Me... Me... Me: A Sense of Entitlement

[Joe V]

We've all seen this type of patient. They start out in the ER insisting that they be seen first because no one else could be in as much need of medical attention as them. This behavior carries over to the floor once they've been admitted. They want it, and they want it NOW. What are some experiences you've had with such privileged characters?

I had a local former state office holder who insisted I address him as Senator. I just couldn't do it so I settled on "sir."

He was demanding in a smarmy way... a complete jerk but in this subtle and entitled kind of way. He was also a bigot and blatantly insulting to the young, non-white nurse who (unfortunately for her) assumed his care when I deposited him on the floor.

People like him are the reason I will NEVER leave the ED... I'm all about short-term, time-limited encounters with my patients.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Back in the mid-70's I answered a call for PRN meds at 8 PM, where the patient greeted me with a big smile and said very brightly, "I'll take 'the works', please." By which she meant: her muscle-relaxant drip AND the muscle-relaxant tablet, her 'nerve' pill, her pain shot, and her sleeping pill! I called her doc, who sighed wearily and said that if she had them ordered and hadn't had them recently, just go ahead and give them. (!) So, I did.....after I kicked the wall in disgust.....and then she sat up for another three hours drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes (yeah, it was that long ago) and chatting like a magpie with her room-mate, having herself a high ol' time.

[laKrugRN]

How sad is it that we turn away a ton of sick kids everyday, but when the CEO's grandson calls in sick, we are forced to bend over backwards to fit him in the schedule. PSH.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Many moons ago I had a little old lady who was fairly independent: ambulated without any assistance, fed herself, and was able to perform all self-care and ADLs. She was simply there to receive teaching regarding her new colostomy before discharging home.

However, this woman was one of the most entitled wenches I've ever met. She'd always whine, "I'm a sick lady and the people here are to serve me."

I'd always retort, "No! You're a well lady who needs teaching on how to manage your colostomy so you can take care of yourself when you go home!"

[chiandre]

I had an antepartum patient that was very nice and cooperative with medical and nursing regimen. According to her, she is a queen in her country. However, as soon as her husband comes to visit she would start crying and writhing in pain. She would become demanding and nasty. The husband would get agitated with staff for not "managing his wife well." This patient would only calm down as soon as the husband left the hospital. Later on, we found out that she was the third wife, and that was her way of getting attention from the husband.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Just last night someone came up to me in triage and told me her boss was throwing up. No big deal. We have about a 3 hour wait. I tell her this. She says, "well can I lie about what is going on to get him seen faster?"

We. Were. Stunned.

That Guy said:

Just last night someone came up to me in triage and told me her boss was throwing up. No big deal. We have about a 3 hour wait. I tell her this. She says, "well can I lie about what is going on to get him seen faster?"

We. Were. Stunned.

It's like the people who call 911 from the waiting room... Or even their bedside phone... Because they're not getting what they want when they want it so they demand an ambulance come get them.

Or people who think arrival by ambulance is a golden ticket... They get so mad when you direct the crew to the waiting room.

[AdamantiteEnigma]

Quote

It's like the people who call 911 from the waiting room... Or even their bedside phone... Because they're not getting what they want when they want it so they demand an ambulance come get them.

Or people who think arrival by ambulance is a golden ticket... They get so mad when you direct the crew to the waiting room.

Omg, yes! This a thousand times!

The cute little old constipated lady, I'll never forget her. She pulled that stunt on us thinking she'd be seen before the two Acute MI's and the idiot who shot himself in the buttocks. I still laugh about that night, she was out of control.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

My favorite. We're running a code, every nurse on the unit involved.

A family member of another patient came into the room where the code was. "Do all you nurses have to be in this room? My mother needs her pain medicine".

I found it completely shocking at the time.

I wouldn't now. Too many encounters with self centered monsters.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Quote

It's like the people who call 911 from the waiting room... Or even their bedside phone... Because they're not getting what they want when they want it so they demand an ambulance come get them.

Or people who think arrival by ambulance is a golden ticket... They get so mad when you direct the crew to the waiting room.

Funny you should say that. Same night. Different person. Regular, we all know him. He asked how long the wait was. Told him 3 hours. He told me he would just call an ambulance. I told him if he did that I would have him ticketed for abuse of the EMS system and that he would be put in triage and he would be started at the back of the line all over again. He sat there patiently.

That Guy said:

Funny you should say that. Same night. Different person. Regular, we all know him. He asked how long the wait was. Told him 3 hours. He told me he would just call an ambulance. I told him if he did that I would have him ticketed for abuse of the EMS system and that he would be put in triage and he would be started at the back of the line all over again. He sat there patiently.

I've many times refused to let them off of the EMS gurney... vitalize them and send the crew to the waiting room door for offloading.

ThatGuy said:

Same night. Different person. Regular, we all know him.

Another one of my ♪♫ in my ♥-isms... same patient, different face.