Reasons patients turn on their call light

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2015

Things that make you go..."...hmmmm..."

Oh yeah!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2015

They want to be entertained.

We should all add singing and dancing to our repertoire of tricks.

I like the answer from page one.

Sometimes people are just plain mean.

MeganDanielle07 · Jun 30, 2015

I had a patient that would press the call bell as well as call the police because she was convinced we were holding her dog hostage.

RayeAnn Kemp · Jul 1, 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!

Hilarious. She obviously was Alzheimer's or crazy er. Excuse me, mentally challenged. I get in trouble here because I'm retired but still love reading nurses stories. I can't top this callight one. It's made my day. Thanks! ðŸ˜€

RayeAnn Kemp · Jul 1, 2015

Oh really ? Miss high and mighty, you don't judge her! You think you can do better huh? I was a nurse 39 years and I have seen a lot of ****, yes literally. I've called the doctor in those cases and ****** up an elderly Alzheimer's patient by giving her thorazine as ordered. Idiot doctor. And a schizophrenic bit my hand 20 minutes after a nice 100 mg dose of thorazine. Yeah and other tranquilizers weren't much better. Get your hands dirty and out of the book.

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2015

The patient was experiencing high anxiety. Most likely, anxiety disorder was present before this event.
Your nursing intervention should have been to contact the physician... obtain an anti-anxiety medication. Would have been a much better night for you and the patient.

True, but boring. Very boring.

kskarzin91 · Jul 1, 2015

" this gas in my nose is killing me"

Nurse :"sir that's your oxygen you need that in order to breath can I place it back on? "

"No this is riffraff"

Nurse: "Sir your nail beds are turning blue let me put it back on"

"No, you're trying to kill me!" *throws keyboard, drink and remote at nurse then knocks over IV pole."

Nurse:"code grey!!!"

kskarzin91 · Jul 1, 2015

" this gas in my nose is killing me"

Nurse :"sir that's your oxygen you need that in order to breath can I place it back on? "

"No this is riffraff"

Nurse: "Sir your nail beds are turning blue let me put it back on"

"No, you're trying to kill me!" *throws keyboard, drink and remote at nurse then knocks over IV pole."

kskarzin91 · Jul 1, 2015

" this gas in my nose is killing me"

It's was his O2 NC

juljube94 · Jul 1, 2015

We do our patients no favours when we enable them like that. I always ask "who does this for you when you get home?" From the moment they step into the hospital, our focus is how to get them home. Doing stuff for them that they can do themselves, can ultimately delay their discharge date. I will not do for a patient what they can do for themselves....including making their bed for them

RayeAnn Kemp · Jul 1, 2015

Applaud! Applaud! Thank you, exactly right! No one is better than the other nurse here. We all work for everything we do. Very difficult too sometimes. Thank you!!!! ðŸ˜ŠðŸ™‹ðŸ’‘ðŸ’‘

Larry3373 · Jul 1, 2015

I think we need to educate our patients who ring the call bell 20 times an hour about the little boy who cried wolf, lol.