Patients and their crazy requests

Nurses General Nursing

Published

These past few weeks have just been silly with patients.

One lady acutally asked me to use her tweezers and pull out any stray chin hairs that she might find in her magnifying mirror she'd brought to the hospital. And she didn't exactly ask nicely -- it was more of a firm request. I told her I had medications to give and excused myself out of her room. Sorry, I'm not a chin hair plucker.

Another lady yesterday actually wanted a dr's order for freaking BLISTEX, because she had a cold sore. I'm sorry -- how about walk on down to your local drug store, like everyone else, and buy a $1.50 tube for yourself? But they did it. Meanwhile, I have to buy for myself and for my kids every cold medicine on the market because our military clinic won't dispense it as a prescription.

I can't get over this generation of people. It's about age 50 to 75. Why are they so entitled?? Ms. Blistex was also mad because between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m. when we were doing vitals, giving meds, baths, getting people to tests, therapies, etc. that we were not responsive enough to her needs. She had no needs -- she was going to be discharged by noon.

Why can't people just be thankful that they have a wonderful hospital in their immediate area w/ the finest doctors who treat them and manage to discharge them in a non critical status? Why can't they just be satisfied that they received medical treatment and are allowed to go home to enjoy their lives? It's all complaints -- from a very spoiled and unappreciative public at a time when hospitals are struggling just to stay open. It all just makes me want to wap them over their collective heads.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just so tired of people.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

i find the more "persistant" (i'm being nice here) patients are the one's from 18 - 30 yrs. of age. they are all angy, and in a hurry, self centered and feel entitled to what they want now !

praiser :heartbeat

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Specializes in Cardiac, Adolescent/Child Mental Health.

"And she didn't exactly ask nicely -- it was more of a firm request. "

I seldom have anybody politely ask me for anything. "I want some orange juice", "You can open that straw for me", "I need a snack".......

The biggest part of me wants to respond to these people like I do my kids: "Would you care to phrase that in the form of a question?" or, "That sounds more like a statement than a question. What would you like me to do about it?"

But I refrain.

Most of the time I ever so gently, and with a smile, :D suggest to them that they do it themselves. It seems that with the emphasis being more on the warm and fuzzy customer service aspect of health care people forget that they aren't there to be pampered and coddled. They're in the hospital so we can help them get better so they can function on their own.

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It's all kinds of ages. I'm tired of people who can reach and push a call button to tell you they can't bend a straw. I did tell someone this weekend to stop being so ridiculous, yes I did get the "bend my straw" request. I know it most likely had more to do with social isolation because it was open the blind two inches, close the blind three inches but I had more important stuff going on.

Also had family members who wanted to take Mom out for a ride in her wheelchair in the gardens but wanted a nurse to push Mom "in case anything happened" Request denied.

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Specializes in SRNA.
"And she didn't exactly ask nicely -- it was more of a firm request. "

I seldom have anybody politely ask me for anything. "I want some orange juice", "You can open that straw for me", "I need a snack".......

One thing I love where I work now is, with the exception of some patients, that all food/snacks are ordered by the patient straight to the kitchen. They ask me for food or something to drink other than water, and they get told to call themselves to request whatever they want! Basically, all patients get room service... I thought it was going to be sort of a nightmare when I first started, but it works great. Patients are happy that they can order food 24/7, and I've yet to search out snacks and juices or ice creams or sherbets or WHATEVER - it's lovely!

"I want some orange juice"....

"Well, here's your telephone...dial room service"

LOVE IT

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Yes, yes! We have that here too...it's wonderful!

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

had to move a lady to another floor because the family wanted her to have a better view out her window. they picked a room for her.

asked not to bring a pt's mother choclate ice creme because she was afraid of choclate. i guess she had a bad expirence with a choclate bar growing up.... i said huh? okay??... weirdos.. the whole family was half cocked ...

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I had an insane weekend at my second job with idiots like this. Not good.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I work in a busy ED (aren't they all??!! lol) and we have TV's in the rooms - without remotes, because those just get broken/lost/walk away. I can't tell you how many people I get that get on the call bell and ask me to stand there and change the channel for them (I will do this, if I'm not terribly busy, for the ones hooked up to the monitor and can't reach the TV and don't have a visitor with them). They actually will sit there and go "no, keep changing....wait! I think I like this show ...no keep going. Can you wait for the commercials to be done so I can see what's on this channel?"

I would have NO PROBLEM saying "I'm busy, I'm not a TV guide, and I have no idea what stations are on what channel because I don't get a chance to watch TV or in the 6 months I've been here have had a chance to learn them. Besides, you're here because your b/p is out of control. Why don't you watch our hospital network channel on b/p and dietary/lifestyle changes?" If only management wouldn't write us up if we did that!! But I steadfastly REFUSE to sit there and be a channel-changer....I know we're all supposed to be about "customer service" now but I didn't go to school for all those years to do that, and I'll be darned if I'm wasting my NA's time, schooling and hard-working ethic for that either. They're just as busy!

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these past few weeks have just been silly with patients.

one lady acutally asked me to use her tweezers and pull out any stray chin hairs that she might find in her magnifying mirror she'd brought to the hospital. and she didn't exactly ask nicely -- it was more of a firm request. i told her i had medications to give and excused myself out of her room. sorry, i'm not a chin hair plucker. are you angry about the demand itself or the demanding demeanor? chin hairs can be quite an issue for women.

another lady yesterday actually wanted a dr's order for freaking blistex, because she had a cold sore. i'm sorry -- how about walk on down to your local drug store, like everyone else, and buy a $1.50 tube for yourself? but they did it. meanwhile, i have to buy for myself and for my kids every cold medicine on the market because our military clinic won't dispense it as a prescription. how can she go if she's hospitalized?

i can't get over this generation of people. it's about age 50 to 75. why are they so entitled?? ms. blistex was also mad because between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m. when we were doing vitals, giving meds, baths, getting people to tests, therapies, etc. that we were not responsive enough to her needs. she had no needs -- she was going to be discharged by noon. did she know that? and what's your definition of "need"? probably differs from hers.

why can't people just be thankful that they have a wonderful hospital in their immediate area w/ the finest doctors who treat them and manage to discharge them in a non-critical status? why can't they just be satisfied that they received medical treatment and are allowed to go home to enjoy their lives? it's all complaints -- from a very spoiled and unappreciative public at a time when hospitals are struggling just to stay open. it all just makes me want to wap them over their collective heads.

sorry for the rant. i'm just so tired of people.

i hope things get better for you soon.

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Vito...seriously......this is a venting post!!!!!!!!!

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I hate how the few pt/resident ruin it for the majority... I am a CNA in a facility where we obtain all vitals, pass all meals, feed all those who need assistance, bath everyone (whether they want assistance or not), change all linens, empty trashes, transfer all pts to meals, activities and back.

It would really drive me nuts when our MS patient would demand to go out to smoke...We can't have an aid out there for 1+ hours EVERY SHIFT and EVERY DAY. Talk

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