Practical jokes at work

Nurses General Nursing

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What are some of the best practical jokes you have ever pulled off at work?

I was in charge one night and we had a prisnor as a patient. The cop watching him until the county took over was a real jerk. He went out into the waiting room to sleep. An hour into his nap we moved the guy to a room down the hall. He, as well as the cop who was supposed to be watching him, slept thru the entire thing. Another hour went by and 2 county guys came in to relieve the township guy and found him asleep in the waiting room. As they came thru the closed fire doors into the unit we could hear the township cop saying "don't worry about it, he didn't go anywhere." The 3 of them walked into a room with an empty bed with a crumpled up sheet, gown and socks on the floor. All color drained from the cops face as he came out to the desk and stuttered "w-w-wher's m-m-m-my boy?" We nearly died laughing. When they started talking about APB's we fessed up and showed the 3 of them to the patient's new room. The county guys loved it!!

So what about the rest of you? Surgilube on phone earpieces and call the person? Water fights with 60cc syringes?? How do you blow off steam at work?????:roll

What about jokes that backfire?

We had a nurse call a doctor and tell him that when he made rounds there was a patient in bed XX that he was asked to consult on.

It was Halloween. She "made" a patient out of blankets and used a pumpkin for its head--complete with smiling face.

Well, the doc came in too see "the patient" and did not think it was very funny at all. He literally threw a fit. The nurse had already put in her two weeks notice but after this stunt she was asked to leave and not come back. She didn't finish out her last week.

Moral of this story: Never play a joke on someone with no sense of humor.

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What about jokes that backfire?

We had a nurse call a doctor and tell him that when he made rounds there was a patient in bed XX that he was asked to consult on.

It was Halloween. She "made" a patient out of blankets and used a pumpkin for its head--complete with smiling face.

Well, the doc came in too see "the patient" and did not think it was very funny at all. He literally threw a fit. The nurse had already put in her two weeks notice but after this stunt she was asked to leave and not come back. She didn't finish out her last week.

Moral of this story: Never play a joke on someone with no sense of humor.

I certainly hope that doc got that painful stick out of his butt!!!.Shame on administration... for not letting her work out her 2 weeks... but at least she went out in style!!!! Gotta love her spirit!!!:rotfl:
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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

One Halloween we took a plastic skeleton and a noose and "hung" it from the shower in the on call room bathroom. When the house officer on call that night got up to use the bathroom, he could see something strange out of the corner of his eye and it scared him so much he spun around while still peeing . . . . the housekeeper was not pleased!

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i loved playing jokes on people - we just didnt have a lot of spare time.

my favorite is to wet your hand, then walk up behind somebody - like the secretary or doc and act like you are sneezing. at the same time, flick water on the back of their neck. then, i start apologizing. we all got a good laugh doing that on new people.

**************warning adult material*******************

also, about new triage nurses. one of the nurses in the back called the triage desk acting like a patient. she asked the triage nurse (in a very sleezy voice)if its normal to have a fishy smelling discharge. "my boyfriend says its real strong." "when he goes down there and then wants to kiss me - i get sick to my stomach - i heard you can drink cranberry juice to make it go away)the triage nurse was very kind and patient. you could tell she was new.the funny thing is that this isnt too different from real patients.

also, k-y jelly on a door knob or stretcher side rail is always funny.

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Ok, while I was still a CNA at the nursing home, we had a patient who had a necrotic 2nd toe. You could see the bone at the base and everything, and it wiggled around in the joint, and was just WAITING to fall off. I kept telling one of my coworkers that when it fell off, I was gonna string it on a necklace for her to wear.

Anyways, I had that group one evening and we put the garbage in black plastic garbage bags... that coworker was working... I tore a bit of plastic off the bag, and rolled it up... came up to the desk wearing gloves and carrying it... My coworker was looking the other way chatting with the nurse, but the nurse that was facing me as I said "Mary.... I have a present for you!!" (in a sing song voice) The nurse had such a look of horror on her face that my coworker just started screaming, even though she hadn't seen me yet.... was trying to get away but there was only one way out of the nurses station. I just about pee'd my pants laughing over that one!

2nd story-

One of my coworkers at my old job at a hospital was getting some kittens from the same litter I was getting one from. I came into the ED late one night with all 3 kittens, and of course everyone thought they were adorable. The night supervisor called up to the floor and said they were getting 3 admissions... We all proceeded to bring the 3 kittens up to the floor.... My coworker there hadn't quite believed that they'd give her 3 admissions at once....it was still cute tho.:rotfl:

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Specializes in Everything but psych!.

Thank you for all the laughs! My work partner is in deep trouble now. KY on her office door knob. Can't wait. And checking for ketones in a cup of apple juice. Can't wait! :rotfl:

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the fart machine is halarious!!!:rotfl:

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Specializes in Home care, assisted living.

Not a hospital prank, but somewhat related...

My dad used to live with several other guys in his bachelor days and they couldn't afford decent living room furniture. One of the chairs they ended up using was a wheelchair. Every time someone would come to visit, one of the guys would already be sitting in the wheelchair. Once the visitor came in, the guy in the wheelchair would stand up, and the visitor would freak out. :rotfl:

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I have a slightly different twist on the poopy diaper scam.

My kids and I had made edible sculpture once with different kinds of candy so this one came very easily to me.

We had an unbelievable night in our ER that was barely busy. I took one of those large foot long Tootsie Rolls and put it into the microwave for about 10 seconds. When it was warm and soft(don't leave it in too long or it melts and burns)

I rolled it into pieces that looked like poop...complete with little peanuts sticking out of a few surfaces. I placed them in a clean, unused bedpan and walked out to the nurses station where nurses, paramedics, residents and attendings were standing. I put the bedpan on the counter near where everyone was taking candy out of an open candy jar and took a few pieces for myself. The next time I reached for the candy I "accidently" picked up the "poop" and popped it in my mouth.

There was absolute stunned silence as everyone starred at me. I absent-mindedly said "hhmm, pretty good" and took another piece from the bedpan.

By then everyone was either gagging or yelling at me. I finally couldn't hold back the laughter anymore and pulled out the candy wrapper from my pocket.

It's been several years since I worked at that place and theystill say it tops the best practical joke ever (of course they still have not forgiven me either).

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I had to resurrect this thread, it's had me laughing like crazy and I would love to hear more practical jokes!!!

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