Most ridiculous patient requests?

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The thread on customer service has me wondering, what are the most ridiculous "customer service" requests you've had? Off the top of my head, mine are a request for a pedicure and massage, and for me to go rent them a movie.

Specializes in Telemetry.

We had a patient who complained the bed was too soft and wanted some plywood to sleep on...

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Specializes in Adult Oncology.

I had one this week, but it could also go into the category of "Things you've said to patients that you wished you hadn't" (but I don't feel bad at all).

Patient's father asked if we had a "workout room" where they (him and the patient) could go exercise. Just to clarify, he didn't mean physical therapy, he meant a gym. "You know like with weights and treadmills". I said "No. If the patients are feeling so good that they are ready to work out, they probably don't need to be here anymore." I had a number of weird requests from that man, (not the patient). I got the feeling from him that he wasn't quite sure what it meant to be in a hospital. Later he complained that he couldn't get his DVD player to hook up to the TV. I pointed out we had a VCR in the pt's room and gave the patient a list of movies that we have available. He kept complaining about the DVD player and complained that the TV was "too high up to hook up the cords to the DVD player". I think he wanted me to climb up there and hook it up for him. I restated that VHS movies were available and left the room.

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The unit was somewhat secured (with scan badges,) but not like the newborn nursery with special arm bands and such.

People always freak out that the hospital doesn't have all the lojack systems and stuff they have for newborns.

Newborns are healthy. If your kid is in the hospital later, he's sick. And nobody wants your raggedy sick kid except you. You think he's precious. Everyone else thinks he's full of snot!

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

I had a request from a Man visiting his wife...for K-y Jelly! and the door closed! Um..ok, i guess this is a physical need?

another time, the patient kept removing his condom cath, he never ever did remove it when someone else was on staff, so word got around from HIM that I was to soft and gentle putting it back on, it felt good. So one night when I arrived on shift, he heard my voice, then..ding the call bell, I sent in another nurse, She replaced it, He yelled. problem fixed!

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

I had a pt who's family member was very involved in her care. She called to check on the pt numerous times throughout each evening and into the early morning, and I assume during the day as well. After the pt was discharged, she continued to call and ask for me specifically to ask questions about the pt. The last straw was about a week after the pt was discharged, this family member called me to ask a question about her daughter. She went into a very detailed and graphic report about her daughter's lady partsl discharge, and what did I think was going on? This was the last straw and I didn't answer any more phone calls from this woman.

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People always freak out that the hospital doesn't have all the lojack systems and stuff they have for newborns.

Newborns are healthy. If your kid is in the hospital later, he's sick. And nobody wants your raggedy sick kid except you. You think he's precious. Everyone else thinks he's full of snot!

ouch!

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.
People always freak out that the hospital doesn't have all the lojack systems and stuff they have for newborns.

Newborns are healthy. If your kid is in the hospital later, he's sick. And nobody wants your raggedy sick kid except you. You think he's precious. Everyone else thinks he's full of snot!

I think it's totally warranted not to want to leave her 4 month old baby alone in an odd place. Whether or not the nurse has time to sit with the pt is another story...

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Specializes in Emergency.
I worked as a secretary in an outpatient physician's office and as a patient was leaving, he walked up to the front desk and asked for a toothpick lol. Sorry sir this isn't a restaurant!

lol, this reminds me of when I use to be a secretary. People use to always come to the desk and ask "do you have change for a dollar?" Do I look like a change machine?

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as a cna, i was called into a room. the lady requested that i walk her into the bathroom, remove her pants and undergarments, help her onto the toilet, stay with her while she “went”, wipe her and replace her clothing, then assist her back into the room.

what's the problem? you are thinking. that seems like a very reasonable request to give to a cna!! oh, but did i mention that the lady requesting my help was actually the 35 year-old (and able-bodied) wife of the patient?

i also was asked by a 375lb woman to insert her tampon for her. i politely offered a maxi-pad instead. (i am not sure that i would have granted her request even if i had been willing.)

once, when a patient found out that he needed to have a catheter put in, he asked me for the "ugliest durn nurse" that we had on the floor to do this task. it wasn't the request that made me nervous, rather it was how the nurse that i would find to insert the cath would react if she found out about the man's request.

finally, while settling in a newly admitted older gentleman i was told to make sure that he got a nurse who was "damn sexy". i smiled to myself at this request, as i knew who his nurse would be, and this nurse was very attractive, however the nurse also happened to be male.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Nurse extern here, sitting for a suicidal meth addict, who asked me to take him out for a cigarette. On the ROOF. Told him firmly "Not on my watch".

Then he wanted me to look at his genitals and tell him if he was "normal".

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Had a family once that brought in one of those juicers like they have on tv and a bag of vegetables- wanted the staff to make his "juice" for him. I explained that the patient unit was not a sanitary place for food preparation, but they were welcomed to make the juice at home and bring it in (he was on a house diet). THEY looked at ME like I had 3 heads! Apparently, they cared about grandpa's nutrition, just not enought to prepare it themselves.

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On your day off, cook me a meal for my family & guests and deliver it at 2PM. We want it hot!

Just curious as to your reply.......

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