Patient & Family Confusion

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Elderly man brought to ER by wife/daughter. Had fallen with facial trauma and nosebleed and is on coumadin. Man is very hard of hearing so I ask history first from wife.

Me: Why is your husband on Coumadin?

Wife: The doctor ordered it.

Me: (heavy sigh) Yes, I am sure he did, do you know why?

Wife: I don't know.

Now daughter is here, so I ask her

Me: Why is your dad on coumadin?

Daughter: It's a blood thinner.

Me: (another, very heavy sigh) Yes it is , thank you. Why does your dad need a blood thinner?

Daughter (This is the exact response) His blood was too thick.

Me: (To myself - I think) I am going to have to kill you and your family right now!

Gotta love it.

[MandyInMS]

Makes me think of an Alzheimers pt I had last night....family fusses when he's "wild" ..then complains if you give him something to calm him down saying he's sleeping too much....conclusion: You just can't win sometimes...lol

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

asked an adolescent with N/V if she was sexually active. Answer was no. Serum preg. test was positive. When I asked did she understand my question about being sexually active she replied: "Oh, I thought you meant recently."