Reasons patients turn on their call light

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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!

Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

One evening on my unit the phone rings:

Front desk, how can I help you?

Caller: "Hi, this is 911 dispatch. Could you go to room xyz? The patient dropped their call bell"

Yep, actually happened and I had just been in there not 10 minutes ago. Why she couldn't have pressed zero is beyond me.

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"someone has to keep you ******* awake " (I work nights)

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

"I'm in terrible pain" says the A&O 40 year old with the PCA pump control in her hand. And yes, she knew how to use it.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

"The IV pump is getting ready to alarm"

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

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It is a pet peeve of mine when fully capable patients ring out so that I can hand them an item that is totally within reach.

"Oh look! It's right there, you can reach it yourself." Nothing wrong with promoting independence.

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Omg! How awful!! I had a pt like this once but she was an elderly woman admitted for insomnia who hadn't slept for days and would ring incessantly and then state "I don't know" or something similar when asked what she needed. She was just absolutely nuts (who wouldnt be in her position?). Also pts who call frequently for small things "flush my pillow" "pull up my blanket" "can i have more ice in my water" etc but never for complete nonsense reasons like these. That does not sound like anxiety to me at all--if she was A&O sounds like a mental health problem, otherwise, dementia. And to those saying it is our job to answer call lights--obviously the OP answered lol.

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Specializes in Education.

I've had patients who, when we haven't responded quickly enough, have hit the code button.

No, wanting juice to go with all your other drinks isn't worth making me mad. And you have five blankets already, you're afebrile, and the AC isn't on so you don't need another one right this second.

Yes, I have told them that if they persist with pressing the blue button on the wall and not the red one on their bed, that they have the ability to walk the five feet to the nurses station because I WILL take the call bell away. After all, they've been wandering around the unit already...

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Specializes in OR/PACU/med surg/LTC.

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

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Specializes in SICU.

1: can you straighten the straw in my cup (no)

2: can you scratch my ear (no)

3: can you move my O2 tubing so I can blow my nose (no)

4: can you move my leg (no)

No..no..no.. Because you can do all that yourself

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
It is a pet peeve of mine when fully capable patients ring out so that I can hand them an item that is totally within reach.

One of the nice things about working in a SNF is I am able to say "it is part of my job to encourage you to improve your mobility, you can reach that yourself" and expect them to at least try. I am glad to help them if they actually need it, but a few rounds of get it yourself usually does the trick if they are ringing to just ring.

On the other hand, I have no response other than picking my jaw up to "10. My legs are really pretty what do you think" much less wanting to sit at the nurses station..maybe? NAKED??? Um, no!

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Specializes in Heme Onc.

Pt: "Hey my antibiotic is done, so I need to be disconnected"

Me: "No, you're on day 3/7 of 24 hour continuous chemotherapy, so you'll still be connected for at least 4 days"

Pt: "Wait what?"

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Can you open my curtians?

Can you open this tube of Pringles?

What time is it?

What's going on?

Can you help my find the Hallmark channel/Fox news/QVC?

...and my all time winner....

Pt was witnessed multiple times pressing the call button and then laying down on the floor- the fake faller!!!

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