Things Patients Have Taught Me NOT To Do

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Never....NEVER...cut a potato in half and use it as a pessary! :eek:

Anybody got anything to add?

Don't drink drain cleaner. Just a bad idea altogether.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Don't drink rubbing alcohol. Not a good idea.

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Don't perform your own debridement for a chronic diabetic ulcer with a razor blade dipped in alcohol, then wonder why you have a horrible osteomylitis......

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Don't drink rubbing alcohol. Not a good idea.

lol! yea, I've actually heard the some drunkies will actually drink rubbing alcohol when no other source of alcohol is found. It's sad really. :down::sniff::nurse:

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Specializes in Emergency, outpatient.

They do....and promptly seize. It made us get rid of all bottled alcohol in the hospital (in pt care areas.):rolleyes:

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Oh it has taken me days to get through these! I laughed my behind off!! I don't have anything to add, but thank you so much for the laughs:)

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

Never enter a private room even if you know the patient when only 2 relatives are allowed.:angryfireToo much activity might just throw her into a seizure.:eek:

Never ever touch a semi-conscious very ill patient on the private parts. Even if she doesn't think enough of herself to report you (due to past abuse) she will for ever be disgusted with you, and when she is well enough, you will never see her again.:angryfire

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Specializes in Paediatrics, Orthopeodics, ENT, General.
Don't drink drain cleaner. Just a bad idea altogether.

I have seen this one, even in Australia. VERY SAD :sniff: Suicidal teenager tried to kill herself by drinking Draino. Ended up destroying her oesophagas and stomach, which were surgically removed. Spend the rest of her life feeding through a jejunostomy tube, making frequent visits to hospital and blaming all the nurses for her condition.

Even sadder, she eventually succeeded in ending her life, which she chose to do while an inpatient. Requested a bath after a prolonged period of good behaviour, and was granted it. Shoved a chair under the door to prevent entry and drowned herself. Not Pretty, and the staff on the ward needed extensive counselling.

What a tragic waste of a young life with potential. :crying2::crying2:

Also, don't treat your own ingrown toenail with a rusty nail, then attend the local Clinic with an infection. Yes, you WILL recieve IM Pinicillin, IM Tetorifice (double ouch!!) and get a stiff telling-off from the nurse and the attending doctor.

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Specializes in Retired OR nurse/Tissue bank technician.
You can skip the scarring/infection risk/stigma, the chance of killing anyone you met en route, the unsympathetic nurse and the groggy EMTs by going directly to the nearest ER and telling them you are very depressed and thinking of hurting yourself, because that's where you end up anyway, with a gastric lavage as lagniappe.

They will admit you. Really.

Or you hope they will. I know of a woman in florid psychosis sent home alone after a shot of Accuphase (who two days later could barely walk as the effects of the antipsychotic set in) and another who came into ER with both suicidal and homicidal urges due to a reaction to an immunization-sent home alone. A third had done a token OD (but honestly thought it would be more effective than it was), went to ER for IV and charcoal and released the next morning, the resident telling her she wasn't as depressed as she thought she was. Sent home alone.

A university professor here went to ER, saying he was suicidal and had a gun and bullets at home. After being assessed, he was told there were no beds and after the doctor supposedly got a promise from the man that he wouldn't hurt himself, the professor went home and shot himself in the head.

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Specializes in Retired OR nurse/Tissue bank technician.
Would have made an excellent Candid Camera shot.:yeah:

I had such a hard time not laughing. I was mortified at what I had done to the guy (He really was great), but at the same time...:chuckle

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Specializes in Retired OR nurse/Tissue bank technician.
lol! yea, I've actually heard the some drunkies will actually drink rubbing alcohol when no other source of alcohol is found. It's sad really. :down::sniff::nurse:

My friend's husband was partial to Listerine. That and hairspray are two other cheap alternatives.

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Don't drink drain cleaner. Just a bad idea altogether.

It's not a good idea to use it as an enema either, even if you are severely constipated.

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