Things that nurses say that may seem inappropriate to lay people

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What things have you said that would not sound right in any other situation? Here are a few things that just came to mind today as I was leaving work in which I was doing a flu clinic...

-A person asked me would the flu shot hurt I stated "No, I usually go in nice, quick and easy"

- One guy had to remove his shirt so I could get to his arm, I said" You may have to take off your shirt" Ofcourse he starts dancing as if he's stripping:eek::lol2:

- I asked one guy if it was his first time ( referring to the flu shot) he replied no, but I'm very experienced in other things.

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Remarking to other staff, "come help me reposition. This pt is totally DEAD WEIGHT!"

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Many of us sometimes refer to patients by their symptoms or their ailments. This can result in a family member hearing us talk about the SOB in 4122 or the CABG in 2736. Not greatly appreciated by non-medical folks.

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Pt was SOB

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Specializes in LTC.

I too get overly excited when a patient poops when they haven't gone in 3 days. I also get excited when I collect urine for a UA from a little old lady. Awww, the Joys of nursing.

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"THUMP HIM!!"

(precordial thump) :rolleyes:

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Pt was SOB

LOL...funny you should say this; when I first started working in a hospital (non-clinical staff), I saw "SOB" and thought, "They can WRITE that? Right there on the chart?!" :lol2:

I was equally confused by the diagnosis "End of life"...until I figured out they were talking about pacemaker batteries. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Patient is "CABG" in 522 bed 2.

Have you wheeled the "COW" into room 520?

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Postpartum:

1. "I have to touch/squeeze your breasts."

2. "Are your nipples sore for the sucking?"

3. "I have to spread your cheeks." (hemorrhoids)

4. "I have to push on your stomach to see how much blood comes out." (fundus check)

5. "Your baby will have tar for the first couple poops." (meconium)

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
Another that came to mind:

I work with a lot of special needs teenagers. A lot of laypeople think that disabled kids and teens are perpetually innocent and fragile creatures. In reality, behind the spasms, the wheelchair and the orthotics plenty of them have normal teenager tendencies. They'll mouth off, they'll type dirty jokes on their communication devices, they'll exchange funny insults, get crushes etc. etc. A lot of people don't understand why the staff joke around with them like they're the smarmy and fun-loving teenagers that they are. I don't even DARE repeat some of the stuff the kids have said or the staff lol! Regardless, there is a lot of respect, trust and compassion... whatever the average lay person might think.

The LOLs are like that too. :D

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health, Home Care.

I've been a nurse for a long time and in the mid 70's we had a wave of immigrants, probably the first now that I think of it, of people from southeast asia. They came with a lot of intestinal parasites. I had to ask an older gentleman for a stool specimen. No English! just pantomime.

Of course he looked at me like I was crazy! Can't remember if we got the spec or not.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Nursing Education.
Put your mouth here and suck on it. -For an incentive spirometer.

During clinicals LPN school several students were having a detailed conversation about whether you are to blow on it or suck.. We must have been quite naive,as none of us got it until a young doctor nearby started laughing.

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Specializes in ICU,ED, Corrections, dodging med-surg.

I need to swab your rectum and nose...No, with two separate swabs(after he asked me to swab his nose first) LOL,true story.:uhoh21:

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