What Baffles You?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So I have come across this a few times. I am holding a straw to a persons lips and they drink and drink and drink and pretty soon they are waving their hands for me to stop. Stop what?! You don't have to keep sucking on the straw just because it is in your mouth. I think the universal sign of I'm done please remove the straw should be to stop sucking on it and open your mouth! I have had a few people have to catch their breath and make comments about me giving them too much! What? I don't get it.

Specializes in Med Surg.
If I were to say this about a women, the comment would have been moderated. Comments like these make this man very uncomfortable on this site and in the workplace.

I'm sorry you are uncomfortable because I, a middle aged man, have cared for a disproportionate number of middle aged male patients who are overly whiny and needy. I hope you doing OK.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.
Amen!! you're not kidding.

I also like when they threaten to leave AMA, like it's going to hurt me or something. No skin off my teeth- don't let the door hit you.

Aaaaand , they usually don't refuse the pain meds

I love when the MD, over the phone, tries to get me to convince them to stay by warning, "You will be responsible for all the charges!!"

"Doc, that patient hasn't paid for a single thing - not rent, not food, not smokes, not booze, not medications, not hospital stays - for over 30 years."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

The retired nurse that refuses assessment, vs and meds. And complains about her nurse every shift. Go home if you don't want us to do anything to you..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.
Oh man when patients will not lift their arms to let you put the BP cuff on, it absolutely makes me wild![/quote']

Haha this is good, I agree..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

When I hand older senior pts the pill cup and they want to pour the pills in their hand to try and put them in their mouth by hand all at once and spill them all over the bed..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

Why the ED tells the pt they can eat as soon as they get up to the floor..

No you can't. You can eat when the doc comes to see you and says you aren't going to be NPO

Sorry the ED lied to you..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.
Well yea, and the kind of pain you describe, with the brick and all, that's what I explain to pts as being 10/10 pain. I've been in labor, had kidney stones more than once, and bilateral pyelonephritis. I have chronic migraines since the age of 6. I've writhed in pain, cried, and threw up from it. And still never answered the question with anything more than 10. Because I guess I understand the question and get annoyed with dramatic hyperbole. Just my two cents.

Ive told nurses/ doctors- Id rather give birth without an epidural again ( gall bladder attack).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why the ED tells the pt they can eat as soon as they get up to the floor.. No you can't. You can eat when the doc comes to see you and says you aren't going to be NPO Sorry the ED lied to you..

Where I work the admitting doctor sees the patient in the ED and all the orders, including diet, are put in before they ever leave the ED. So I routinely tell them they can eat on the floor so that they can get an actual tray versus one of our soggy turkey sandwiches.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

During the admission- My symptoms are back ( depression, AVH, etc). What meds are you taking- oh I never got them filled, cant afford them, few more questions- Do you smoke? Yes. How much 3 packs per day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Where I work the admitting doctor sees the patient in the ED and all the orders, including diet, are put in before they ever leave the ED. So I routinely tell them they can eat on the floor so that they can get an actual tray versus one of our soggy turkey sandwiches.

Just because the orders are entered in the ED doesn't mean that a tray is immediately available upon admission to the floor. There *are* a few tasks/assessments that take priority over hitting the tray .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just because the orders are entered in the ED doesn't mean that a tray is immediately available upon admission to the floor. There *are* a few tasks/assessments that take priority over hitting the tray .

This is true. That used to drive me nuts when I worked the floor and I'd get an admit from the ED. It was as if the patient fully expected a meal tray to just magically appear the second they darkened the door to their room. I'd open my mouth to speak and introduce myself, and they'd be asking for their food.

Now, working in the ED, I never make that promise. I tell them that they have more food options on the floor, but that their nurse will need to do a few things first as there is a process, and I offer them the option of either waiting until a meal is forthcoming, or I can give them a small snack of juice and crackers to tide them over. I never use the words "as soon as you get to the floor" for anything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just because the orders are entered in the ED doesn't mean that a tray is immediately available upon admission to the floor. There *are* a few tasks/assessments that take priority over hitting the tray .

I should have specified. I do tell them that it won't be up there right away and that the nurses will have to take care of other things before calling the kitchen. I worked med-surg before the ED and know how irritating it can be. Basically, I put it like this: "Mr. So and so, I know that you've been asking for food, and since you have diet orders in, you have two options: we do have turkey sandwiches down here that I can give you, or once you go up to the floor they will be able to get you a tray after they take care of a few things. It may be be an hour or more before that's able to happen. Which would you prefer?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment