Published
I am a new psych nurse (this is my first nursing job) and I'm having a hard time with what to say to patients with unrealistic requests. I just recently came off orientation, so I don't have my preceptor with me anymore when dealing with difficult patients.
Recently, I had a patient with intermittent explosive disorder. He was very demanding, threatening to sue me, and promising I would no longer have my job when he was done with me. I didn't feed into these threats and I knew they were unfounded. One request he made at about 2am. He wanted a laxative. I asked when he had his last BM and he said earlier in the morning. On my unit, we don't have standing orders for things like laxatives, Tylenol, etc. Every order has to be either verbal, or by phone. I told him I did not have an order for a laxative and that he could request one when he sees the doctor in the morning, but that I had nothing available to give him right now. He demanded that I call the on call doctor immediately and get him a laxative, and went on and on about how I am causing him physical pain and denying him of his patient rights. I politely pointed out to him that he said he had a BM already that day and that it was not a medical emergency. What I was thinking in my head is that there is no way I'm calling the doctor at 2am for a laxative! We ended up finding him some prune juice.
My question is, did I do the right thing? How do you experienced nurses handle patients that demand you call the doctor when you know it's not an emergency? Do you just flat out say no? I feel like if I tell patients it is not a medical emergency, then they will fake one to get what they want or become violent. I also wanted to set boundaries with this patient too because he was very manipulative. Just curious as to what other nurses would have done.
Thank you!