A patient flat out lied about me

Published

There was a patient who came into the clinic and when they found out they were going to need an IV they said "no I don't want this test, I'm a needle phobic and I'm leaving, please call my doctor and tell them I refused". So that's what I did. I also notated all of this information on their chart and that the doctor was aware.

I was very nice and understanding with this person. I even offered to have the doctor give them lidocaine prior to the IV and they refused. This patient said I wish all nurses were as kind and understanding as you've been with me. The following day I get a call from the DON who said this patient called to complain about me refusing to start their IV because they had lousy veins and I basically told them to just leave. I am stunned. I shouldn't be, but I am stunned, and hurt. Thankfully my DON doesn't believe any of it but had to fill out an SOE just the same. That's what hurts me.

There was a patient who came into the clinic and when they found out they were going to need an IV they said "no I don't want this test, I'm a needle phobic and I'm leaving, please call my doctor and tell them I refused". So that's what I did. I also notated all of this information on their chart and that the doctor was aware.

I was very nice and understanding with this person. I even offered to have the doctor give them lidocaine prior to the IV and they refused. This patient said I wish all nurses were as kind and understanding as you've been with me. The following day I get a call from the DON who said this patient called to complain about me refusing to start their IV because they had lousy veins and I basically told them to just leave. I am stunned. I shouldn't be, but I am stunned, and hurt. Thankfully my DON doesn't believe any of it but had to fill out an SOE just the same. That's what hurts me.

You did nothing wrong and we're "by the book" in documenting everything. The only thing I might have done differently would be to have another RN or the MD come in to speak the patient about the need for the IV and the med. That way, it's not just "your word against his/hers" regarding the refusal.

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I had a patient lie about me and was told by management that I should have used "better communication skills." I'm still not sure how better communication skills would have changed that patient's character for the better to where he didn't lie. And even if it had, it was his momma's job to raise him right, not mine!

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

People are sick in the head. You've met just one of them. You will meet many. Don't sweat it and let it go. Your charting proves it.

Period.

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After being in the ER, I've just gotten used to assuming just about everyone is at least slightly full of s*** about whatever it is their telling me about.

People flat out lie, exaggerate, get melodramatic, and have fairy-tale recollections.

One of my favorites is "I've been in this room for 6 hours and NO ONE has come in here." Meanwhile, the MD has been in there twice, I've been in there dozens of times getting them blankets, juice, starting an IV, giving meds, etc.

People suck. A few of them are genuine and nice, but I truly realized this last night when I was going on and on about a genuinely nice patient I had who was actually sick. I realized how exceptional it is, and it made me sad.

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So tech told me this guy had lied about her the day before offering them a bath, so I made sure to witness her walking in the room and asking if they would like supplies or help bathing their son (peds patient.) He says no. She heard it, I heard it. Later in the day, I hear him telling her (the person that offered a bath) that nobody had come in for two days and offered their son a bath!

Later that day he reported me because he didn't like the way I put his son in the bathtub, I just "threw him in there." Which was interesting, because I distinctly remember helping his wife undress the kid and HIS WIFE carrying the kid to the bathtub.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

It happens. Document, document. That's about all you can do.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Any idea what the patient really wanted? Have seen many patients hospital shop trying for specific drugs. An IV might mean no Percocet, making the patient leave, and trying to set up an argument to fight the bill. More important is how the hospital treated you! "Make everyone happy" attitude when some patients insist on unethical or illegal care. If you're not backed up, you're in a bad place to begin with.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

But the good thing you did is you have note it. Well there are lots of individual like that and as what other have said don't let them mess person like us. and be careful next time, always make note of it. To really make sure of it, let it documented and don't get intimated just because they been that kind to you.

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After a first refusal, I would ask a co-worker to come back with me to talk to the px so s/he can witness the refusal. If it is a refusal for a significant treatment the doctor is notified and talks to the px. If it doesn't work, Px is then asked to sign that they refused doctor's orders.

My grandma is so tiny, so meek and so nice. But on the few, very rare instances she gets hospitalized (she is 80 and has only been hospitalizes 2x in the last 30 years) she turns into a monster, refusing anything and everything, even a tylenol, until her doctor comes in to talk to her. Her physical therapist would prescribe at home exercises to her which she swears she does, that I know she doesn't, which the PT also knows after an evaluation that she's lying behind her sweet, innocent smile.

Be always on your guard;)

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No patient is your friend.

They will turn on you in a second.

Document everything every single time.

Cover yourself.

Report everything.

You can find a better employer.

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Specializes in med surg,.

I have been here before. It is funny I had worked as a nurse in ltc and hospital rehab and never had complaints in fact most of the family loved me. Then I started working med surg and there was complaints. One was I didnt care about the patient because she was big. There are people who are manipulative and enjoy get people in trouble even if they know its a flat out lie.

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No, you should not be stunned. This happens all the time. And the sad part is you have to prove yourself innocent. The nurse is always wrong no matter the case.

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