Ok this is really just more of a vent... and maybe to see if any others have had this happen or something similar.
I had a patient two nights ago who was status dramaticus and after giving her narcotics and valium she was still demanding more medication (i'm used to that part) but she called 911 on her cell phone from her stretcher in the ER to complain that we were not treating her. To which I then had to explain to the dispatcher that emergency services were not needed all while my co-workers were coding a patient in the room next door.
I mean I guess its not the worse thing I have had a patient do... that would possibly be the time a patient threw a basin of vomit at me when I told her she wasn't getting any more pain meds...
Several years ago, I had a patient call 911 to report that her baby was coming NOW. Problem was, she had already delivered! Those post-op narcotics must have been nice!
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
I recall on my last mental health inpatient placement. I took a call from the hospital operator about one of our patients who had called in a very emotional head space, crying and emotional. I looked up from my spot in the office to see the same patient across the way laughing and joking without an apparent care in the world
I had a patient call 911 the other night because he "wanted someone to come and turn the light off in his room" and he couldn't find his call button!!!!!
I used to work in a prison and I heard that an inmate was complaining to their family on the phone about not being treated for something ( probably not enough pain medication). Well the family then called 911 from their home to send services to the prison.
In a LTC facility, we had one LOL who had her own phone. She called 911 frequently, but the emergency personnel knew to call us first to check on her. Altering her phone was discussed among the staff, but no one knew how to do it. The sad part of this situation was that you would think the family would interact once in awhile, but they always avoided her. Never called, and never answered their phone when one of the staff helped the lady to place a call to them.
In a LTC facility, we had one LOL who had her own phone. She called 911 frequently, but the emergency personnel knew to call us first to check on her. Altering her phone was discussed among the staff, but no one knew how to do it. The sad part of this situation was that you would think the family would interact once in awhile, but they always avoided her. Never called, and never answered their phone when one of the staff helped the lady to place a call to them.
Had someone confused like this in our LTC. She would constantly call her son and at times, 911. The son was coop and attentive but her calls were out of control. He arranged a way to fix-rig her phone so she could RECEIVE calls in, but not make calls out. And her son promised if we could get Mom to be at the bedside every nite at 8pm, he would call her. So every nite, 3-11 had her sitting by the phone, waiting, and the son religiously called every nite at 8pm. Son WAS a good guy.
Had a patient with Borderline Personality Disorder call 911 when her demands weren't being met quickly enough. They called us and let us know.
Another time, a patient came in by ambulance for a medication refill. When the doctor wouldn't refill the med, the patient called 911 from our lobby to take him or her to another hospital. The medics refused transport and the police escorted her off the property.
OBNURSE1959
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Several years ago, I had a patient call 911 to report that her baby was coming NOW. Problem was, she had already delivered! Those post-op narcotics must have been nice!