What is the dumbest order you ever read?

Nurses General Nursing

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I thought I had seen some AH orders but yesterday took the all time win! I had a 97 year old man admitted from ER with impaction and the order said---- "Give oil retention enema and have pt. hold for one hour." I am LMAO as I am thinking "OK where am I going to find a cork.:roll :chuckle

Talk to the nurse aides but leave the vital necessary equipment in the room.

If only that actually worked . . . unfortunately sometimes it doesn't. Nor does writing orders like, "Do not apply oxygen without MD order." Next thing you know I can't get the patient out the door due to the non-existent oxygen requirement . . .

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Specializes in LDRP.

I think i shared this once, but i dont think it was on this thread.

called an ob for antepartum patient admitted for something or other. She had no prn orders at all. she had a headache.

so i called to request tylenol or something like that.

he said he didnt want to be called all night, so wanted to give a few orders at once (this was only at 5pm!). tylenol, phenergan, etc. included "ambien 10mg po q4-6prn"

10mg of ambien every 4 hours? that would be one very good sleep :) (i didnt ask him to clarify, and did write it as qhs)

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ambulate patient in hallway, stat.

wow!!! i work on a cardiac step-down unit that is primary care. i am also on the weekend shift and staffing is bear bones. the family complained that i did not ambulate their mother. i didn't cause i felt that admitting the three new patients was probably a little more important. when i saw the doc i said, "seriously, i am getting slammed with admits. do you want me to stop and walk her?"

his response," i only wrote it cause the family was complaining." ok i will make sure to show it to them!:lol2:

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Specializes in Trauma, Surgical, Oncology.

Strict bedrest

Ambulate in hall tid

Consecutive orders on one patient

The stupidest, most irritating and insulting order ever written

DO NOT KILL PATIENT:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

Ortho doc who brought patients from Texas to Colorado for joint replacement and did not think patients needed to get acclimated to altitude prior to OR. The warm fuzzy for me is that after enough of these orders he was brought up before the medical board and told to quit or retire immediately if he didn't want to get fired.

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I've seen this one a few times by the same doc.

Bedrest ad lib.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

OK it's not a written order but I called the resident one night to notify him that a DNR/CCO patient was circling the drain with a SBP in the 50s. His order "start norepinepherine 8mg in 250cc. Tirate to SBP>90" I pointed out the patient was CCO status and his response was "if the patients sbp was >90 they woul be more comfotable- it would be very uncomfortable to have a SBP in the 50s" Can't argue with that logic- fortunately the patient died before I finished my conversation with the resident or had a stroke myself. I'm assuming we did not start CPR not because the patient was a DNR but because chest compressions would be uncomfortable.

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this one wasn't really dumb, but i was kicking myself for leaving my cake mix and easy bake oven at home:

Please get the patient a cupcake. It is her birthday.

Actually, I think that was pretty nice. :)

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We admitted a transvestite in full dress.

Doctor's order read:

Private room, this patient is not a woman, this is a man. This patient's husband is a woman, and he may shower.

The same doctor dictated a discharge summary:

This is a 700 year old black lady, her skin is lighter than black and is white. She had surgery and is fine. Transfer to ECF.

How many picked peppers was that?[lol]:uhoh3:

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This goes beyond dumb. "Write a incident report." Unfortunately I have seen it more than once from different doctors in different hospitals in different locals.

Has no one ever explained the purpose of an incident report and that it is legally not discoverable unless you write a stupid order like this. Duh! Guess the idiots think this will put the onus for an incident on someone other than the Doc. Maybe it thinks it will make him look like a hero in a suit.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
"BP, RR & HR are still the same, but I am concerned that his temp is dropping...."

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
Originally Posted by sinus.rhythm

Patient is in terminal condition, with trache and PEG in place. New MD orders: Do not resuscitate, do not intubate. RN may pronounce!

I haven't slept, so maybe I'm not getting this one.

??

Pt. already intubated via trach. :)

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
this one wasn't really dumb, but i was kicking myself for leaving my cake mix and easy bake oven at home:

Please get the patient a cupcake. It is her birthday.

Aw, it is sweet though!

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