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

After reading these, I AM enjoying retirement, lol.

There's no way I would put up with half the crap reported in this thread. As to the people who suggest we jolly them out of their bad mood, I'm not a comedian or a babysitter. Running interference for obnoxious so-and-so's who are NOT my patients is NOT my job, and they'd find themselves thrown off the ward very fast. Mind you, if someone threw a cup of coffee at me I would be so dumbstruck I am not sure what I would do or say. You would have that "I can't believe that just happened" feeling!

Perhaps I'm lucky in that I've always worked in places and with managers who supported the staff's right NOT to be abused.

The name calling hasn't really stuck out in my mind. I do know that a few weeks back I was assigned to a woman who was basically on suicidal precautions because she'd gone on a hunger strike. And she had a beautiful 9 month old child to boot. Nevertheless, she and her sister were basically booting me around like a football anytime I'd come in w/ total manipulation and accusations. If you tried to be encouraging and explain things to them, they'd accuse me of trying to "fool" them. If I told them I was going to hang potassium, yet had to switch the bag of normal saline underneath because it was empty, they'd totally go off on me -- telling me I was a liar and not being truthful with them "because YOU said you were going to hang potassium!!" It went on for 2 days and by the 2nd day, there was just no helping this young woman. PPD had gone totally awry, but she also had some sort of strange idea about medications and medical help. Just a total lack of insight as to how to take care of herself.

It was the MOST exasperating day I'd ever had. In the other room up the hall, I had the nicest woman ever, dying of cancer, who stated in her palliative care consult, that she'd give anything just to have more time w/ her grandchildren. I had to go back and forth between these two rooms, and it was all I could do to want to kick Ms. Starvation mentally deranged out the window.

I have a hard time with patients who present themselves to the hospital, and then proceedd to refuse any sort of treatment the docs prescribe, totally blaming in on the nurse. These folks, IMO, should be escorted to the door. I know she was mentally ill, but I guess I just didn't have the patience for it. You don't want help? Then get out.

I guess I would have a very tough time as a psych nurse, but this patient was also on a medical floor supposedly for medical treatment, and refusing it at every turn. The abuse she dished out over her stay was enough for anyone, but I caught the brunt of it. I shudder everytime I have to take care of a psych patient now.

can't decide on " didn't I see on the plantation?" or " why are there so much unwed mothers in your community?" you know I had a good comeback!!!

soo funny. I allways replay " it's full"

Had a pt w/ unsteady gait, hematuria and fairly loose bowels. Pt was beligerant and despite restraints being used, was able to continuously get up out of bed and make his way over to the chair. He'd sit down with a trail of poo following him and eat like he was surrounded by roses. His RN finally got him back to bed and by the time I got to him poo was everywhere.

So I gather the things to wash him and he starts pulling away from me, I went to wash the poo off of his hands and he said, 'Don't touch my hands, wash my ***, that's what you're here for!' He then proceded to turn his rear to me and lift his leg! Needless to say there were no words going through my mind @ the time that would've been appropriate but I managed to tell him that he was a nasty old man, complete my work and leave the room.

About a month later, I go into a different room and find this same pt only this time, he's unconscious and near death. In fact the Dr's as well as the RN's said he wouldn't make it past the weekend. I knew he would though, as I was washing him (no trouble this time), he would stop breathing for about 10 secs and when I'd get ready to flee the room he'd start back up. I felt he was to ornary to die and when I came in on Mon, he was conscious and alert. He was discharged two days later.

I got fired by one of my patients' mother. She said I had given her nothing but attitude all day long, and it worsened after the 1000 incident. The child has asmtha and was also congested up the wahoo. The RT and I NP suctioned the child. Said child, of course, protested vigorously. Lost the IV, but I was going to dc the thing because he didn't need it anymore. She wouldn't let me near the child to do cares - she actually swatted me away. The RT was with me and rolling her eyes. After the 2pm assessment, she called me in the room and unloaded with both barrels (and her two bulging eyes and hair standing straight up). Under no circumstances was I to re-enter the room. She wanted another nurse for the rest of the shift. Get out!!!! and she slammed the door after me.

I told the charge nurse and she was aghast. She went in to speak with the mom. Mom decided it was okay if I continued to care for the child because I knew him, but I could not, under any circumstance, speak to mom. Mom was told that was not an ideal arrangement and she'd find another nurse.

The news got around our unit quickly that Cindy had a bad attitude. It was the unit joke for awhile. There are several people they could believe the bad attitude part about, but not me. The attending just laughed - he didn't get along with her either. My nurse manager couldn't believe it - the mom had not given any problems before and that I had been accused of attitude.

The dad came back from the cafeteria and was told by mom what had happened. He came out and apologized for his wife's behavior. Said she gets like that when she's really stressed. Her mom and sister were with him and confirmed what he said. Everyone heard the apology and he asked me to please come back and take care of his son. Said I'd been nothing but caring and professional and appreciated the care I'd given his son.

Everyone loves to joke about my attitude now. The incident made its way up to the president of the hospital who knows me - all management teases me to this day!

Sometimes I just ignore people like that, and other times I give the attitude right back to them. It depends. Most of the time I try to straighten them out in the beginning. I basically tell them that I'm not going to allow them to be rude.