How do you deal with a pt. who lies to you?

[RN student09]

I recently had a pt. who we were preparing for a planned surgery. She told me twice that she had had nothing to eat or drink. When she went back she admitted that she had been drinking water. The surgery was cancelled and the doctor and anethesiologist were furious at me!!!!!!!! How do I handle this?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

roflmao!!!!! :roll:roll

i am seriously beginning to think that some people should be required to have a license before breeding.

she was married to a physician and didn't feel inclined to share any info with a lowly nurse. the anesthesiologist walked into the room (having been briefed by me beforehand) and the patient was all smiles and cooperation. quote]

omg i hate that!!! that just **burns** my hide!!!! :angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

i so agree with the both of you. even that physician's wife should be shot. what if the nurse was the final step? arrogance can kill, ya know...

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Speaking of pregnancy tests and patient memory.....our facility policy used to be to allow a female of childbearing age to sign a waiver of pregnancy test. UNTIL the 37-year-old who actively lied to nursing and anesthesia and signed a waiver prior to her non-emergent lap chole. When the surgeon encountered a 5-month uterus, all involved were greatly affected. The anesthesiologist spent the night worrying about the anesthesia impact on the fetus. The admitting nurse did the same. The policy was changed. No female of childbearing age may sign a waiver now.

And the patient? We had to keep her overnight to allow her to regain legal competency in order to "inform" her of her condition. Meanwhile, we couldn't fully explain to her parents and teen children (HIPAA) exactly why she had to spend the night. After an OB/GYN was called in to counsel her, multiple explanations were given.....it was impossible, then she was molested, and finally, oh yeah, she'd slept with an old boyfriend 6 months ago.

Can you tell this is a hot topic with me?!

Yeah, GYN situations can frustrate me endlessly as well.

[Blondie24]

" And some people are just plain dumb.....as in the mother who fed her little guy doughnuts pre-op because "y'all said he could have anything I could see through."

That is hilarious!

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Dear Chade MacK. It is interesting that you brought this up. I used to work in psych but with adults. Any time we had any patient who was making threats toward anyone we had to sent the person they were threatening a certified letter notifying them of that fact with a copy to the local law enforcement agency where the potential victim lived. This was required in Texas and it was required in Idaho. Why would the same not be required, even though the kid was 14? He is still a danger to the public. Email me with more info please, Interesting topic.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

There is a possibility that it could be the way you worded the question.

If you said, "Have you had anything to eat or drink?"...if he or she hadn't had anything that morning, they may have said no.

If you said, "Have you had anything to eat or drink since 10:00 last night? "...that may be why one of the nurses got the answer and you didn't.

[oguesswhat]

Another thing to add to some of what a pt says...be more specific. For example...have you had anything to eat or drink? No...Have you had any water or coffee or juice. Ect. I went in for a a quick surgery for myself and there was a guy there they asked have you had any thing to eat or drink...he said no and then they went further...water or coffee ect. He was like well I had some coffee 2 hours ago like I always do. The nurse was so mad. She asked something to the effect of what part of no eatting or drinking since midnight did you not understand? (but in a nicer way ha) They had to cancel the surgery....I think he had taken sips of water at the water fountain too.