Reasons patients turn on their call light

bhargrave15 · Jul 12, 2015

Hahahahaha I love nurse relief!

B

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

I had a patient who kept insisting she was hearing a mouse in the room. Finally figured out that the feeding pump was squeaking as it pumped.

Sisyphus_01 · Aug 15, 2015

I had a very enjoyable night two nights ago, because for the first time in my nursing history I had a patient who literally turned their call light on every 2-5 minutes.
Reasons the patient turned her call light on:
1. I farted
2. I coughed
3. Can I sit at the nurses station naked
4.My neck twitched when I took a breath
5. Can you scratch my left pinky finger
6. My tongue keeps touching my teeth what should I do
7. I think I have to poop but I'll wait until tomorrow to do it
8. I'm about to call 911 because I keep hearing the nurses walk by my room
9. Am I breathing ok
10. My legs are really pretty what do you think
That's to name a few!

These are so full of win...

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Aug 15, 2015

Will you read me a story? (Not a child )

What time does x come on?

What channel is Fox? (I have no idea.)

TheGooch · Aug 16, 2015

Have they mistaken the big "H" on the front of the building for "Hilton"?

Yes! I think a lot of people think that when they're hospitalized it should be like staying the Hilton.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Aug 16, 2015

I think my favourite was when my LTC resident pressed it, just to make sure it was still working.

Hahaha! I remember some of these patients - and a few that said they were timing us to see how long someone took to answer it.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2015

I am NOT offended in the least. After you have assessed and addressed any and all problems,whether they be pain,anxiety electrolyte imbalances or organic brain syndrome you then accept and cope with the behaviors that you must and try to intervene with various techniques. Then you are left with the rest of the patients that are just plain difficult. Some love to stir the pot and cause trouble of any kind. Some are angry and have no qualms about lashing out at you. Some have mental health issues or personality disorders that you cannot fix or treat but YOU are the one dealing with at the moment and all the nursing interventions in the world will not do one bit of good! These patients who still get all the care they need plus more still get on the call light and wreak havoc with your time management,not to mention make the work day unbelievably stressful. That is all these nurse are saying. I have been doing direct patient care for 33 years non-stop full time plus more and I understand what they are saying!

everoo · Aug 23, 2015

I'm willing to bet that the one's who post how awful this thread is have hardly ever really worked bedside.

Likely one of the many who walk around with a clipboard, passing lit call lights which is a big no-no in many hospitals.

djh123 · Aug 29, 2015

One of my favorites lately was when a (not all cognizant) lady who often yells 'I want to get up!' (and then wants back down 15 minutes later) yelled 'I don't want to get up!' - I thought to myself 'OK, noted', ha ha.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 18, 2015

A few shifts ago I actually did it.

The patient was of a sort who, purposefully and steadily, tried to slowly kill herself by eating unimaginable amount of junk, smoking as a chimney, never moving until absolutely needed, etc., etc. Ended with page-long list of diagnoses, CABG, amputation, HD and all other perks of 3+ months of hospital stay. She pushed her button every 2 min., for reasons like "can you push my butt over there even so little because it hurts?" and insisted on me doing it alone because, by her, I was doing it so gently... not surprising, she was about three times heavier than me, so I really only could move her "even so little". She pushed her button while I was still in her room, so that "I do not need anything now, but i might need something soon". "Preventive" rounding every 15 min., soft ignoring for 15 min., even talk with charge nurse did not help.

Then it happened. I was getting an admission, and my other patient clearly started going south. I entered her room and said, in clear voice and very matter-of-factly:

- Mrs. A, here is the deal. I am getting a new admission, and I have another patient who is very, very sick. I cannot go into your room every 5 minutes any more. I promice to check on you every hour, but right now I need to go. Now is (time), I will see you (in an hour). In addition to that, I will ask you to watch this BP machine. I leave it here, if someone takes it, tell them that it is to stay right here. (the machines tend to be moved from room to room, and I wanted to have one available for my sick guy).

The lady looked at me as if I suddenly grew up wings. For the next two hours she did push the button only once, and for the good reason. I saw her every hour, every time making a bit loose time frame for next "date". Later, she profusely apologized, as, by her, she had no idea that I had anyone but her to care for, and she was way more reasonable since then. And, yes, she kept my BP machine intact and charged and yelled to high heavens when someone tried to steal it.

ixchel · Sep 18, 2015

A few shifts ago I actually did it.
The patient was of a sort who, purposefully and steadily, tried to slowly kill herself by eating unimaginable amount of junk, smoking as a chimney, never moving until absolutely needed, etc., etc. Ended with page-long list of diagnoses, CABG, amputation, HD and all other perks of 3+ months of hospital stay. She pushed her button every 2 min., for reasons like "can you push my butt over there even so little because it hurts?" and insisted on me doing it alone because, by her, I was doing it so gently... not surprising, she was about three times heavier than me, so I really only could move her "even so little". She pushed her button while I was still in her room, so that "I do not need anything now, but i might need something soon". "Preventive" rounding every 15 min., soft ignoring for 15 min., even talk with charge nurse did not help.
Then it happened. I was getting an admission, and my other patient clearly started going south. I entered her room and said, in clear voice and very matter-of-factly:
- Mrs. A, here is the deal. I am getting a new admission, and I have another patient who is very, very sick. I cannot go into your room every 5 minutes any more. I promice to check on you every hour, but right now I need to go. Now is (time), I will see you (in an hour). In addition to that, I will ask you to watch this BP machine. I leave it here, if someone takes it, tell them that it is to stay right here. (the machines tend to be moved from room to room, and I wanted to have one available for my sick guy).
The lady looked at me as if I suddenly grew up wings. For the next two hours she did push the button only once, and for the good reason. I saw her every hour, every time making a bit loose time frame for next "date". Later, she profusely apologized, as, by her, she had no idea that I had anyone but her to care for, and she was way more reasonable since then. And, yes, she kept my BP machine intact and charged and yelled to high heavens when someone tried to steal it.

I had a similar experience not too long ago. The CN told me I needed to tell this patient that I was not going to be coming in there every five minutes, and I certainly wasn't getting stuck in there for the 30 minutes of repeated requests, repeated repositioning, etc. (The CN used to have this patient for home health and knew this patient's neediness well.) Wouldn't you know it, the remainder of the shifts I had with her, she was concise and respectful of staff's time and resources. She wasn't upset by the request in the least, and seemed as though maybe she was expecting it.

It's complicated knowing where the line is between healthy boundary setting and patient satisfaction.

ICUNurseG · Nov 15, 2015

"I produced some upchuck." I didn't see any vomit anywhere and the patient looked fine. I asked where he threw up and he said "in my mouth. I thought you might need to write it down." I'm pretty sure it was reflux. [emoji37]