share the weirdest reasons patients push the call light for

During my CNA training I had to do several bed baths at a NH where we trained. After i completed getting my assigned pt up and ready for the day i was called in a gentlemans room to assist one of my classmates because she could not handle being alone with this man any longer. The man was bed bound but still had great function of his hands (you had to watch out for where he would grab). He refused to help in any way with the washing. So by the time we get to his genitals he has asked me 5 times if I am married and if I like older men. I am just glad that one of the male CNA's that work with this Pt finally came in. When i told my husband later that night he just laughed and said he hoped that he could be a dirty old man too someday.

mizzyrite25 ... I was sooooo hoping you were going to say that the male CNA said that he DID like older men!

That would have been great but he just made the guy stop leering at my scrub top by distracting him with sports stories.

At your scrub top or down it? I had a fellow for a long time and every morning when I was tying his shoes, he asked me to lean a little closer so that he could see "those gorgeous mountains". I started putting his shoes on in bed with my back to him or waiting for the physiotherapist (male) to help me. Ick!

Hahaha I do not want to know if he got a peek or not, i would think not because i wear a tank under my scrubs. If he did get a peek, then I am glad he didnt call them gorgeous mountains!

Young guy, obese but still able to move, calls me into the room and asks me to push the buttons on the telephone for him so he could make a phone call. He then handed me the phone.

I said, "I know you're not feeling well, but we encourage patients to do as much as they can for themselves, and pushing the buttons on the telephone is one task that I believe you'll have no trouble doing independently."

I have one guy who wears a texas cath who rings the call bell to find out which nurse is working, then rings to say his texas cath fell off.. Problem is it falls off constantly although TRUST ME we make sure that it is on SNUG!! His roomate has said many times he pulls it off depending on who is working.. Its gross!

We also have quite a few people at this LTC/rehab facility who have personal phones These become abuse mechanisms for us nurses. They will call all hours of the night to ask for petty things such as "who is working, Who will be the tx nurse tomorrow etc." the best is from a patient who is a quad pt that has a phone in which she uses a toothbrush in her mouth to dial the numbers. She is one of those "never satisfied although you just spent :LITERALLY: 2 hours in my room." kind of people. She will call the Nurse's station to say she "cannot reach her phone"... ***???? how can you call if you cannot reach the phone???? Her family will call cussing the staff saying she called them stating she can't reach her phone! Go figure!

Oh pt phones! 911 called us one night because the lady in room 16 wanted a nurse and couldn't find her callbell. Another pt called 911 because his doctor hadn't been in for a few days. Another called a neighbouring hospital because she thought she might get better care there, she was looking for a better doctor too. Another called 911 because he was in pain. He'd seen that on TV. But, sir, you're in the hospital!!

oh yes tons of 911 calls.. we got the pts that call 911 to go out to hospital because they "didn't want to bother the nurse" or the call then refuse to go out!

Well - yesterday was a first. Called to a pts room who was sitting up in bed with her tray table/breakfast in front of her. "I don't have a fork." I located the fork which the kitchen had stacked under her spoon. Asked if I could assist her in opening/cutting etc. "No - you may go." Halfway down the hall again - the light goes on. CNA was on her way and I waved her off and said - thanks, I've got it...and returned "How in the HELL do you expect me to eat breakfast when you have welded my call light to my fork?" CNA followed me into the room at that time and stood confused. I didn't miss a beat. I quickly set the spoon and fork on the opposite side of her plate. Unsnapped her call light and placed it on the other side of her bed - and said that should take care of it. She then asked if she should push the call light then? I explained, no, I'm already in your room and can I do anything else for you. "No - you may go." CNA is still standing there confused. I just smiled. We left. Call light went back on. I was then already at the desk when the charge nurse was in that hallway and I asked her to please look in on my pt and see if I was needed. She soon came back out and said nope, I simply had to put the smoke out in the chair across the room with the call light and she's happy now.

Those call lights....pretty versatile things, aren't they?