Published
I have just about had it with patients who think the hospital is a joke. I took care of a patient recently who basically refused to cooperate with the medical/nursing treatment and plan....This patient is morbidly obese (and no I am not exaggerating), one of the worst cases of cellulitis that I have ever seen in his lower extrimities....receiving antibiotics Q4....goes outside to smoke at least every 2 hours....then gripes at the nursing staff because his meds are late....(I, for one will NOT chase a pt down in a smoking area to give medication)...stated his PICC was infected and demanded it pulled (no S/S of infection, no redness, no edema)...(we pulled it)....requested to go to another department to see child who was being treated (an adult child with a minor problem according to the patient)....refuses to keep his legs elevated....never content with his food....multiple requests for coffee, blankets, etc....I just wanted to go in and say "Look here, buster...I can't help you until you are willing to help yourself...and I cannot heal your legs in 12 hours.....and if you don't like it we have this little procedure called leaving AMA, and would you like to try it? I will be more than happy to fill out the forms.....
People like this just make me livid....I wanted slap the s*it out of him, but I figured the mess would be too huge for me to clean up......This pt is probably going to end reporting me and the nurse before me, but I really don't give a crap....I refuse to bow down to non-compliant, arrogant, I can't wipe my own nose patients.....I have drawn my line in the sand....