Celebrities and their "special" care

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Sep 18, 2014

Maybe just me, but I wouldn't treat an actual celebrity like a celebrity. After all, they are just people like us.

AdamantiteEnigma · Sep 18, 2014

Honestly, I couldn't answer that question well. I've had a couple of celebrity patients in the past. A few 'VIP's' and some relatives of famous people. I didn't treat them any differently than I treated anyone else. And I've never had a complaint or problem doing that. I've heard some horror stories, but have never experienced it for myself.

David_Lee · Sep 18, 2014

I remember when Kelsey Grammer (I think that's how it's spelled) was at my hospital in Hawaii. It was a bit surreal, but I was over it. He didn't get any special treatment. But, we did have some jerks (edited by mod) go in and ask for his autograph. That ****** off a lot of people in the hospital when they found out.

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 18, 2014

Way long time ago a famous country singer was in the hospital on the floor where I was working. NO ONE was allowed near the room except the charge nurse and the doc. Even the med nurse wasn't allowed to give the meds to that patient. And we were sworn to secrecy about it!

Another place and time a city official was in the hospital with an ejection fraction of 12.5% or something like that. No one was to 'tell' because this official was worried the election would not go his way if people knew.

I treat all my patient's like they are special, because that's how I'd want to be treated.

amoLucia · Sep 19, 2014

Maybe just me, but I wouldn't treat an actual celebrity like a celebrity. After all, they are just people like us.

Yeah, they all have holes in their underwear too.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 19, 2014

Had a client needing blood products at home post bone marrow transplant. Was working at a Childrens sport camp over the summer where current and retired jocks visited. Client was a HUGE Flyers hockey fan: got a puck signed by Bernie Parent who also offered to call the client on their BIRTHDAY! Birthday infusion was huge success in giving positive hope again --transfusions ended following week.

Picked up second sister living in same home due to dementia, caregiver not prefilling meds, food issues: milk in freezer, corn flakes and ice cream in refrigerator, unable to cook--MOW devoured as soon as arrived. The two ladies declined to be bathe, "didn't need help".

Created idea of "a day of beauty"--made up sign which I posted in bathroom as soon as aide or I arrived. Got ladies to roll down urine soaked stockings for special "pedicure" after soaking feet in Epsom salts in bathtub, washing legs, trimming nails/removing callouses and donning fresh hosiery.

It's the little things that can make somebody feel important.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2014

Re: the first few replies, I think Brian is asking what VIP treatment we've given to typical pts. Not what we've done for actual celebrity pts.

So, what types of "special" care have you given your pts in order for them to feel like a celebrity?

That's how I'm taking the question, anyway. :) (But yes I agree with PPs. I have very little patience for VSS's, no matter how many people know who they are. Besides, we do our best for our pts all the time--we don't withhold nursing care so that we can give all if an NFL player or reality star happens to come in.)

A couple weeks ago, I took care of Rapunzel. Well actually she was a 30-something wife, mom, and employee. She was a new admit that day, and initially it was your typical level 1 admission. Intubate, couple trips to CT, put in a ventric, put in lines, give blood, cool to 37 degrees and start all the drips and get labs that go along w/ that... Eventually all the immediately critical stuff settled down, and I got a good look at her hair.

It was the most gorgeous tangled mess I've ever seen. Long, thick, wavy, glossy hair probably down to her butt...and it was incredibly matted. She had a big matted section that the hair pick couldn't even penetrate (find out later, it had essentially been "teased" when the MD shaved part of it for the ventric. The rest was full of knots and small mats, but no impenetrable ones.) And it was bloody. It was SO bad even after only 12 hours since her accident, that I really think best case scenario, she would have lost all her hair. Worst case, she would develop a pressure ulcer and an infection.

It took nearly two hours to get her hair washed, detangled, and braided.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 19, 2014

I have sympathy for celebrity patients. Imagine how frightening it must be to know that some of your caregivers -- the people you are trusting with your well-being, and who will be seeing you in your most vulnerable moments -- may be offered big bucks to divulge private information about me ... or take a picture of me in a vulnerable moment.

I can understand their need to take special precautions and to feel more vulnerable than the average patient. I would be happy to to provide a few special accommodations for them -- as long as safety was not compromised and that other patients were not put at risk either.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2014

I have sympathy for celebrity patients. Imagine how frightening it must be to know that some of your caregivers -- the people you are trusting with your well-being, and who will be seeing you in your most vulnerable moments -- may be offered big bucks to divulge private information about me ... or take a picture of me in a vulnerable moment.
I can understand their need to take special precautions and to feel more vulnerable than the average patient. I would be happy to to provide a few special accommodations for them -- as long as safety was not compromised and that other patients were not put at risk either.

Oh for sure!! In my other reply I was referring more to going the extra mile to make the VIP more physically comfortable. I'm thinking of a certain world leader who came to a certain American hospital for treatment some years back, and really got the royal treatment.

ETA: allegedly really got the royal treatment. I don't know for sure if those stories were exaggerated, and I've never worked at that hospital so haven't seen their VIP areas.

But absolutely, I can see the need for increased security and confidentiality safeguards. Not that we can be careless with Joe Blow's PHI, but no tabloid is going to care about Joe Blow's PHI and looking to print the details of his emesis either.

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 20, 2014

Kind of off-topic a little, but I remember in the early 1980's when Reagan went into the hospital we were treated to newspaper stories and National Network News segments about his hemorrhoid surgery. EGADS! Why did they feel it necessary to inform us about that?

OCNRN63, RN · Sep 22, 2014

What is a "MOW"?

Many years ago I was working at a small community hospital, and we got an admission who supposedly was an Oscar and Grammy winning singer/songwriter. We were give explicit instructions not to ask for autographs or take pictures (pre-cellphone era).

I had a hard time believing this guy would have been at our hospital. One day, one of our aides was pulled to his unit and she wound up taking care of him. I asked her what he looked like, and when she described him I knew he wasn't the person he claimed to be. One of the techs from the lab asked him for an autograph; when it was found out she was terminated, but "Mr. Famous Singer" told administration not to fire her.

The docs were practically falling all over themselves to take care of him. I never saw so many doctors taking care of one patient.

After a few days and a little investigation, it was discovered that he wasn't "Mr. Famous Singer." (They could have saved the money by just asking me!) He was actually an addict who was homeless, so he came up with this story so he could get three hots and a cot. He was discharged shortly thereafter to a drug and alcohol rehab facility.