Reasons patients turn on their call light

[diamondp17]

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!

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

The most common one I get in the fast-track side of the ED is "Oh, I thought that was for the TV." or there is a child in the room and they like the BIG RED BUTTON more than the Green one.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

The most common one I get in the fast-track side of the ED is "Oh, I thought that was for the TV." or there is a child in the room and they like the BIG RED BUTTON more than the Green one.

i had one the other day that thought it was fun pushing the blue button-

[Chad Collins]

That's why I like ICU they are intubated and sedated

[deminurse]

I once had a patient yell out, "Nurse, nurse when I die I'm going to haunt you!" In a very eerie voice. I'd have taken multiple calls on the call light over that!

[ActualNurse]

I had a patient hit the call light multiple times in a row because he wanted to know what the ringing was. It was his call light..and he was very forgetful of what I just explained to him.

Dementia

[ActualNurse]

A lot of times mine do it to adjust the volume on the tv or to turn it on

Because..what???

Because once they become a patient their hands are broken. They can be in for hip surgery or foot surgery, but once they get that patient status something happens to their hands. They just don't work anymore. Also, some just have a dx of sheer stupidity but we are not allowed to chart that.

[ActualNurse]

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.

Exactly what I have been saying all along. We need to make patients aware of our case load. Otherwise some of them do tend to think we are their exclusive private duty nurse. A lot of people are really clueless regarding how the medical system works.

[ActualNurse]

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.

Yes healthy boundary setting. We need much more of that.

[amandakay24]

First day on my new job as a cna, had a light come on. Went to check and its a LOL who has shoved the light in her lady parts to pleasure herself!!!! Yea that was a bad night.

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[SmilingBluEyes]

OH. EM. JEEBUS.

First day on my new job as a cna, had a light come on. Went to check and its a LOL who has shoved the light in her lady parts to pleasure herself!!!! Yea that was a bad night.

Sent from my LGL16C using Tapatalk

[nonnocere808]

"The IV pump is getting ready to alarm"

"The IV needs maintenance" (Alaris pumps scroll 'maintenance fluids' across the screen while infusing.)

That's really cute.

[mrsjonesRN]

I will tell a patient, I will be back in 20 minutes with pain meds, or I have to call the doctor give me 20 minutes. I shut the door, walk down the hall, and the patient hits the call light, wanting a snack....every...single...time. gotta love the nurse life!!