whatever....why wouldn't that be helpful? (well, assuming that the "whatever" isn't located in a restricted area)

I actually don't mind someone coming to the desk for spoons, straws ect . It saves me a trip.

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