the thread about strange patient requests is about seven years old now, so let's start a new one. what is the most inappropriate request a patient has ever made of you?
a patient once asked me to tell his girlfriend that he never wanted to see her again.
"let me get this straight," i said. "you want me to break up with your girlfriend for you?"
"yeah, that's it. i've been getting tired of the (bad word that means female dog) anyway."
and then there was the patient who asked me to toilet his mother, who was visiting. she was in her 80s and the patient was concerned because his wife, who had brought the mother in to visit, "doesn't like to help her out with that." guess what. neither do i, and it's not as if i could leave the icu to go out to the visitor's bathroom and toilet his mother anyway. even had i wanted to.
and then there was the woman who wanted me to babysit her children in the icu room because "granny always watches my kids when i go out to party. i'll just leave them here with her, and you can help her watch 'em."
a long time ago, i was called to a patient's room and she had at least 5 visitors. the patient was sitting up, alert, coherent, talking, and visiting with these healthy, engaged, and animated family members who all walked in under their own power. the daughter asked me if i could get "mother" a cup of water. ummm, sure.
oh, did i mention that there was (in plain sight) a fresh water pitcher with new cups and straws sitting no more than 12 inches away from the patient?
c'mon! seriously???
all i can think of is that sometimes visitors are afraid they'll get yelled at if they themselves use something in a patient area. once when i was visiting my hospitalized grandma when i was in college, i blew my nose on a hospital kleenex then got a drink from the sink using an extra clean glass. a nurse ratchet-type read me the riot act for using hospital property that had been intended for patients use only. it was so hard, but i kept my big fat mouth shut for once. :angryfire
I spent the last two days caring for a 70-ish, demented man. Helping him to the bathroom, helping him set up to eat, adjusting room temp when he's cold, ect.
I'm sure you say, "that sounds like typical nursing care". And I would agree, if he were my patient. Nope, he's my patient's husband whom the family dropped off because they were to busy to stay with him while she was in the hospital.
Not too long ago we had a baby's father ask the nurse to measure his (the baby's) member before the doc did his circumcision. Ummmm....I don't think so.
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
i once had a patient's wife demand that i get a pillowcase to put over the cat's bed (she smuggled her in in a large purse.) out came the cat, water and food dishes, and even her bed. the pillowcase was so the cat "wouldn't get something her vet couldn't cure." she was to spend visiting hours then go back home.
uhhh... did i forget to mention that this took place on a locked psych floor? :smackingf:omy:
kathy
sharpeimom:paw::paw:
that either was a very small cat or a very large purse. what was she carrying, a duffle bag?
that either was a very small cat or a very large purse. what was she carrying, a duffle bag?
it was huge. sort of like what i might use when i was in college to go home by greyhoundbus for the weekend. smallish for a suitcase but a great big purse.
once when my dad picked me up at the bus station, he took one look at me and said since i looked like a stray from coxey's army, he'd take my dufflebag home and i could just walk.
Pt pressing the call light and asking for "a round of sprites" for his visitors. The vending machine was (literally) less than 50 yards away....
ummmm......Hell, no!
I'm still a nursing student, so it seems like I can never say no, or else I will receive the wrath of my superiors. But I would love to know a nice, tactful way of saying NO, without getting me into trouble. Or at least how you all handle situations like this! Thanks.
I spent the last two days caring for a 70-ish, demented man. Helping him to the bathroom, helping him set up to eat, adjusting room temp when he's cold, ect.
I'm sure you say, "that sounds like typical nursing care". And I would agree, if he were my patient. Nope, he's my patient's husband whom the family dropped off because they were to busy to stay with him while she was in the hospital.
That's family neglect. I hope you got social services involved. That dear man is NOT your patient and you should have gotten your charge nurse or NM in on this. He is a needy gentleman who is not a patient at your hospital and was DUMPED on you. Legally, he puts you at risk, esp. since staff isn't with him 24/7.
I had a patient who wanted her 12 year old daughter to stay the night and I was the *mean* nurse for making phone calls and sending her home with family members. I told the patient it was either that or I would call the authorities so she could be placed in a safe foster home until pt. was able to take care of her...at home.
we had a young man, maybe 17, come into the ER once because he had just starting fooling around with his girlfriend and she told him he had a relatively small member compared to other ones she had seen. he wanted us to look at it and see if there was something wrong, if it was going to grow some more and give him tips on how to make it grow better. try keeping a straight face with that request.
Years ago when I worked in a ECF, there was young male patient that had been there a few years after suffering a closed head injury. The SO wanted us to "jerk him off" each night. She was sure the sensory experience would bring him back. We refused. DON supported us.
About 2 years ago had a bratty 17 year old turn on grandpa's light and demand that I retrieve a cheeseburger and coke for her. Since it was past visiting hours I gave her directions to McDonalds for her trip home.
Had one lady ask me to cut and style her hair. Told her it was wash and comb only as that is all I do to my own hair. Offered to get a phone book so she could try and find a hair dresser to come in and perform the services they are licensed to do.
Work in a catholic hospital with the crucifix over every pt door. One pt explained that she was of another religion and offended by the crucifix and asked me to cover it up. I stood on a chair and took it down and locked it in a drawer. No problem.
And a little doctor humor.... Years ago (about 1983) used to have a certain doctor bring in his unruly kids and leave them at the nurses station and expect nurses to babysit them. He tried it once with me...I asked the doctor what day was good for me to drop my kids by his office so he could take his turn babysitting. There was an audible gasp from the other nurses. Someone told nurse manager. Rule came out...doctors could not bring their kids in and expect nurses to babysit them nor could they take the children into patient rooms.
sharpeimom
2,452 Posts
all i can think of is that sometimes visitors are afraid they'll get yelled at if they themselves use something in a patient area. once when i was visiting my hospitalized grandma when i was in college, i blew my nose on a hospital kleenex then got a drink from the sink using an extra clean glass. a nurse ratchet-type read me the riot act for using hospital property that had been intended for patients use only. it was so hard, but i kept my big fat mouth shut for once. :angryfire
kathy
sharpeimom:paw::paw: