That awkward moment when....

[BSNbeauty]

Sometimes nursing drains the living daylights out of me. However, I love what I do. It is never a dull moment. However, lately I've had some pretty awkward moments and thought I'd share. Feel free to add yours!

-That awkward moment when I had a patient that haven't urinated in 8 hours, so I pulled the curtain and started to gently massage his bladder and got overly excited when he voided. ( that meant no foley!)

-That awkward moment when a patient poops or passes gas I shout " Oh, this is wonderful" . (Patient usually gives me that " she's nuts" look)

-That awkward moment when a discharged patient walks in on me when I'm using the Bathroom close to the hospital entrance. ( I wasn't no where near the employees rest room, and a girl had to go).

-That awkward moment when you are trying to find veins on a drug user and you try your best to politely ask where to go, without offending them. ( although most volunteer to expose what is left).

- That awkward momemt when you have a patient who we found PCP in his urine, and his wife is at the bedside 9 months preggors and have no idea( shaking my head).

-That awkward moment when you have to assess a male patient who is extremly attracted to you, and says "helllllooooo nurse". (yuckers!)

These are just a few. I'm sure I have many more.... thats all for now folks.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

when you call a pt by another pt's name.

[sssT]

That awkward moment when your preceptor tells you (in front of the patient) to put the condom catheter on just like you use a regular condom... but you've never used a condom before. Followed immediately by that awkward moment when you go to put on said condom catheter and learn what the nightshift RN meant by "difficult anatomy."

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

in fundamentals clinicals when you go to give a man a bed bath and have never seen an uncirced member! (my first thought was WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!?!?! - not voiced of course LOL)

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

Same thing when you're doing a Foley on a male with foreskin and you have to keep rolling it back trying to keep a sterile field...eek...

especially when said male patient is large and his member is like a second belly button!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

~~that awkward moment when your new 89 year old patient is insistant that she is going to see her "momma" and that the new patient assessment can wait. Bringing up flags of possible dementia...asking said patient, do you know how old you are (during a new patient assessment). I certainly do miss! I turned 89 three weeks ago! With that said I reply, if you are 89 do you think its possible that maybe your mom has passed?

***really awkward..patients eyes get as big as saucers and she says..."I just SAW her right before you came in the room! How? What happened?!"

only to be notified by the other nurse who had overheard the conversation that this patients 'momma' was a patient at our LTC on another unit. Yup, my 89 year old patient had an alive and well 103 year old Mom on the other unit. 103 year old mom had my patient at the age of 14.

Pixie apologizing profusely and realizing you can never just assume! Ughh!

[CoffeeGeekRN]

~~

only to be notified by the other nurse who had overheard the conversation that this patients 'momma' was a patient at our LTC on another unit. Yup, my 89 year old patient had an alive and well 103 year old Mom on the other unit. 103 year old mom had my patient at the age of 14.

Pixie apologizing profusely and realizing you can never just assume! Ughh!

That has got too be the best one!

[limaRN, BSN, RN]

That awkward moment when a family member comes in and I ask, "oh are you his daughter?" Thinking that it was because she had called earlier saying she was coming in and looked very young and she replies, "no I'm his wife..." Oops! Lesson learned. Always ask how they are related to the pt.

Or that other awkward moment when the pts wife comes to visit and the pts girlfriend shows up to visit as well. They had no previous knowledge of each other...

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

That has got too be the best one!

You have no idea how embarrassed and mortified I was! OMG! I felt terrible. Luckily my sharp as a tack (as I later found out, as was her momma!) little lady quickly forgave my faux pau and she and I became fast friends. Her mom was a wonderful lady and got a great belly laugh after she was told the story of Nurse Pixie and her foot in the mouth statement.

But can you imagine the eye rolls when my 89 year old patients daughter (who was 73) came in saying she wanted to visit her Grandmother?! too funny. We had to leave word to the receptionist that Mrs Jones* (103), Mrs Smith** (89) were indeed Mrs Brown **(73) grandmother and mother and that both were residents at the facility and that Mrs Brown was NOT one of our dementia patients who was lost.

I miss them. It was great seeing so many generations all in one room when the grandchilren and great grandchildren all came to visit! They were a very close knit, loving family run by the matriarch of the family (Mrs Jones 103). Rest Easy Mrs Jones, Smith and Brown.

[valsmailbox]

That awkward moment when you are talking to a woman sitting on his bed and holding his hand, and then his wife calls!

[valsmailbox]

That moment when your phone rings in the bathroom, and you answer it, the room echoes, do you flush, or not?

[gerry75]

I am a pres nursing student who begins nursing school next January. I like to read through all the forums to get a general feel for what is going on and for a dose of reality I'm not sure I will get in school. What has become apparent to me is that a sense of humor is essential. That you can take your job very seriously and still be able to laugh at yourself and some of the situations you find yourself in. All of your responses have made me laugh-and cringe at the same time. I look forward to when I can contribute to this forum!

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

A couple of these really made me giggle. A couple not so much.