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.

Well, unfortunately, I was the offending request culprit. This is my confession and apology to the nurse. Until I started reading this site, I didn't know any better. SO sorry! My (first and only) baby was admitted into the hospital for RSV when he was 4 months old. I was the only one staying in the hospital with him. I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours (after an ER nightmare!!) and the nurse brought me lunch vouchers to get something to eat from the cafeteria. Here it goes... I asked her to stay in the room with him while I went down two floors to the cafe to bring something back. YIKES! I was nervous about leaving him alone. The unit was somewhat secured (with scan badges,) but not like the newborn nursery with special arm bands and such. I had never left him alone before. He was still sleeping in the same room as me (at night and for naps). I was even peeing with the door open! At the time, I thought the ratios were 1:1. She tried to convince me that with all the monitors attached to him, they would know instantly if anything was wrong. But knowing instantly and preventing is totally different. I begged her and promised that I would RUN (which I did). I also made a comment that she should start a business cutting baby fingernails, but I was telling her a story about how nervous it made me and how I messed up TWICE and I am hoping she knows I was just kidding about that and not belittling her skills and training as a RN. I have always respected nurses. I am sorry Nurse Bethany! Hopefully what goes around doesn't come around b/c I desperately want to be a peds nurse myself now.:)

Take it easy on yourself. You were a new mommy. Your baby was sick. New mommies with sick babies act a little anxious and goofy sometimes. If I was the nurse in that situation, I'd be glad to see a mom who cared that much.

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Specializes in med/surg, tele, OB.

When I was on my psych rotation during nursing school, I had a pt on the lock ward ask me to drive to Vegas with him. Then he proceeded to inform me that I could ride top-less if I so desired! LOL. He got his med's changed. :D

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Specializes in ED.

I just love it when an able-bodied family member that is spending the night with a pt calls me in to open or close the patient's door. It is even more fun when said family member is insistent that I put the lid on the straw of the patient's water jug.

It is great when a non-English speaking patient is admitted and insists that her 4 month old baby stay in the hospital with her at all times so her husband can get sleep at home. Ok, i guess she has that right but when she starts asking for diapers and formula that's just too much for me.

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It is great when a non-English speaking patient is admitted and insists that her 4 month old baby stay in the hospital with her...

This senario is annoying, but I have had just as much problems with English speaking patients as well. Not quite sure why language comes up here...

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

a patient (male) in his early twenties asked me to call his girlfriend and tell her he never wanted to see her again.

patient asked me to toilet his octagenerian mother because his wife, who had brought her in to visit, "didn't like to do that."

patient asked me to find him a hooker.

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Specializes in ED.
This senario is annoying, but I have had just as much problems with English speaking patients as well. Not quite sure why language comes up here...

Because communication is difficult in explaining why her infant doesn't need to be there or why we can't provide the formula and diapers she needs maybe.

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Specializes in LTC,Altzhiemer's,Family practice, rehab.

I don't know if everyone is just skirting "the request" or take it for granted. I have recieved hundreds of requests from pts who are confused and not, young and old, male and female to rub "it", get in bed with them, and in every crude way can be thought of to pleasure them sexually. My standard answer has become "I have a headache.":)

But since those requests are so common I would have to say that the strangest request was most recently when the young female quad in my care screamed me into her room to pick her nose for her. I was abit torn about this request but used a q-tip and gently cleaned her nares (that's how I charted it).:bugeyes:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Just curious as to your reply.......

Concerning cooking a meal for the Family & friends?? My reply was very nice, I said it was much too hot to cook a meal (we were in the middle of a heat wave). Patient is still angry that I didn't bring the meal. Said it made her party suck not having a "home cooked" meal!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
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!

Wow, someone didn't take their happy pills today.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN.

An older man asked if we had pay per hour Mediao channels available on the TVs.

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I'm assuming wooh's comment was made for humor...

I call my kids snots! when they are messing around I pretend to call korea (don't ask why there... i guess i like the sound... kor ee a) and ask if they want to buy my kids... and say awe man guess i got to keep you... we all crack up...

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
Concerning cooking a meal for the Family & friends?? My reply was very nice, I said it was much too hot to cook a meal (we were in the middle of a heat wave). Patient is still angry that I didn't bring the meal. Said it made her party suck not having a "home cooked" meal!!

I'd have told them "You can't afford me as a cook. You think your medical bills are high, you have no idea what spending money is about until you've hired me as a professional cook. And the food isn't all that great, mostly canned stuff heated up, but thats what my personal time costs you."

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