Anyone ever said something completely dumb because they were really nervous?

[ICURN3020]

Once, in an interview (non-nursing job), I was asked that age-old question, "Tell me about some of your strengths and weaknesses". My reply for my weaknesses:: "I'm always late." Needless to say I didn't get the job.

[ICURN3020]

ICURN3020 Love it! We have to laugh at ourselves.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]15753[/ATTACH]

Yep, very true. If we don't laugh....we'll cry!

[SeattleJess]

This one isn't funny. Family deciding on comfort care for Grandma were taking their own sweet time making a firm decision. Finally they announced to me they wanted to begin comfort only procedures. My response? "Wonderful!"

Still coughing up the leather sole of my shoe from that one. Pretty mad at myself actually. What an idiot.

Not an idiot. It's hard to watch your patient suffer while the family works through denial. You made a mistake based on your concern for Grandma. You won't do it again. Forgive yourself, please.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I have told this story a few times . . .

I was a new nurse and my patient had just become PICU status and was in the process of being transferred. The kid was going to be fine- just needed closer watching. Mom was freaking out that he was now ICU status and had called someone on her phone and was sobbing. She was all alone, they were here on a vacation from out of state, and she was very high strung. I had observed earlier that she had set a rosary and a card with a saint's picture on it on her child's pillow. After hearing her sobbing on the phone, I felt she needed someone to support her, so I quietly asked her if she would like me to call a priest. She started sobbing louder and screamed into the phone to whomever she was talking to, "Oh my God! They are calling a priest! It must be really bad!!"

I found myself in the manager's office trying to explain that one later.

[Elle23]

The patient stated, "I don't have -insert diagnosis here-, why do I need to take it?" I had a deer-in-the-headlights look on my face when I realized, the doctor had not discussed the diagnosis to the patient yet.

You did absolutely nothing wrong. It was the doctor who was negligent in that case, in my opinion.

Did he/ she just assume patients will take any random new pill without wondering what it was for? I know I wouldn't.

The doctor should have discussed the diagnosis with the patient before instituting any treatment. Whatever happened to informed consent?

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I have told this story a few times . . .

I was a new nurse and my patient had just become PICU status and was in the process of being transferred. The kid was going to be fine- just needed closer watching. Mom was freaking out that he was now ICU status and had called someone on her phone and was sobbing. She was all alone, they were here on a vacation from out of state, and she was very high strung. I had observed earlier that she had set a rosary and a card with a saint's picture on it on her child's pillow. After hearing her sobbing on the phone, I felt she needed someone to support her, so I quietly asked her if she would like me to call a priest. She started sobbing louder and screamed into the phone to whomever she was talking to, "Oh my God! They are calling a priest! It must be really bad!!"

I found myself in the manager's office trying to explain that one later.

OY! YIKES! .....Sounds like something I would say! Not so funny for the mother at the time, I guess;

should I admit how hard I laughed when I read it?

[Beautiful Mind RN]

You did absolutely nothing wrong. It was the doctor who was negligent in that case, in my opinion.

Did he/ she just assume patients will take any random new pill without wondering what it was for? I know I wouldn't.

The doctor should have discussed the diagnosis with the patient before instituting any treatment. Whatever happened to informed consent?

Ironnically, that is what my professor told me afterwards. But it was still a growing moment for me!

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Who could not love someone who responded like that? The response says, "honesty, integrity and trustworthiness".

Yes! I was thinking along those same lines.

[Karou]

I blurt out stupid thoughtless things all the time.

My most annoying is automatically saying words of encouragement like, "that's fantastic" or, "awesome". It's really obnoxious and I try to check myself when I notice I'm doing it frequently. Sometimes it's plain not appropriate and sometimes it's just odd and comes off as immature.

I frequently ASSuME gender and ways people are related :face palm:

You would think I would learn but I don't.

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

When I worked in urgent care, we always asked the female patients when was their last period. I started becoming a little nervous about how to ask the ones in the 50-55 year old group. Some would say they haven't had a period in years, some had hysterectomies, some didn't remember, so I just started asking if they still get their period, then when was the last one. One lady freaked out on me for asking if she still got her period. She was all like, "YES I STILL GET IT!!! I'm not THAT old!!"

[BlackSkimmer]

Once in a job interview I was asked about a specific job experience I had had. I said, "Sorry, you must be thinking of someone else. I haven't done that." Turns out it was on my resume and I did do it. It was the way it was worded that threw me off. I got the job anyway, which was nice.

Ditto about assuming gender, and also sexual orientation. That is something I'm working on a lot. I'm trying to use "they/them/their" and "partner/significant other" as much as I can.

[libran1984, ASN, RN]

Pt had a sz in church

I said, "well you sure were filled with the spirit!"

[LWitcher, BSN]

All I can say is LOL to these post, I am pretty sure I said or done a majority of them!