We are all supposed to love our jobs and most of us do! But we are all supposed to over look just danged annoying behaviors.
My pet peeve, I do not care for drama patients. You walk out in the hall and they are laughing and having fun with a visitor, they take one look at YOU looking at them and they are hanging on to the walls to help them walk and moaning in pain. I sometimes think my mere presence causes them harm... ;o)
Me: "Great! Your temp is normal!" Patient: "Oh, if it is normal I am SICK! My usual is 72(F).
Me: "Great! Your b/p is 120/70!" Patient: "Oh, if it is normal I am SICK! My usual is 50/10."
I had a patient who we just did gastric bypass, he was NPO before 10 days of clears. He got his wife to sneak him in McDonalds, he actually ate it and blew out his staple line.
When dealing with a family that is completely living off of the state. One family member has MD and the WHOLE FAMILY (mom, sister,sisters 2 kids, second baby daddy) all living off of HUD, claiming hours not worked, food stamps for all while said disabled person has 80 RN hours but bathes once a month because he's too busy playing computer games all day.
I'm a single mom, but I work my butt off to support people like this. Not all are like this but let me tell you, if you can manage WOW all day, you could work from home. You earned a degree, didn't you?????
Attention seeking! I on occasion have patient who have attention seeking behaviors, trigger happy with the call bell (as in every five seconds for trivial things). I always wonder how these patients take care of themselves at home? Like are your family members waiting on you hand and foot and who is whipping your butt for you?
I also dislike the patients who are functional as in they can walk with little assistance and what not but insist on someone bathing them head to toe, like umm - you can definitely wash yourself there buddy.
Also patients who are way over dramatic, like really? You see these patients a lot who are "frequent flyers" . I also dislike it when patients are "fine" and have no problems and are so respectfully and admiring when the Doctors are talking/examining them (for less than 5 seconds mind you) BUT as soon as a nurse walks in they have a million complaints/ disrespectful !!???
I can manage with most behaviours but I hate it when the pt just stares at you blankly.
Me: What can I help you with?
Pt: stares at me
Me: Do you need anything?
Pt: stares at me
Me: You rang your call bell. What can I help you with?
Pt: stares at me
Me: What do you need?
Pt: (finally answers) I need help getting back into bed
Well why couldn't you tell me that the first time. And this is with someone who is verbal, mentally with it etc.
Clearly their having a TIA! Joking aside, I hate it when anyone does that. Kind of on the same line...when someone calls me on my phone, I answer, and there is this looooonnggg pause where they don't say anything. Or just a long drawn out "hiiiiii". AAAAAAhh what do you want and get on with it already!!!!!! If you don't start using your words I will hang up in 3 seconds. Theres 2 people I work with that do this and it drives me nuts
Well, having an MD, BSN, PhD or any other combination of letters after one's last name doesn't actually prevent not so wise things from being conceived and done. I remember how a leading MD, PhD from psych department of very academically advanced place had to be pulled aside and given a friendly talk about what growing up as a male really implies. That happened after he tried to convince everyone that his teenage son had some sort of problem which must be as severe as warranting exam under general anesthesia done same day... apparently, the boy noticed some strange things happening with him early in the morning which left some markings on his underpants and sheets and went to daddy for an advice. Thankfully, the doc did not have a daughter:roflmao:
Specializes in Addictions, psych, corrections, transfers.
It's annoying when a patient doesn't listen to advice when they specifically ask for it and then get angry when they have a bad outcome because they didn't listen. Just a quick example. I had a patient ask for Nicorette gum and she asked how to use it. I instructed her to bite it a couple times and store it in her cheek. She asked, "what if I just chew it like gum?" I stated, "It won't be pleasant. You'll most likely get nauseous or vomit (this is from previous experience)." She takes the gum and says, "I'll just chew." I said, "Okay, it's your choice." She walks out of my office and within seconds I hear vomiting. Then she had the nerve to ask for an anti-emetic. What was hilarious was the other patients had heard me give her the instructions started laughing and said, "that's why you should listen to the nurse." LOL! That's just a silly example but seriously listen to your nurse!
Me: Welcome to recovery, Mr. X. I'll be taking care of you. How are you doing?
Patient: I'm doing okay. Is it over? How did the procedure go.
Me: Yep. All done! It went well. They took out the mass, and they're sending it to pathology for biopsies.
Patient: Oh okay. *blink* So how long have I been here?
Me: You just got here, Mr. X. Just relax a bit. You got some pretty powerful medicine.
Patient: Okay. How did the procedure go?
Me: It went well. They took out the mass, and we're sending it off for biopsies.
Five minutes pass.
Patient: How long have I been back here?
Me: Only about ten minutes. How are you feeling, Mr. X? Everything okay?
Patient: I'm okay. So what happened during the procedure?
Me: They took out the mass, and they're sending it for a biopsy.
Patient: Oh, okay. *dozes*
Ten minutes later
Patient: NURSE. How long have I been back here?
Me: About twenty minutes, Mr. X. How are you feeling? Any pain?
Patient: No, I'm okay. What happened during the procedure?
Me: They took out the mass, and they sent it off for biopsies. I'll talk to you about it when you're more awake.
Patient: I'm awake.
Me: Okay. Well, here's what the doctor wrote in his report. Here's how long it takes to get results back.
Patient: Okay. So I'm okay?
Me: You're okay.
Patient: So how long have I been back here?
Me: About twenty-five minutes.
Patient: And how did the procedure go?
Me, cursing versed, cursing propofol, cursing life in general.
My personal favorite (NOT) is the male uro pts:
"I gotta pee! I gotta pee!! I gotta pee!!!" Followed by: "I gotta stand up! Can't you just take me to the bathroom? I can't go in that thing; I need to get up RIGHT NOW!"
All this about 30 seconds after first opening his eyes.
Summoning me to the room via call light, just to fluff their pillow or bring them a soda. I'm a nurse, not a maid. I'm trying to SAVE your a$$, not kiss it.
CrunchBerries
146 Posts
I had a patient who we just did gastric bypass, he was NPO before 10 days of clears. He got his wife to sneak him in McDonalds, he actually ate it and blew out his staple line.
People!!!!