Share The Weirdest Reasons Patients Push The Call Light

WittySarcasm, BSN · Jun 12, 2011

Lets see one of our residents- who was always dilusional- rang her call light to tell me to get the thumb tacks for her off the walls, since she was combative I told her that it wasn't possible, since every other thing she had been given she had thrown at us. When I asked her why, she said there were cameras in them and she knew we were laughing at her.

Then the woman that called me into the room to tell me she heard dinosaurs growling and roaring. She was currently watching Jarassic Park. :lol2: :lol2:

Then we had a 18 yr old kid for two weeks (since we're a rehab floor) that would ring the bell just to make sure it was workng ok.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2011

Then the woman that called me into the room to tell me she heard dinosaurs growling and roaring. She was currently watching Jarassic Park. :lol2:

THAT made me spit my supper onto the keyboard!

nursecox2011 · Jun 13, 2011

Had a PT ring the light because he was constipated. And asked " can u sh** for me someone please fart for me". In nursing school had a Lady on the ob floor in premature. Labor. We kept giving her drugs to stop her. We kept wandering why it wasn't working. She had all these male visitors. Finally checked her bedside table. Looked in a load of cash LOL..... she was totally hooking LOL

Mandy LVN · Jun 14, 2011

Had a very large obese patient, around 50 yrs old, (in isolation) and her 30 year old daughter call me down to their room to pull the blanket up over "Mommy." I looked at the daughter and asked her why she couldn't do it, she just stared at me like I was from another planet. A little later the same patient called me into the room, the daughter was sitting right next to her and asked me if I could move the bedside table closer so she could reach her water! Arrgghh I love my job!!!

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2011

I had a pt tell me to come to her room quick, as she yelled it over the intercom when the secretary answered her light. I dropped everything to run into the room. My mind was racing imaging what horrible thing I was to find.

Turned out, she wanted her credit card from her bag because QVC had some ring she wanted! OMG, I was soooo mad.

sharpeimom · Jun 19, 2011

i was visiting a friend's mom in the hospital. the patient in the room next door kept putting her bell on.

each time, it was for the same reason. "help! my husband is trapped under the bed and can't get out.

he died in december of 2002, so he will need some help."

it was sad but strange.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 23, 2011

i was visiting a friend's mom in the hospital. the patient in the room next door kept putting her bell on.
each time, it was for the same reason. "help! my husband is trapped under the bed and can't get out.
he died in december of 2002, so he will need some help."
it was sad but strange.

maybe the authorities should go check the freezer or cellar at her house? :eek: :eek: :eek:

kool-aide, RN · Jun 24, 2011

(post op heart pt)

Me: How can I help you?

pt: Yes, I think I've had a wet fart...

Me: Let's take a peek! hahaha

He turned out to be clean, but it was just so funny! lol

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 24, 2011

Had a patient ring the desk and say she wanted to see the medicine nurse, and when I went in her room, she said, "I'll have 'the works',please." The 'works' were: a pain shot, a muscle relaxer, her 'nerve' medicine, AND her sleeping pill! I called her doc, who was kind of testy about it, saying, "Is it ordered? Is it time? GIVE 'EM TO HER!"

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

Had a patient ring the desk and say she wanted to see the medicine nurse, and when I went in her room, she said, "I'll have 'the works',please." The 'works' were: a pain shot, a muscle relaxer, her 'nerve' medicine, AND her sleeping pill! I called her doc, who was kind of testy about it, saying, "Is it ordered? Is it time? GIVE 'EM TO HER!"

I guess in that situation you just have to look at the bright side... Her Royal Highness won't be bothering you again for a REALLY long time!

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 26, 2011

I guess in that situation you just have to look at the bright side... Her Royal Highness won't be bothering you again for a REALLY long time!

Well, a real indication of her tolerance was that she sat up TALKING to her room-mate for several hours after she had 'the works'. It's my opinion that although she was in for 'back-pain', she was really just taking a kind of legal DRUG VACATION from her 'real' life. She was enjoying herself far too much and knew every one of her drugs, when she'd had them and when they were due again. She was in for at least a week (waaay before insurance/coverage issues) and I think she'd ask for 'the works' every night ! :bugeyes:

futurepractitioner1 · Jun 26, 2011

Okay...I admit it....when I was admitted to the hospital for two weeks in my teens, I got so bored that I hit the call button just ..... because...it was there, (and because I was a 17 year old teenage male).

Perhaps I was delirious and bored out of my mind, aching for some companionship, but I remember that moment of thinking..."hmmmm...what would happen if I hit this button". The power of control overcame me...and I did it--pushed the button!...wasn't so exciting--nobody showed up.

Maybe there should be a warning near the call-button that says something like:

"I know you're thinking of hitting me... You will not change the channels on your TV set, be able to order room-service, dim the room lights, or start rockin out to Lady Gaga by doing so. If you really want to **** off your charge nurse, do so by pushing me for some stupid reason, like the one that's probably in your head right now"