When patients keep calling 911

Nurse Grandpa · Mar 3, 2017

I have a frequent Flier who has done several times

MunoRN, RN · Mar 3, 2017

Patient is beyond non-compliant in multiple areas of his care (not just the fluid restriction) and has a behavioral contract. Sitters make sure he doesn't take his empty cups and refill them in the sink, toilet, or shower.

Non-compliant and incompetent are two different things. A fluid restriction is a medical intervention, and even patients on behavior contracts can decline medical treatments, under federal and many state laws you can't punish patient behavior by removing their right to refuse medical treatments. Denying a patient access to water despite them declining that medical intervention is potentially felony abuse.

NurseyB · Mar 4, 2017

My facility has it set up so 911 calls from inside lines go to in-house security, which includes fully qualified police officers who carry weapons. They place the call to fire or city police dept if the issue warrants intervention, and they get a good laugh over it when it's a demented pt. Works out well for us

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Mar 4, 2017

I work in a SNF and while it's not common, it's also not unusual for residents to call 911 for any number of reasons ranging from coffee being too cold to a firm belief that the poor person has been kidnapped. 911 is required to respond to every call in my town, Gotta say it's pretty funny watching a couple of cops trying to explain to a ticked off little old lady with dementia that the coffee not staying hot long enough for her to finish a cup really isn't a crime.

allnurses Guide · Mar 5, 2017

I actually got in trouble over a resident that called 911, once.

Long story.

So, this is a sore/sensitive subject for me. :banghead:

**emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN** · Mar 6, 2017

We have legislation for this in Massachusetts but it is never dealt with: 2 1/2 years - fines of up to $5,000. My husband gets frequent fliers... "Can you change the channel", "can you turn my heat up" - I am not joking.... its sad.

sugar'n'spice · Mar 6, 2017

This is only slightly related to the post... like 5% related.

In North Carolina, a man was sentenced to 11 to 21 years in prison for making 400+/- bomb threats. Over the summer, this man called numerous businesses in 3 counties with these threats. It was a lot of wal-marts I remember. That is insane, all these places having to shut down and then all the time from the police force!

But wow, I hope he gets treatment in prison, because he obviously has a psychological problem. I wish prison's would focus on mental health more.

Ehh, I thought it was an interesting story any-hoo!

DaniV. · Mar 8, 2017

Back in my good old days of being a midnight charge (of the WHOLE building), I had a sweet confused lady who insisted she wanted CPR. Attempted to explain multiple times that if she can ASK for CPR, she does not need it. She ended up finding her cell phone and calling 911, so they could give her CPR... fun times on midnight shift!

capa · Mar 8, 2017

If the patient is strong enough to ambulate out of room can probably qualify for outpatient care

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Mar 9, 2017

Acute care hospital. Patient doesn't get what she wants from the kitchen: calls 911. Doesn't get a snack because we have to save them for diabetic urgencies: calls 911. Pain med is late or the doctor DCs it: calls 911. OK so what do you do? Confiscate the phone, she comes out to the hall screaming and cursing, follows staff around. Security can't do anything and police can't touch them unless it's a threat. This isn't unusual unfortunately with some of our patients. My guess is we have to put up with it forever. Thoughts?

You just illustrated how absurd and pathetic our health care system is. It is a travesty to say the least. Where the people with the most responsibility have the least authority. And the people with no responsibility have the power to change things.

DNTcode · Mar 11, 2017

Omg, didn't you get my patient???

What do you do? Discharge them as quickly as possible :0)

DJSexton, RN · Mar 11, 2017

I completely understand your frustration. I work on an acute psych unit and it does happen. As RN's we do not tell patients they cannot call 911. But we do tell them in a supportive, structured, and suggestive way that the RN's are the answer and they have to work with us for their concerns. Does the patient really want the police looking for them upon discharge for excessive 911 calls r/t non-criminal matters and abuse of services??? Get them to understand it isn't the option to pursue. I typically build a picture that we've improved their wellbeing while they have been there and that we are committed to continuing to same. There is always the unit manager to call. Have the manager establish a relationship for unit accountability. Good luck!