Odd interactions

ActualNurse · Oct 18, 2015

I have had many drug-seeking visitors who can't understand why they can't have their relative's meds. I tell them to go to the drugstore and buy themselves some Tylenol.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Oct 18, 2015

I worked in Oncology. I had a drug addict patient with a precarious PICC line leave the unit and go outside with chemo running. When I called security, they had the nerve to scold me for "letting" him get away with expensive hospital iv pumps! He was found having a smoke with some questionable people.

They can fuss at me all they want. We cannot put hands on people to stop them from leaving or stepping out.

Gampopa · Oct 18, 2015

I guess I'll always remember the psych pt I took care of who liked wearing a little pink pig costume to throw off the CIA and FBI. She kept asking if we could see her because she was being a title pink pig. We'd ambulate her around the unit and she was so happy and glad to see everyone. A very happy little pig she was.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I guess I'll always remember the psych pt I took care of who liked wearing a little pink pig costume to throw off the CIA and FBI. She kept asking if we could see her because she was being a title pink pig. We'd ambulate her around the unit and she was so happy and glad to see everyone. A very happy little pig she was.

That's actually sorta cute, in a Sick Sad World kind of way.

And, if it made her happy, let her be happy.

emmy27 · Oct 18, 2015

People on ketamine infusions talking about "the man in the corner." "The dark man." "He's standing right behind you - can't you see him?!?!" Oh god, the hallucinating ketamine patients freak me out. Except for the one who asked me why there was a fish swimming on top of my head. He was great.

Oh man, when I used to be assigned to safety sit working nights as a tech, hallucinating patients really set me on edge.

"There's no man in the corner, sir, go back to sleep."

*keeps one eye on the corner for the rest of the night.*

emmy27 · Oct 18, 2015

We had a med-surg patient once- slight early dementia but oriented to self and situation and at his a&o baseline, afebrile, vitals normal, no new symptoms- and his adult daughter came in and threw an actual temper tantrum- screaming in the hallway- over the fact that we weren't checking his temperature rectally hourly. Security had to be called over this woman screaming that we needed to be doing frequent rectal temps on her father.

There was some kind of family dynamic going on there, and it wasn't pretty.

Farawyn · Oct 18, 2015

What *is* it with the masturbating patients. Really, guys?

We don't have time for that. We are neither impressed, nor shocked.

Put it away.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 18, 2015

Totally alert oriented and stable gentleman in the hospital to receive maintenance chemo. TON's of Intake... IV and oral. No output on night shift. I thought maybe he just doesn't urinate between the hours of 11 and 7, no biggie, not too weird at all. Until I went in to draw his labs and saw him drinking out of his urinal. I thought he was confused, neuro assessment was negative... patient still cooperative and oriented. I Finally get the courage to ask him, how long have you been drinking from your urinal and why?
"I did it accidentally a few admissions ago, it wasn't bad, so I just kept going with it" um... what? I asked if he was drinking his urine round the clock and at home too... he replied with a laugh "no no... I don't pee in a bottle at home, and I only do it at night." So casually, as if I'm the crazy person for even asking.
Documented, notified physician and casually walked away from that conversation.

I just threw up in my mouth. The eww factor was too much

CHESSIE · Oct 18, 2015

Or a demanding person who craves constant attention. At least she will finally be discharged. I wonder how demanding, and attention seeking she is at home?

Farawyn · Oct 18, 2015

Oh, and I keep reading the title of this thread as Ood Interactions!

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

People on ketamine infusions talking about "the man in the corner." "The dark man." "He's standing right behind you - can't you see him?!?!" Oh god, the hallucinating ketamine patients freak me out. Except for the one who asked me why there was a fish swimming on top of my head. He was great!

I receive IV ketamine infusions over 4 hours for four days in a row every 4-6 weeks for treatment of RSD/CRPS. I receive a combo of versed, Ativan, zofran, Clonidine, & Toradol to help with the side effects and for the most part it helps keep the hallucinations at bay but not always. Luckily mine for the most part are humorous and not scary. I can think of two off hand.

The first, on day 2 of my infusion before we get started the nurse (who I've developed a close relationship with after over a year) asks me if I had any hallucinations with the previous day's infusion. I say not that I can remember and ask why. She tells me I would periodically wake up and growl like a dog, laugh hysterically, and go back to sleep. She said she got so tickled because I am normally very reserved and quiet and it was so out of character. Alrighty then!

The second one was after my infusion while my husband and I were on the way back to our hotel. He stopped at the store to run in and pick up something. I was asleep so he locked the doors, ran in and was back in just a few minutes. As he approached the car he said I was sitting up having a very animated conversation with "someone". When he opened the door I asked him in a very slurred, drugged southern drawl,"Where's Bullethead?". He asked, "Who." And I said, "You know, old Bullethead. He was just here." And apparently went on to tell this eloborate story about an old cowboy I had met named Bullethead. I have absolutely no memory whatsoever of the event but he took great delight in relaying the story to me and everyone else we know.

Ketamine is one hell of a drug!

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Oct 18, 2015

Oh, and I keep reading the title of this thread as Ood Interactions!

Yeah. Gets my hopes up. :*