Funniest real orders you have seen in a chart?

mackrn · Jan 19, 2005

On my unit it is not unusual to see orders "Give patient a bath ASAP" Or "wash and cut patients hair ASAP". When you work with psch patients, some really do need a bath, but you try convincing a paranoid fellow to get into the tub. Our doc seems to think that just because he ordered it, patient will comply. Hasn't worked yet.

Used to work at LA County Hospital/USC Medical Center in the Emergency Room and one of my favorite charting techniques was lo list soap and water under allergies for some of the more odiferous patients we saw.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2005

ultrasound lle. r/o dvd

A transfered patient from another ward had written on his transfer sheet, this patient is continent and incontinent!!!!

lovinghands · Jan 27, 2005

"Organize old chart in a meaningful way" - yep, I'll um get right on that one buddy. :uhoh3: Sent it to med records with the quote....

Aneroo, LPN · Jan 30, 2005

Thought of this post when I read it this week...we had a good laugh over it.

"Please bathe patient with warm soap and water, and clothe"

Glad you clarified on the soap and water part. Might have been confused and went for the betadine instead!

alintanurse · Jan 30, 2005

DC instructions: "wash your feet". :)

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2005

Wow,

Just had to comment have you seen how many people have read this thread.

I wonder what is the record.

:rotfl:

sblanchet · Feb 7, 2005

It is hard to choose among the many, but I think my favorite was, "Give one unit of PRBC's IV today". IV? Really, Doc? Are you sure?

Funniest progress note was an h&p about a breast exam that read, "Breasts inadequate". He meant to write exam inadequate; pt uncooperative.

One more funny progress note: Pt is 84 years old and lives at home with his parents. Huh? And how old are they? 110?

oneillk1 · Feb 7, 2005

You laugh, but that's becoming more common (again). Our surgeons screen patients for possible DTs after their open-heart surgery. If they're found to be at risk, they have a standing order for "Beer: 1 can PO, BID." Thank god they specified "PO".
They figure that it's easier (and better for the patient) to stem the DTs before they start. We're not going to dry them up anyway, and their bodies can put the energy into healing instead of withdrawl.

Yep us too in Australia. Had a guy who had an elective TKR, and had said no alcohol use in his pre admission consult. Well he went off about 48 hours post op, climbed out of his bed and fractured his femur around the prosthesis.... need I say more. Since then it has become more common to see 'prescriptions' for alcohol. And you're right, they have got enough to go on with, they don't need to kick an addiction at the same time!

ICU_RN · Feb 9, 2005

When I was working on a med surg floor, saw an order for "Lactulose 30ml bid, titrate to 2-3 soft bowel movements per day." We tried to tell the doc that we couldn't titrate anything on the floor, the pt would have to go to the unit!

On discharge orders for a multi-substance abuse pt: "Go to church on Sundays."

stidget99 · Feb 9, 2005

Many of you are showing your youth and inexperience. 3H enema used to be a very common order. In LTC, wine is often given to stimulate appetite on little 80 pound patients. I suppose you've never heard of using sugar or MOM to put on decubiti to promote healing, either. Gone are the days when the docs from the old school come in and turn off the ICU monitor and tell you to look at the patient and treat the patient, not the machine! And what happened to giving a backrub at bedtime to every patient??

I'd like to know who actually has the time to give a backrub q hs to each patient. I barely have enough time to give hs meds to all of my pts. Yeah, we may be young but we are in a totally different era of nursing care. Try coming back to work the floor...and you will understand.

icyounurse, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2005

do not ask pt if he wants to bathe in the middle of the night

SophieMae · Feb 9, 2005

That was the order............the pt kept calling the police, telling them we kidnapped/keeping her for scientific experiments!