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I saw a weird combination of objects at work last night, and it made me wonder. What are some of the oddest combinations of objects you've seen that could really only happen in a healthcare setting?
Mine was a book of Rodin sculptures propped up on a bedside commode.
Searching the possessions of an homicidal/suicidal when first coming to the ER. Cigarettes, ok. Bottle of vodka, normal. Meth pipe freshly used..ugh. 12" bowie knife...um. 12 other knives....a fork welded to a knife.....and a barbie doll. It was like a magicians bag. New surprise each time.
MD order for an "adult toy" for a 78 yo. female non-ambulatory, total care nursing home resident. I understand, we got MD orders for a nightly glass of wine or can of beer, whatever it takes to relax. I wasn't judging...but I also wasn't going to have anything to do with the upkeep of it.
Searching the possessions of an homicidal/suicidal when first coming to the ER. Cigarettes, ok. Bottle of vodka, normal. Meth pipe freshly used..ugh. 12" bowie knife...um. 12 other knives....a fork welded to a knife.....and a barbie doll. It was like a magicians bag. New surprise each time.
This should have come with snort warning! I lost it at Barbie doll...WTH???
Oh yeah, and there's the tale of three kittens and a mama cat stashed in the closet of my asthma patient's hospital room. The family had snuck them in to visit and apparently hidden them in the closet as I was making my rounds. Of course, cats do not like being shut up in a cramped space unless it's their idea, and no sooner had I walked into the room to give my patient her nebulizer treatment than they came tumbling out. One kitten escaped and another one scrambled up my leg as I was trying to catch its sibling; luckily one of my co-workers intercepted it and we got them all contained quickly.
I swear, this was one of those things that could only happen to me. I was very direct with that patient's family and made them pack up the kitties to take them home. But it also struck me funny, and we all wound up having a good laugh over it. :)
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Cockroaches in the folds of a panniculus.
Meth pipe snuggled in the crack of a dude's butt, just behind his junk.
Loaded 9mm underneath a patient on a hold for being a danger to themselves or others.