Feed me, Seymour! When patients want forbidden food...

Specialties Emergency

Published

I love people that ask for food that are in no condition to eat! Anyone have stories to share about patients begging for food, sneaking food, etc.

Examples:

Last week, when someone going out from the propofol so we could stick his dislocated shoulder back in, his last words were "Can you guys bring me some chips and soda..."

And the day before that, a guy that had smoked a bunch of K-2 and showed up unconscious, covered in disturbingly recognizable taco-bell barf. He demanded popsicles and jello after he regained consciousness because he "didn't have anything to eat all day" and "this is a hospital so I KNOW you have jello and popsicles!"

Or the patient with a blood glucose of 1620 wanting a coca-cola because he's thirsty.

Do share anything food and nursing related. Cute, foul, funny, anything...

Specializes in ER, Addictions, Geriatrics.
When they say they haven't had anything to eat all day I get real excited and tell them that it's great. They have done exactly the right thing and now we can proceed without having to worry that they have messed things up by arriving with a full stomach.

Hahaha I'm going to do this from now on!

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Specializes in RN.

23 y/o female in for chest pain. Before she even had a chest X-RAY, husband comes to the hallway and asks a tech " she's hungry, can she get something to eat?" Me; no. She hasn't even had an X-RAY yet.

Approx 10 mins later; husband asks 1 of the staff "can she have some water?" Which was relayed to me.

I went to their room and explained "until we get results back it is not good to introduce food or water into your system. We aren't sure what is causing your pain yet and food and drink may hinder further testing or mask other symptoms. But we'll get you something when we Cana and I'll keep you updated."

10-15 minutes later upon returning to the dept after transferring one of my other patients upstairs the another nurse has a plate of food - turkey sandwich, condiments, drink....I ask "did they ask for food AGAIN?"

I never went back in there again and I let someone else discharge her. I can't stand people like that.

If all you can focus on is food and getting someone to play waiter/waitress, then you need to get the "H" out of here, is what I wanted so badly to say.

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Had a patient come in by EMS tonight fully immobilized, post MVC. C/O severe pain R chest with deep breaths, and neck pain, 10/10 on pain scale. He asked the rad tech on the way back to ER from CT if meal tray could be ordered. I about died, how exactly are you planning on eating while restrained to backboard with C-collar???

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Specializes in ER.
Had a patient come in by EMS tonight fully immobilized, post MVC. C/O severe pain R chest with deep breaths, and neck pain, 10/10 on pain scale. He asked the rad tech on the way back to ER from CT if meal tray could be ordered. I about died, how exactly are you planning on eating while restrained to backboard with C-collar???

Maybe you could get a dolly and wheel him around like Hannibal Lecter...?

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

Maybe you could get a dolly and wheel him around like Hannibal Lecter...?

Bahahahaha! That image is burned into my mind now!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I love it when you're in triage and patients come in c/o abdominal pain / N/V/D yet there they are in the waiting room munching on M&Ms.

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Specializes in ER.

I always document the juxtaposition if I have time. We had a triage nurse that was excellent at this.

"Pt c/o of 10/10 aching, abdominal pain and 'extreme nausea'. Sitting calmly in waiting room chatting with family and watching television, eating a bag of M & Ms and drinking soda" etc... I loved reading those.

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Specializes in ER.

: ) Mission accomplished!

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Specializes in ER.

Oh, you all didn't know that RN stands for Refreshments & Narcotics? I sometimes think I spent thousands of dollars to become a waitress. It bothers me a little bit when patients ask for food upon arrival, but drives me NUTS when visitors ask. Last night I had one family member say to another "better put in your order with that nurse if you want something". I laughed and said "I'm not a waitress, and this isn't Applebee's". Shortly after, same family requested a large cup, a root beer, and a cup of ice cream. For each of them. To make root beer floats at 0330.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
the patient with a blood glucose of 1620 wanting a coca-cola because he's thirsty.

Of course he is thirsty, you would be too.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Had a patient come in by EMS tonight fully immobilized, post MVC. C/O severe pain R chest with deep breaths, and neck pain, 10/10 on pain scale. He asked the rad tech on the way back to ER from CT if meal tray could be ordered. I about died, how exactly are you planning on eating while restrained to backboard with C-collar???

I say you offer to put it all in a blender with a straw so he doesn't have to move at all

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After I had a baby I got handed that nasty turkey sandwich, the same ones we give out in the ER--Karma is a bi#$%:roflmao:

I looked at that sandwich like, really? This?

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