Faking It

[l.rae]

the best, the worst......what's your experience with pt's faking illneses etc?......seems lately at my ER, seizures seem to be the malady of choice.....l have decided to earn my retirement writing a book on how to fake a realistic seizure......the do's and don'ts....the other evening we had a chick having a "seizure".....full body, but she could talk and make eye contact....hmmm, AND....when l triaged her and asked her if she was having any pain, she said "yes, my chest where the nurse pinched me yesterday"....uh, yeah....she was in the day before with the same c/o. One time, we even cured a sz with a miricale drug called sodium nacl....(pronounced: so-de-um na-kel)..........

tips:

1 do not make eye contact

2 do hit your self in the face with your arm when it is dropped on your face.

3. do not tear up when the amonia cap is broken

4 do piss yourself

5. puking is always effective

ok, that's all l can come up with for now, and l am bored of war talk.....please help me earn my retirement;)

[wrightgd]

Toadly,

Thanks for the insight! Very informative, but even more than that very open and honest. My prayers are with you.

I think this forum should be open to anyone who has an opinion, especially an educated opinion, such as a medical professional or someone with personal experience with a disease or disorder. Agree or not, offended or not, if we open our minds we can learn from each other. Let's call it patient/caregiver communication - "It's a good thing".

Yes, sometimes we see humor in situations that are really quite serious, and we vent in this forum. It's one of our many coping mechanisms. It is an outlet to vent, and distance ourselves from the harsh reality of life, jobs, and all too often death. I don't think Toadly was criticizing anyone's position here, just venting his experience, and perhaps coping with his circumstances. Most of all educating! For that I am grateful!

George

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

When working in a LTC facility with which I was not familiar, I traNsferred a very heavy woman on and off of the toilet, causing me some back pain.

Later, a regular staff member told me that the pt is perfectly capable of toileting herself, and can even walk short distances. Staff also told me this pt always fakes being paralyzed w/ new employees. Wish they would have told me this beforehand.

Another time, a hospice pt faked going blind. She forgot to put on the act one day when she was looking out of her window at the cars in the parking lot. She said "Is that an Iowa plate on that Chevy?"

I said "I thought you couldn't see?"

She replied (with a startled look on her face )"Oh...umm...it comes and goes."

:chuckle