Have you ever lost it with a patient? - page 4

6,829 Views | 38 Comments

I mean completely lost your cool? I did. Today. We have a frequent flyer who startde the day with bad behavior and I let him get to me. I shouldn't have, but I did.... Read More

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Aug 30, '12 by SaoirseRN

I try to set and enforce boundaries before I get to the point of "losing it", but alas I am merely mortal and I know I've had moments where I definitely could have handled things better.

tewdles and nrsang97 like this.
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Aug 30, '12 by decembergrad2011

Yup, especially when they demand Doritos while NPO and threaten to leave AMA when some procedural area is late picking them up.
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Aug 30, '12 by samadams8

Quote from knoyes1

had an Aids pt back in the 80's purposely open his IV and bled all over the floor and demanded we clean it up!

Wow. Dude was probably angry over his illness--but still very wrong. Some folks have no idea how frustrating it can be to be a nurse.
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Aug 30, '12 by samadams8

Quote from decembergrad2011

Yup, especially when they demand Doritos while NPO and threaten to leave AMA when some procedural area is late picking them up.

The demand was specifically for Doritos, eh? LOL

Oh brother.
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Aug 31, '12 by joanna73 Guide

Not yet, but I've come close. I worked in hotels for years, so I've learned to be very patient with extremely annoying people. Losing it on a guest may get you fired. Also, I've only been a nurse for 2 years...so I'm sure the day will come at some point.
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Aug 31, '12 by Sparrowhawk

Sorry...I'm old....and I've never lost it with a patient and I am not lying.

Been there,done that, imintrouble, and joanna73 like this.
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Aug 31, '12 by Sarah01s

Some patients are going to be like that. You should try to stay calm and not let them get to you, although i understand that you have your good and bad days. try your best but sometimes it can get very difficult
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Aug 31, '12 by tewdles

I would have to say that I have not "lost it" with a patient or family member, in more than 30 years of nursing. That is not to say that I have not been furious, etc, it simply means that I maintain control of my emotions and mouth.

The times I have "lost it" were with peers or superiors...I have been known to pound desks and raise my voice, none of which probably advances my cause.

Maintaining control doesn't mean that I let people slide on crap...I am very direct...it means that I am calm and "diplomatic".

Been there,done that and imintrouble like this.
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Sep 6, '12 by Been there,done that

Nope.. never in 30 years. ..." lost it".

I am the professional... I am not the one stuck in a hospital bed. Told to put on this gown... and give up my dignity for the sake of medical treatment.

I did tell a patient to stop yelling at me.. so we could talk about the problem..

That NEVER fails . . .we identify the issue ... and I solve the problem.

That is the definition of nursing.