What is the worst thing a patient has ever said to you?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry, IMCU, s/p Open Heart surgery.

Is it me, or are patients getting ruder and more disrespectful each time you clock in for work?

I don't usually let rude patients/families get to me, but last night I had to deal with the most insane people ever. I had the misfortune of informing the patient and his family that he had gone into rapid a-fib and his cardiologist was not on call. The patient didn't believe that he was having a rapid ventricular response since "he didn't feel that his heart was going fast," and had me count an apical pulse and call the monitor tech to see if she concurred with my rate. (I was off by 2 beats).

I was also instructed by the family to print a set of strips indicating that he was in fact in a-fib. Mind you, this patient has a history of a-fib and was on amiodarone for a while, but the family decided to stop it b/c the patient is allergic to iodine. Despite the allergy, he never had a reaction to amiodarone, but the family still didn't want him to have it and... ta-da! He went back into a-fib.

I was also yelled at because I had to start a Cardizem gtt and as this patient has a habit of going hypotensive, decided that BP checks q30 minutes was a prudent thing to do. Oh, I was also a bad nurse b/c I put him on 2L NC. Oh, and my hospital is ridiculous because we don't have those donuts for people to sit on... oh and there CAN'T be a good reason for us to not have them in central supply.

Did I also mention that I was lazy because I left the BP cuff on him and set the machine to recycle every 30 mts? Yes... I did that so I wouldn't have to go in the room all night. (He told this to the PCA and she came and told me) So he refused to leave the BP cuff on, and preferred for me to go in every 30 mts to put the cuff on and off (this only went on for 3 cycles... at this time, he fell asleep and I slipped it on over his gown). This is the same man who complained that us night shift don't let him sleep.

I just had to run out of the room at this point and cry... I usually handle these kind of people really well. Before last night I don't remember the last time I let a patient/family make me cry. :cry: I actually felt bad giving report on this patient in the morning... I felt horrible to pass this person on to another nurse!

*oh and the KICKER. During one of my visits for a BP check, I accidentally bumped his foot which he REFUSES to leave on the bed. He prefers to let his foot hang off the bed on the side I do my care on. He totally went off on me! Apparently during my BSN program I was taught not to be careful, but to bump patients' feet and cause them pain. I also after 3 years of working cardiac, am unfamiliar with caring for dialysis patients and I don't know how to monitor an a-fib patient. He can't wait until I'm sick in a hospital bed so he can give me what's coming to me. this is the most hurtful thing ANYBODY has ever said to me. I couldn't even respond. I just turned around and left the room.

Sorry this is so long, guys. I just really needed to vent.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

I am so sorry this happened to you. You ran into a family and patient that are totally overwhelmed, and you were the target for their frustrations. I am very sorry and wish to give you (((((hugs))))).

As a bedside nurse, I was once told 'Get your Jew B**** hands off me' as I tried to assist another nurse - he wasn't my patient.

As a home health nurse, I had a patient call my office and tell them that if I showed up again, he would call the police. He wouldn't lie flat, and I had problems passing a supra-pubic cath on him. He yelped one time. Needed a 2nd try, this time no trouble. He said I caused him more pain than any other nurse ever had. BTW, he was angry because his 'regular' nurse had quit, and I didn't bring him any treats.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

It's not you, the patient was a jerk. IMO you where VASTLY acomodating to him. I do not take orders from family members or from patients. My roll as patient advocate and care giver does not include kissing their butt. I work in a large hospital SICU and we have closed visiting hours subject to nurses discression. I would have asked that family to step out for a while.

Now the worst thing a patient ever said to me:

"I HAVE AIDS ************!!!!!!!!!!"

This was said to me shortly after the drunk/high trauma patient had grabbed a needle the resident had just used to to a fem stick for labs and stabbed me in the back with it.

That was several years ago and turns out he was NOT HIV positive, but I was mildly concerned to say the least.

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Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

Oh butt-wiper...you know! I usually respond with "yeah, you're right...it sucks, you wanna take over?" They usually take it back.

Oh, I forgot when hiv was new, one dude said "I got aids, you got aids" and threw his pan at me! I ended up befriending him and no one else would take him. It was so sad back then, they all died like dogs.

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Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.
Is it me, or are patients getting ruder and more disrespectful each time you clock in for work?

I don't usually let rude patients/families get to me, but last night I had to deal with the most insane people ever. I had the misfortune of informing the patient and his family that he had gone into rapid a-fib and his cardiologist was not on call. The patient didn't believe that he was having a rapid ventricular response since "he didn't feel that his heart was going fast," and had me count an apical pulse and call the monitor tech to see if she concurred with my rate. (I was off by 2 beats).

I was also instructed by the family to print a set of strips indicating that he was in fact in a-fib. Mind you, this patient has a history of a-fib and was on amiodarone for a while, but the family decided to stop it b/c the patient is allergic to iodine. Despite the allergy, he never had a reaction to amiodarone, but the family still didn't want him to have it and... ta-da! He went back into a-fib.

I was also yelled at because I had to start a Cardizem gtt and as this patient has a habit of going hypotensive, decided that BP checks q30 minutes was a prudent thing to do. Oh, I was also a bad nurse b/c I put him on 2L NC. Oh, and my hospital is ridiculous because we don't have those donuts for people to sit on... oh and there CAN'T be a good reason for us to not have them in central supply.

Did I also mention that I was lazy because I left the BP cuff on him and set the machine to recycle every 30 mts? Yes... I did that so I wouldn't have to go in the room all night. (He told this to the PCA and she came and told me) So he refused to leave the BP cuff on, and preferred for me to go in every 30 mts to put the cuff on and off (this only went on for 3 cycles... at this time, he fell asleep and I slipped it on over his gown). This is the same man who complained that us night shift don't let him sleep.

I just had to run out of the room at this point and cry... I usually handle these kind of people really well. Before last night I don't remember the last time I let a patient/family make me cry. :cry: I actually felt bad giving report on this patient in the morning... I felt horrible to pass this person on to another nurse!

*oh and the KICKER. During one of my visits for a BP check, I accidentally bumped his foot which he REFUSES to leave on the bed. He prefers to let his foot hang off the bed on the side I do my care on. He totally went off on me! Apparently during my BSN program I was taught not to be careful, but to bump patients' feet and cause them pain. I also after 3 years of working cardiac, am unfamiliar with caring for dialysis patients and I don't know how to monitor an a-fib patient. He can't wait until I'm sick in a hospital bed so he can give me what's coming to me. this is the most hurtful thing ANYBODY has ever said to me. I couldn't even respond. I just turned around and left the room.

Sorry this is so long, guys. I just really needed to vent.

Come on! He said he can't wait till you're sick to give you what's coming? You should have shook his hand and said "deal" but it's my turn now and smile! Lighten up and be creative to make the BOTH of you feel better. Ask him what punishment he'll dish out to you. make him talk and laugh. Tell him "I don't think that would hurt enough" and make him imagine more things to do to you. He can vent his anger and leave thinking you were pretty cool.

When I was 23, I had patients ask all the time "what year in high school are you in?" (I looked really young). This hurt me A LOT and screwed up my confidence. I finally tried something different and I'd say "I never went, just got out of 8th grade; here are your meds" Never take stuff personally; these people are scared, may not have family support, aren't happy and haven't done all they wanted in life (maybe I'm projecting). Then the dysfunctional family that may come in may cause more anguish (if they're a typical american non supportive family...compared to other countries).

Regarding all this counting and double checking, etc. I'd have just said "your ecg strip says afib" and leave it at that, tending to other patients. It's not my job to verify to nonmedicals what's happening, just to report it. In my experience if you don't set (kind) healthy limits, they'll have you tieing their shoes by the end of the visit. If the patient doesn't believe you, just say "Ok, we'll wait for the doc to talk at ya about it"....call the doc, leave it at that. If a med is ordered, tell em it's ordered and remove yourself from dysfunction junction while remaining polite.

My final note: If they say your hospital stinks because it doesn't have xyx, agree and say "I'd want one too"! Empathize and "go negative" on them. You go neg, they go pos (human nature). They complain you're lazy for leaving the cuff? Say, yeah, I'm kinda lazy sometimes...you ever got lazy when you were working as a xxx? Tell me the worst thing a boss said to you? People like to talk about themselves. Try agreeing with them for a trial...just test it out. The last thing a complainer wants WANTS is to be negated and rationalized why things are NOT as they complained them to be. For grins, agree completely and say "yeah I can see how that would micturate you off and I don't blame you" Try it once ( dare you) and respond here!

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Specializes in LTC.

This week one of my patients told me to go to hell. My first thought was to reply you first but ofcourse I would never blurt out such a thing.

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Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.
This week one of my patients told me to go to hell. My first thought was to reply you first but ofcourse I would never blurt out such a thing.

I gotta reply! I forgot about all the go to hell comments! LOL!

I reassure them I'm most certainly going because I've been a really evil person. Seriously, that's my automatic response "I'm going as fast as I can."

How can someone who is not me dictate my mood?

(like it's up to THEM where I go) LOLOLOLOL!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

This morning I had a little old man, alert, tell me- when I went in to check his blood sugar- he looked me strait in the eye and said " You *****, you have ruined my whole day." I thought well dude you screwed up mine a bit too. course I didnt say that!!! Worst part is, he is A&OX3. And normally likes me!! Gotta love LTC!!

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Specializes in ER.

Ok this patient said many gems to me but this one sticks out. And it really isn't that bad but it irritated me.

"Are you pregnant or just fat?"

Ok not that bad huh? The kicker is I weigh 100lbs and she went at least 350lbs. Boy do I love my job!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.
Ok this patient said many gems to me but this one sticks out. And it really isn't that bad but it irritated me.

"Are you pregnant or just fat?"

Ok not that bad huh? The kicker is I weigh 100lbs and she went at least 350lbs. Boy do I love my job!

pot calling the kettle black - hello pot hello kettle

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Specializes in LTC.

I got another one! One of my patients whom happened to be well over 80 called me an " old fart" I'm 20 years old so I don't think that name fits me just yet.

Btw I work with alzheimers patients so I can go on and on!

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Specializes in ER.

some people are just jerks. They're fortunate to have you as a nurse. Water off a ducks back.... let it go... we have to!

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