Bizarre, Odd or just plain Gross Patient Habits.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

What bizarre , odd or really strange things have you seen patients or families do that you never thought of someone doing until you became a nurse?

My odd thing is that alot of male patients hock up phlegm into their partially filled urinals. They could have a yankuer suction, spare cups, emesis basin, but they insist on spitting in the urinal. It is really gross to dump that.

I have had a number of male patients that will sleep sitting up with their bedspread over their heads...even in very dark private room. I have never seen a woman do this,...just men. Does anyone know the reason?

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

What bizarre , odd or really strange things have you seen patients or families do that you never thought of someone doing until you became a nurse?

My odd thing is that alot of male patients hock up phlegm into their partially filled urinals. They could have a yankuer suction, spare cups, emesis basin, but they insist on spitting in the urinal. It is really gross to dump that.

I have had a number of male patients that will sleep sitting up with their bedspread over their heads...even in very dark private room. I have never seen a woman do this,...just men. Does anyone know the reason?

I really can't think of anything weird my patients have done yet (I'm really new, though). I just wanted to say that my 12 year old son covers his head with the bedspread too. I don't have a clue why, though. :wink2:

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

What bizarre , odd or really strange things have you seen patients or families do that you never thought of someone doing until you became a nurse?

When I worked nights on tele, We had a woman come in with chest pain rule out MI. She was from out of town,and had come in for a rare jewel and gem convention in the city.

She was very nervous and anxious. and the male nurse who admitted her told us that she was very frightened, stating that the Russian Mafia was after her jewels. She asked him for a couple of cloth washcloths. I did not witness this myself, but the other nurse told us that he watched her wrap her jewels in the washcloths, roll up the washcloths and proceed to place them in a very private place on her anatomy.

GROSS!!! :barf01:

[thomasgbsn]

What bizarre , odd or really strange things have you seen patients or families do that you never thought of someone doing until you became a nurse?

My odd thing is that alot of male patients hock up phlegm into their partially filled urinals. They could have a yankuer suction, spare cups, emesis basin, but they insist on spitting in the urinal. It is really gross to dump that.

I have had a number of male patients that will sleep sitting up with their bedspread over their heads...even in very dark private room. I have never seen a woman do this,...just men. Does anyone know the reason?

There could be a few reasons why a male does this.

#1- Men are likely to be embarassed within a hospital setting as a patient and cover their heads, trying to "hide".

#2- It could be for protection, afraid that during the night someone or something might come in and "get" them while they are asleep. The blanket/sheet over their head would give them forewarning that someone is about to get into their personal space. A territorial thing.

I hope this helps in your understanding of male behavior.

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

Oh, that's nothing. You should work in a psychiatric hospital.

I don't feel comfortable giving details about specific patients, however.

You would laugh, though.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I guess the thing that grosses me out is when ANYone (including patients) go to the toilet and then refuse to wash hands afterward. yuck.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I've had quite a few pts digitally disimpact themselves on a regular basis...even when they weren't consipated.

[BabyRN2Be]

When I worked nights on tele, We had a woman come in with chest pain rule out MI. She was from out of town,and had come in for a rare jewel and gem convention in the city.

She was very nervous and anxious. and the male nurse who admitted her told us that she was very frightened, stating that the Russian Mafia was after her jewels. She asked him for a couple of cloth washcloths. I did not witness this myself, but the other nurse told us that he watched her wrap her jewels in the washcloths, roll up the washcloths and proceed to place them in a very private place on her anatomy.

GROSS!!! :barf01:

Oh dear... just curious, was a psych eval done on her as well? I know that around here if you come in talking that the Russian Mafia was after you, that'd probably get you a few days stay in one of our psych units.

[pricklypear]

I had a patient once who refused to use toilet paper to wipe. He insisted on reaching around and splashing his bottom with the water from the toilet. Of course, he didn't want to wash his hands after.

[not now, RN]

I was cutting a resident's fingernails and when I got to his (very long) pinky nail he refused to let me cut it. I asked him why and he mimed picking his nose with it.

I also have someone who spits phlem in his urinal.

Another man will pee on everything. He's bed/chair bound and if he doesn't feel like using his urinal he'll use cups, bowls, plates...whatever. We only give him disposable tableware for this reason. He also likes to stick things in his pants. When I was a CNA I would have him up in the Vera lift, pull down his pants and out would fall the remote control, toothpaste and toothbrush.

[linda scottish nurse]

What bizarre , odd or really strange things have you seen patients or families do that you never thought of someone doing until you became a nurse?

My odd thing is that alot of male patients hock up phlegm into their partially filled urinals. They could have a yankuer suction, spare cups, emesis basin, but they insist on spitting in the urinal. It is really gross to dump that.

I have had a number of male patients that will sleep sitting up with their bedspread over their heads...even in very dark private room. I have never seen a woman do this,...just men. Does anyone know the reason?

I SAW ONE GUY TAKE OUT HIS False eye and clean it in his mouth and then stick it back in his eye socket-was funny!!!! Also saw the same patient get out of bed in the middle of night and pissed on another patient

[Luv2BAnurse]

I really can't think of anything weird my patients have done yet (I'm really new, though). I just wanted to say that my 12 year old son covers his head with the bedspread too. I don't have a clue why, though. :wink2:

......now that you mention it....my son does that too.

I have slept with cover over my head when I have a bad cold and raw sore throat...something about breathing that humidified pre-used air makes my throat hurt less. HAHA.