Call bells! I am beginning to think call bells are the worst invention in the world.
Ring, ring ,ring.
Today, the call bells were crazy. Our secretary kept track. We had 97 call bells in 2 1/2 hours from 26 pts. Several retreat offenders. You know the ones. They ring, you tell them you will be there shorty, 30 secs later, they ring again, and again and again. Look lady, my kegs are short, I simply cannot get from the nursing station to you in 30 secs.
One pt keeps ringing because he's lonely. One just puts her finger and the button and holds it until her nurse gets there.
One pt rang to have her table cleaned off.
Good thing I wasn't playing the drinking game, one drink for every call bell. I wouldn't sober up until Xmas!
My favorite... I need to use the bedpan - provide it and ask "Do you need anything else?" NO I'm fine, thank you. Walk out, calls 5 minutes later, I need to be turned...same scenario happened three more times with the pt saying they didn't need anything else only to call again 5 minutes later. UGH!
Some of these are great. As an ED nurse I get to say things like, "I'm very sorry, but this is not a public area, you can return to the room or go to the lobby" to family members trying to mad dog me for gingerale during report. Or, "we prioritize our time based on how sick people are" when the ice cream is too cold. And finally, "the food and drinks are for the pt, the cafeteria is open till midnight and there are vending machines in the lobby, or I can point you to the nearest 24 drive through"
My call light orientation clearly tells people that the call light doesn't turn the tv on all the time, and they should have their family member stand up (gasp) and push the button on the tv.
I'm in LTC. Calls lights drive me insane! One lady called over 500 times in 1 month for things like: drink of water, scratch her nose, wipe her eyes, move blanket 1", blow her nose, water her plant. I'm not exaggerating! She can use her hands (says PT) but refuses.
I'm in LTC. Calls lights drive me insane! One lady called over 500 times in 1 month for things like: drink of water, scratch her nose, wipe her eyes, move blanket 1", blow her nose, water her plant. I'm not exaggerating! She can use her hands (says PT) but refuses.
At least in acute you know they'll leave!
I think if I had this patient I would leave. That's like 17 times per day. In LTC.
Last weekend, I got the supreme pleasure of juggling a sweet DLOL ringing 15 mins saying she wanted the toilet, (but really was just anxious and lonely) and an unpleasant DLOM who kept calling to inform me that he was calling the cops, his lawyer, the state AG, and his congressmen because we wouldn't let him go back to the front lines to fight in WW2. (At least I'm guessing WW2, as he was talking about the Germans.)
Last weekend, I got the supreme pleasure of juggling a sweet DLOL ringing 15 mins saying she wanted the toilet, (but really was just anxious and lonely) and an unpleasant DLOM who kept calling to inform me that he was calling the cops, his lawyer, the state AG, and his congressmen because we wouldn't let him go back to the front lines to fight in WW2. (At least I'm guessing WW2, as he was talking about the Germans.)
I had a lady (in the dining room, mind you) threatening to call the police, call the mayor, and report us because she thought she was being ignored. I went up to her and asked if she needed anything and she had the sweetest smile on her face and said "no thank you sweetheart, I'm fine" [emoji29]
The absolute worst are the people who hit the call light while you are still in the room. We had a guy doing that a few weeks ago that was on the bipap and would hit the light literally and actually at least every five minutes to ask for ice chips. Not super conducive to bipap time.
He would hit the light while you were in the room telling him he couldn't have ice again for however many minutes. If you asked him why he would say he was hoping who ever came in to answer it the next time would give him ice chips.
The absolute worst are the people who hit the call light while you are still in the room. We had a guy doing that a few weeks ago that was on the bipap and would hit the light literally and actually at least every five minutes to ask for ice chips. Not super conducive to bipap time.
He would hit the light while you were in the room telling him he couldn't have ice again for however many minutes. If you asked him why he would say he was hoping who ever came in to answer it the next time would give him ice chips.
These people just end up with an ETT and a propofol drip.
I had a new admit put on her light because she wanted a drink of water. I said, OK, that's what's in this cup right here. She gave me the most fake smile and said "my arm is broken". I said "what about the one you used to press your call light?" Wiped the smile right off of her face and we established quickly that we were not here to do for her what she could do for herself.
Absolutely no lie I had a patient ring his bell 27 times in an hour. He was a double amputee and a nice guy but just needy as heck. He would literally ring his bells the minute I walked out the door. Bear in mind this is LTC and my patient load is often 20 plus patients. At one point I walked into his room and said "You're killing me Smalls!" He laughed and said "I loved that movie!" He had about 3 months of therapy while he learned how to use his new legs. We finally worked out a system where he could make a list so we could address several needs at one time.
greenerpastures
190 Posts
My favorite... I need to use the bedpan - provide it and ask "Do you need anything else?" NO I'm fine, thank you. Walk out, calls 5 minutes later, I need to be turned...same scenario happened three more times with the pt saying they didn't need anything else only to call again 5 minutes later. UGH!