Funny doctor orders

Published

Specializes in Cadiothoracic, psychiatric.

I worked at a teaching hospital for about a year. I really enjoyed closely interacting with the interns, residents and staff physicians. Many times hilarious orders were written by the newbies. One of my personal favorites was from an intern who only wrote "Vicodin" and that was it. No route, dosage, frequency, etc. Haha! We also had a doctor write "b4" in the chart. We assumed they meant "before." I guess they forgot that this wasn't text messaging. Lol! We also had an older doctor who would write things like, "please call help desk to get the printer fixed." Yes, in the chart. Good times. Please share any of your funny stories from charts!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

This isn't the doc's fault, but it had me laughing for a few days. One of my cardiologists ordered an EKG for a patient in behavioral health (so in the unit clerk's defense, I'm sure they don't get many orders for EKGs or similar), but when my order printer kicked out the paper copy in my department so I would know to go and take the test, typed in the "comments" field for this patient's EKG order was "the doctor ordered a bradycardia." My response: O RLY? I made my doc a photocopy and it's hanging on his corkboard in his office now. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have'nt seen any funny ones (bc there actually pretty sad) but I hate when a dr writes "WC TO LE" like.. can you be more specific please?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I worked at a teaching hospital for about a year. I really enjoyed closely interacting with the interns, residents and staff physicians. Many times hilarious orders were written by the newbies. One of my personal favorites was from an intern who only wrote "Vicodin" and that was it. No route, dosage, frequency, etc. Haha! We also had a doctor write "b4" in the chart. We assumed they meant "before." I guess they forgot that this wasn't text messaging. Lol! We also had an older doctor who would write things like, "please call help desk to get the printer fixed." Yes, in the chart. Good times. Please share any of your funny stories from charts!

Hilarious! :lol2:

Did you bring it to his attention? What did he say?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have'nt seen any funny ones (bc there actually pretty sad) but I hate when a dr writes "WC TO LE" like.. can you be more specific please?

So, I'm guessing that TO=throughout, and LE=lower extremity, but what is WC?

Sorry I don't have any of my own to post.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
So, I'm guessing that TO=throughout, and LE=lower extremity, but what is WC?

Sorry I don't have any of my own to post.

My guess is "wound care." We only use "WC" to mean wheelchair...but that doesn't make sense in this context.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So, I'm guessing that TO=throughout, and LE=lower extremity, but what is WC?

Sorry I don't have any of my own to post.

Wound care to lower extremity. Sadly I can figure out what they meant.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Uhhh yeah wound care. Sorry I work in Home health. BUt we use both wound care and wheelchair actually

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
So, I'm guessing that TO=throughout, and LE=lower extremity, but what is WC?

Sorry I don't have any of my own to post.

Wet Compresses?

Water Closet?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

Haha.. recently there was an order for orthostatic BP's and then following that were some unidentifiable hieroglyphic-looking figures.. no one could figure it out until the UM realized it was drawings of actual "orthostatics". There was a picture of a very crude looking stick figure person lying down, sitting, and standing, except it just looked like strange ancient characters that no one understood. Orders in secret codes! Only the intellectually privileged can follow them.. :clown:

Um, Doc, we know what orthostatics are! We don't need visual depictions, but thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, palliative, pain management.

This one recently from an older surgeon who really doesn't believe in pain management....

"Absolutely NO NARCOTICS"

Next line......

1-2 tabs of t3s q 4h prn

That left us wondering........ does he not know what a narcotic is????

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Haha.. recently there was an order for orthostatic BP's and then following that were some unidentifiable hieroglyphic-looking figures.. no one could figure it out until the UM realized it was drawings of actual "orthostatics". There was a picture of a very crude looking stick figure person lying down, sitting, and standing, except it just looked like strange ancient characters that no one understood. Orders in secret codes! Only the intellectually privileged can follow them.. :clown:

Um, Doc, we know what orthostatics are! We don't need visual depictions, but thanks!

:yeah: ROFLOL! I almost peed my pants!

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion