Celebrities and their "special" care

[Brian]

Okay with reality shows such a big draw on TV, we are seeing some well known celebrities in what is supposedly unscripted situations. Certainly being a pt in a hospital is unscripted. So, what types of "special" care have you given your pts in order for them to feel like a celebrity?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

What is a "MOW"?

Many years ago I was working at a small community hospital, and we got an admission who supposedly was an Oscar and Grammy winning singer/songwriter. We were give explicit instructions not to ask for autographs or take pictures (pre-cellphone era).

I had a hard time believing this guy would have been at our hospital. One day, one of our aides was pulled to his unit and she wound up taking care of him. I asked her what he looked like, and when she described him I knew he wasn't the person he claimed to be. One of the techs from the lab asked him for an autograph; when it was found out she was terminated, but "Mr. Famous Singer" told administration not to fire her.

The docs were practically falling all over themselves to take care of him. I never saw so many doctors taking care of one patient.

After a few days and a little investigation, it was discovered that he wasn't "Mr. Famous Singer." (They could have saved the money by just asking me!) He was actually an addict who was homeless, so he came up with this story so he could get three hots and a cot. He was discharged shortly thereafter to a drug and alcohol rehab facility.

Now that's the kind of celebrity I could get behind giving special treatment to. How inventive and ballsy! Can't believe he actually got away it for awhile.