That's not what that's used for!

[cracklingkraken]

Just wondering, throughout your nursing career, what things have you seen patients use incorrectly?

I thought this could be an entertaining subject. I'm not a nurse, but I always love hearing from you guys. And students as well!

[middleagednurse]

Had a patient once who had a goldfish bowl, with a goldfish in it, the goldfish wasn't looking too healthy, so one of the nurses hooked up a nasal cannula, and dropped it into the bowl, to revive the goldfish.

[doctorwhofan]

Confused patients that think their sat probe is a cigarette. At least their doing some pulmonary toilet, right?

Omg, I can't edit this from my phone. It should say "they're" not "their".

I must turn in my grammar badge now. 😳

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

Had a patient once who had a goldfish bowl, with a goldfish in it, the goldfish wasn't looking too healthy, so one of the nurses hooked up a nasal cannula, and dropped it into the bowl, to revive the goldfish.

Er.. did it actually revive the goldfish?

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

One time when I was working agency at an LTC... Many moons ago. A patient with severe mental illness was self-propelling around the unit with a small teddy bear. Closer inspection revealed the teddy was smeared heavily with feces. I asked the CNA on duty to either take it away for washing... Or try to clean it. The CNA walked over, dumped an ice pitcher on the teddy bear, and walked away. Wow.

[ReadyToListen, CNA, EMT-B]

This isn't as colorful, and one of my pet peeves. Watching people on the street pick up their walker/cane and walk. Ugh. If you are able to do that, you don't need the darn thing.

Wrong. I have relatives who can do the picking up task just fine but after walking a few steps, fatigue sets in and that's when they need it.

[SleeepyRN]

Dementia patient talking into the side rail (the kind with the buttons on it) saying, "Operator, call the police. I've been kidnapped." I found that pretty sad because that was her reality.