share the weirdest reasons patients push the call light for

I had a patient who use the call bed every 10 mins asking for a private room as she was sharing. Eventually we gave in and moved her into a single room. Then she buzzed every 10 mins asking to be returned to the other room as she was lonely on her own.

Oh good grief... I suppose if you moved her back she'd request to be moved again! What a night!

Oh my gosh! You would not BELIEVE how many times I've been called in a room to hear them say "Just checking..." I have been called in for numerous requests to fluff my pillow, hand me that glass of water an inch away from my mobile hand, open my straw and put it in my drink, change the tv channel, "my hair's messy" (I did 2 french braids ) all from completely auto patients.

Keely

I had a LOL patient on lacix and dr. wanted a foley placed so she could rest during the night. She refused the foley so she called me every 10 minutes to WATCH her jump out of the bed, void 30cc, and tuck herself back in. I had to chart Pt up to the bathroom independent, 5ft, , pt voided 30cc, and pt returned to bed independent 5 ft. EVERY 10 MINUTES! Ahhh! Luckily I was working with a very nice nurse who helped me.

Keely

A patient once asked someone to spread his butt cheeks so he could fart. The nurses reply...."I will NOT!"

Read this one to my husband, who said that must be a joke. People not in nursing haven't got a clue. Says he couldn't imagine someone actually doing this. Told him this is just another day in the life of a nurse. Has a whole new respect for all of us now.

Had a 32y.o man a while back who walked the halls, went down to smoke and who called to say he needed his butt wiped. Said mama did it at home, we told him he needed to do what he could for himself, but sure enough when mama came in she bathed, wiped him and waited on him hand and foot. Was on the call light constantly until she got there to remind us what we were getting paid for. In the room next to his had a 20y.o who came in for a asthma, was doing much better no signs of resp distress and was awaiting discharge that afternoon. Called wanted a bed bath and fed his breakfast. Now this kid was up moving around too, reminded that he was going home and told him he would be need to be doing these himself when he gets home.
Wrong! mama came in bathed and asctually fed this young man his breakfast.
Good grief

Can hardly believe these stories, I have never unless they are physically unable ever been asked such things. MY BIG question is do you wipe butts when the patient is perfectly able??????????????????? And if you do so why?

My relief last night got a phone call from a visitor ( in the middle of the night) who just happened to be next to the morgue, he wanted to schedule a tour. He had never seen a morgue and just wanted to see what it looked like. She called security so they could tour him out the door.

Oh you have to love that 'that is what you are paid for" Stuff! I am there to treat patients with the technical aspects of their treatments and to provide assistance for things they can not do on their own! So many get a little 'inservice' education on why Nursing theories do say not to enable patients, but to provide instruction so that they may leave the facility and be able to adjust and heal outside of it!~ They also may get a lecture about movement for cardiovascular reasons, or even circulation for healing.

For some reason after that I don't get called as often, wonder why...I only educate them for a LONG time! LOL! (not to mention the speech about nurses being medical professionals!).

My two UHGGGGGg calls yesteday...we have two new ladies in our assisted living facility...so you have to allow time for anxiety and adjustment into a new life. This I understand, but at times it gets so frustrating!

One lady is on the call bell every 10 minutes wanting her daughter...either a nurse call her, or go get her! I guess her daughter was tending for her and doing EVERYTHING for her while she was living with her, including meal choices and even when and when she couldn't go to the bathroom! So she also calls for ALL choises including if she CAN have a tissue for her nose, or once if she could actually eat the meal she was given (she was qued with each bite!!!)! Poor thing, but sheesh...thanks Daughter! Not like I have other patients! SHe is sadly beyond the definition of needy patient!

The other one also has a very controlling daughter, one that tells nurses what to do! OH I love this one, NOT! I came into the room to look at a small skin probelm, a superficial 1cm abrasion and she was barking orders at me like a doc. Telling me I must assume a position in front of the patient, get to eye level, speak loudly but not yell, state my name and occupation, ask to touch..the whole bit as I entered the room even! The daughter calls for everything...even to wipe her brow if she is sweaty! She even chewed out a nurse for putting a pulse oximeter on her index finger instead of her thumb...now I nipped that in the bud right then and there when I did it saying that the manufactures recomendationfor MINE is any finger BUT the thumb and showed t to her (I gave her a copy) and reminded her I worked with paramedics and in the ER and knew what I was doing! (and gave her the old "I monitor my patient not the machine lecture!".). But still she is on the call light for EVERYTHING, and the poor lady is just sitting there helpless to even scratch her own side!

Wonderful huh...and I don't see this changing any time soon...we are going to go nuts! This is assisted living not a SNF!!!!!!! (but yeah, like the admin will let them go...they won't...too much $$$ they would loose!).