Ever have a patient that "turns" on you?

Nurses General Nursing

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Going good, good rapport.

And, then, BAM.

Have no idea what happened. Miscommunication? Misinterpretation? I didn't see it coming...

As an addendum to my previous post: She was "threatening" to go to The Other Hospital, where she said she would get "better care". Of course, what I really wanted to say was "Be my guest."

I also thought the thread was "turns you on" for a second. lol Yes, I have had this experience. I think most people have. I have seen patients refuse certain nurses for bogus reasons.

During the clinical portion of my CNA class, I specifically was rotated on both the Dementia & Total Dependency floors where there are a lot of sundowning patients.

We would break for lunch 30 minutes and your nicest, most grateful resident may hate your existence when you came back or just confuse you with someone they had a traumatic history with earlier in their life.

The cool thing about seeing people make severe turns in a minute's time is it forces you to be creative in your care because what may have worked before won't work this time around. You also learn that there are ways to feel the job is rewarding beyond hearing the words "Thank You" with resistive and combative residents.

Not sure if my response helps at all but hopefully some people connect to it.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

OMG, I kept reading the title of this thread as 'Ever had a pt who turns you ON?' !!!!

Giving me a fright!:eek: I guess that other thread must be influencing me? :lol2:

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Now and then, yes.

This turn of events has a high degree of correlation with the first time they are denied some request - due to NPO status, upcoming procedure, contraindicated by their condition, etc. ;)

In a split second they go from expressing appreciation ... to calling the patient advocate.

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

The better question would probably be, who of us hasn't had a pt turn on them? The totally unexpected attacks are the worst.

Most of us wear our body armor, (figuratively speaking) to work daily. We let it slip with the pts we like or get along with. Then when those pts attack our defense is inadequate. Sorry you experienced that. It stinks.

Thought it read..."turns you on"....definitely a big No to that one.

Sure, they turn on you. That would be a manipulator, just waiting for a chance to play a trump card.

Many Borderlines out there play this game also. They fool the best of us, don't take it personally.

When I was in one of my first practicums as a student nurse, two 80-some ladies (with a history of serious girl drama) decided to finally end the other once and for all. We're taught to protect the patients from one another and themselves, and I attempted to diffuse. Somewhere in the shaky-armed flailing, one of them gave me a black eye, and continued to pummel me. Yes, I understand she's a frail old lady, but when people are not in their right mind (this was a dementia ward), they can become very harmful. Never take these situations personally!

Always remember that nursing is hard work, and sometimes the patients are just as frustrated as you are and no amount of communication will keep from someone snapping. Stay professional and brush it off, and always protect yourself.

...especially from 80 year old fists!

Specializes in Psychiatry.

"Somewhere in the shaky-armed flailing, one of them gave me a black eye, and continued to pummel me."

This is perhaps the most beautiful sentence I have read in a long while.

The image it evokes is cinematic and, in my opinion, would probably make the most sense shot in super-slo-motion with perhaps Bach's 'Ave Maria' as the background music. The scene is a flashback and begins with ladynurse12's narration of that wonderful sentence. The pummeling would last at least 90 seconds, and would include dentures being displaced from being sunken into flesh, a close-up of an orthopedic shoe-clad foot repeatedly heelstomping an unprotected ribcage, and culminate in a flying elbow to the side of ladynurse12's neck as she covers up in the fetal position. The scene ends as the geriatric assailant spits on our defeated protagonist and gives the middle finger with both hands directly into the camera; freeze frame; fade out.

(Sorry - I've obviously had way too much coffee.)

"Somewhere in the shaky-armed flailing, one of them gave me a black eye, and continued to pummel me."

This is perhaps the most beautiful sentence I have read in a long while.

The image it evokes is cinematic and, in my opinion, would probably make the most sense shot in super-slo-motion with perhaps Bach's 'Ave Maria' as the background music. The scene is a flashback and begins with ladynurse12's narration of that wonderful sentence. The pummeling would last at least 90 seconds, and would include dentures being displaced from being sunken into flesh, a close-up of an orthopedic shoe-clad foot repeatedly heelstomping an unprotected ribcage, and culminate in a flying elbow to the side of ladynurse12's neck as she covers up in the fetal position. The scene ends as the geriatric assailant spits on our defeated protagonist and gives the middle finger with both hands directly into the camera; freeze frame; fade out.

(Sorry - I've obviously had way too much coffee.)

:lol2::yeah::redbeathe

and I too, have gotten the stink eye from many 3 year olds before:) (worked PICU for years)

That's when I've had popsicle hostages.....the ransom was to be asked nicely for one. I've told kids (old enough to understand temper tantrums are NOT going to get the desired result) in front of their apathetic parent (lounging on the bed, ignoring the kid) that they might get away with yelling and screaming for what they want at home, but when they want something from me (obviously not really important stuff), they HAVE to ask in a nice voice. End of conversation. Exit room...... when they ring a few minute later, and ask nicely for a popsicle, they get their choice of anything I've got .....Mom gets zip :) (well, maybe sometimes!!)

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
When I was in one of my first practicums as a student nurse, two 80-some ladies (with a history of serious girl drama) decided to finally end the other once and for all. We're taught to protect the patients from one another and themselves, and I attempted to diffuse. Somewhere in the shaky-armed flailing, one of them gave me a black eye, and continued to pummel me. Yes, I understand she's a frail old lady, but when people are not in their right mind (this was a dementia ward), they can become very harmful. Never take these situations personally!

Always remember that nursing is hard work, and sometimes the patients are just as frustrated as you are and no amount of communication will keep from someone snapping. Stay professional and brush it off, and always protect yourself.

...especially from 80 year old fists!

I know that it's not supposed to be funny, because battery is never funny, but the way you described this scene made me spit out my 'Redneck Coffee'! I think it was the description "hx of serious girl drama" followed with the "shaky-armed flailing" that sent me over the edge.

Isn't it surprising how strong these 'frail' little old ladies actually are?!??!

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