Reasons patients turn on their call light

ladywiththelamp · Jul 5, 2015

"I can't find the remote." To the TV, of course. I started taping them to a clipboard, which worked well. My favorite remote control situation was when I found it under a patient's bum; the imprint of the buttons were imprinted on his skin. So I teased him with, "Hey, if I push this here spot, will it change the channel?" Oh, that's why he originally called, because the channels would change on the TV everytime he shifted in bed!

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Jul 5, 2015

This indicates a need to assess why pain continues to be a problem and to intervene based on the assessment.
It was clear by the thread title what this thread was for. No need to come in to tell us all that we are awful for saying what we feel. As for my contribution, the patient in question was my favorite that day, and he gave me a good laugh. His wife came in on the last few rings and started saying, "honey, it's the call light! The call light!!"
It's not always belittling to participate in these threads, unless you want to see it that way.

Excuse me for not being clear. She had a PCA pump, knew how to use it, but did not want to push the button for pain relief. I instructed her that she had the cure for her pain in her hand, but she "didn't want to use it". I guess she just wanted to let me know she hurt- go figure.

Christy1019, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2015

Ok, I get it. Judgmental Nurse is being Judgmental.
First of all, I really don't think that any competent nurse here would go to a room, listen to what the patient has requested, and then just walk away and add it to a list.
Of course weird patient requests are evaluated for possible cause. Is the patient having a reaction to pain medication? Are they sun-downing? Have they been awake for 36 hours and hallucinating? Have they mistaken the big "H" on the front of the building for "Hilton"? Have they watched too much Naughty Nurse Media? Are they entitled brats? Etc, etc.
Sometimes, if you don't laugh, you'll cry. I really worry about nurses who never smile, who can't find humor in an absurd situation, and who look down on those who can.
Do I advocate yukking it up at the nurse's station or going over it in the elevator packed with civilians? Of course not. THAT is rude and disrespectful. But here? We deal with death, suffering and all manner of crises during work time. You have to be able to decompress, or you will never last.
This should be a safe zone for stuff like this. If it offends you, as long as no TOS are being violated, just keep on scrolling-you'll soon find something more to your liking. But please don't think you're somehow better than the rest of us. Many of you are desperately looking for ways to desert bedside nursing. Humor like this is one of the things that has kept those of us who have dedicated their careers (and I'm talking decades here) to staying at the bedside.

THIS!!! I usually agree with been there done that's posts, but not this time. People are just ridiculous sometimes, and we are more than justified to come here and vent about it!

Cabbagehead · Jul 6, 2015

I think there should be a set number of times, per shift, a patient may ring their call bell. When they've reached their allotted max, their horn should be revoked.

ðŸ˜¬

Anna S, RN · Jul 6, 2015

Family member who was a "nurse" (turned out to be a home health aide) turned on call light to tell me there were syringes in the sharps container.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jul 6, 2015

Family member who was a "nurse" (turned out to be a home health aide) turned on call light to tell me there were syringes in the sharps container.

Well, you were supposed to vaporize the needles with your laser eye-beams. Someone could rip the sharps container off the wall, smash it open with a hammer, and poke themselves with a dirty needle. It's an accident waiting to happen.

StarletRN1 · Jul 6, 2015

When he wasn't hollering out loud for everyone to hear, he was using the call bell to tell me he was lying on one of his testicles. I don't even know how that is humanly possible. lol

ixchel · Jul 7, 2015

Family member who was a "nurse" (turned out to be a home health aide) turned on call light to tell me there were syringes in the sharps container.

I'd just say, "that's what it's there for. So glad to see its working well. Thank you." And just walk away. Good grief.

musingmom · Jul 7, 2015

Last shift: I got called to a (intact motor function) patient's room because he wanted me to fix the temperature. Ok, that's plausible, often in order to get the wall thermostat to work we have to call engineering. I asked if he felt the room was too cold, or too warm. He said too warm. Well the thermostat was already on the lowest setting, and it was cool in the room (to me), so I suggested that maybe he would like to take some of the 7 blankets off of himself, you know, to cool down.

He replied, "Well, what if I get cold?"

I said, "Uh, cover yourself back up?"

He said, "Is that ok to do on my own?"

Yes. Yes it is.

nurseactivist · Jul 11, 2015

Had an LOL alert/oriented x3 but very anxious. Asked days to get HS med order and consider anti-anxiety rx. Next noc the nurse reported. MD didn't think it was "necessary." Patient, with no UTI, was on and off bedpan, 20-30 times in my 8 hour shift. Charted on I & Os, 0100 voided 10ccs, 011 voided 13 ccs. Following morning asked Charge Nurse to show MD the I & O sheet. Next noc, prn for anxiety ordered and HS rx. Problem solved!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Patient: "I'm uncomfortable".

That's one of the worst. Especially when your patient won't tell you what they need.

Follow that up with "I don't know why I'm uncomfortable, that's you job".

elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 12, 2015

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

Because..what???