What do patients say that irks you?

NurseforPreggers · Jun 16, 2005

:) I understand exactly what you're saying and most of the time I'm the first to say let people get things off their chest in peace, so I'm trying to decide what it is that has rubbed me the wrong way about this post... It's funny tho, I felt the same way when I was in the OR observing nursing staff disparaging their unconscious patient... I guess I'm just able to put myself in the shoes of the patients she is describing and can imagine just how humiliated I would feel for placing trust in this nurse by exposing my ignorance and then finding out that instead of compassionate interest in helping me to learn more about my situation she's feeling superior and ridiculing my lack of understanding. Again, I agree my feelings are probably over the top here and I'm really not sure why I'm taking it the way I am... I'll have to think on this some more. In the meantime, carry on...
I'll help, I've got one you all will LOVE. When I was 18 I worked in a path lab. The first time I saw a uterus from a TAH I thought the woman would no longer be able to have sex... thank the Lord I never actually exposed my ignorance and asked for clarification on that one, they would have had a field day in the break room I'm sure. Instead I went to the library and looked through a couple of books and learned more about female anatomy on my own.
So I guess it's all a lie, there really are stupid questions aren't there?
Good to know...

I appreciate your post. The important thing to realize is that I nor most other nurses I know would never degrade a patient for lack of knowledge. I would certainly never try to make my patients feel that any questions are unacceptable or stupid to ask. But sometimes I am amazed at what full grown woman do not know about their bodies. Believe it or not I am actually an extremely caring, patient nurse that often gets run over by staff and patients because of these attributes, so sometimes I feel its my turn to vent.

mandrews · Jun 16, 2005

We Get This Alot On Night Shift.

"honey Did You Get Any Sleep Lastnight."

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2005

i don't really expect for patients to understand procedures or general routines that we follow everyday because there are some things you really wouldn't know unless you are a trained health professional. But i do get irritated by people who come to the ED and expect a magic pill to fix their complaint without labs being drawn or being examined. i just had a very dramatic patient the other day who refused just about everything and it is so annoying because they become offended when you ask " why did you come to the emergency department then" i just love it when i am in triage and patients ask "will i be here all day, because i'll just leave!" i want to say "don't let the door hit ya' on the way out" but instead i say " i can't make you stay against your will, the choice is ultimately yours". ironically the people who give the most problems are usually not that sick to begin with.

stevierae · Jun 16, 2005

"They are going to have to take the baby"
I don't know why but that statement makes my jaw clench up everytime I hear it.
I had a patient the other day ask me how I was going to insert a foley since "the head is down there, wont that hurt the baby?" For the love god, people .... come on .. 2 HOLES! SERIOUSLY!
and my favorite of all time ...
"Does that machine beep everytime I dilate?" .. this one left me speechless
Please share your "omg, no she didn't say/ask that" quotes

Actually, "take the baby" was sort of a commonly used phrase among OB docs and some of the "older" (30s, 40s!) L&D nurses when I was a 19 year old corpsman working L&D in the early '70s. They used it almost all the time they had to tell a mom they would have to perform a C-section due to CPD, failure to progress etc. I guess they just thought it was easier for the patient to comprehend and say instead of "Caesarean"--people didn't have the internet to read up on what to expect during labor and delivery, and even the books available back then sort of just very briefly mentioned the possibility of a Caesarean, ( I rarely recall sseeing it abbreviated as C-section, even when I had my first baby in '78) then moved quickly on--they just sort of glossed over it--they didn't want to scare you.

I guess the phrase has stuck in the minds of non-medical and non-nursing people who had C-sections back then, and they now use it around their grown children who are having them.

Boy, do I feel old. :)

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 16, 2005

I love it when you go into a patient's room to start an IV or some other procedure, and the patient's family asks, "do you know what you are doing?" I am so tempted to say, "well sort of, you see they were short staffed tonight, so they just yanked me off of the street corner - hey I clean-up pretty nicely don't I? I love the scrubs!". Or, my personal fave "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!". Geeezzz :rotfl:

Good one :chuckle

flashpoint · Jun 16, 2005

Two that I get a lot are..."Aren't you pretty young to be doing this? Is there someone older who could take care of mom?" Well...the housekeeper is old enough to be my mother...would you like her to come in and titrate her drip? Also, I get a lot of, "Wow, you're short..." Followed by either, "You're pretty good at this even though you are short," or "Isn't there someone taller here?" Again, I could have the CNA come in and titrate your drip or start your IV! :)

NurseforPreggers · Jun 16, 2005

Actually, "take the baby" was sort of a commonly used phrase among OB docs and some of the "older" (30s, 40s!) L&D nurses when I was a 19 year old corpsman working L&D in the early '70s. They used it almost all the time they had to tell a mom they would have to perform a C-section due to CPD, failure to progress etc. I guess they just thought it was easier for the patient to comprehend and say instead of "Caesarean"--people didn't have the internet to read up on what to expect during labor and delivery, and even the books available back then sort of just very briefly mentioned the possibility of a Caesarean, ( I rarely recall sseeing it abbreviated as C-section, even when I had my first baby in '78) then moved quickly on--they just sort of glossed over it--they didn't want to scare you.
I guess the phrase has stuck in the minds of non-medical and non-nursing people who had C-sections back then, and they now use it around their grown children who are having them.
Boy, do I feel old. :)

Very interesting Stevie. I really don't know why this phrase annoys me so badly. Everytime I hear it I want to say "take the baby where?" I guess its a good thing I was not alive in the 70s. LOL

NurseforPreggers · Jun 16, 2005

Oh ... I can't believe I almost forgot this one, I hear it almost every day:

"Do you have kids?"

When I answer no, most either reply with "I'm sorry" or "Then you don't really know what this labor thing is all about then huh?"

And how many times have we heard daddy's say "can I get an epidural too?", its not original, cute or funny. Try again.

angie1982 · Jun 16, 2005

Two that I get a lot are..."Aren't you pretty young to be doing this? Is there someone older who could take care of mom?" Well...the housekeeper is old enough to be my mother...would you like her to come in and titrate her drip? Also, I get a lot of, "Wow, you're short..." Followed by either, "You're pretty good at this even though you are short," or "Isn't there someone taller here?" Again, I could have the CNA come in and titrate your drip or start your IV! :)

I get this one a lot too, I am very young looking and short too. I am 23 years old, brand new RN, problem is I look like Im about 16. Especially those nights when I'm too tired to put makeup on before work. God, I'm so sick of oh you are such a cute little thing (mostly from little old ladies) Or my you are so young. Oh well i'll appreciate it when i'm 35 and look like i'm 25 (i hope)

jessnurse05 · Jun 16, 2005

I get this one a lot too, I am very young looking and short too. I am 23 years old, brand new RN, problem is I look like Im about 16. Especially those nights when I'm too tired to put makeup on before work. God, I'm so sick of oh you are such a cute little thing (mostly from little old ladies) Or my you are so young. Oh well i'll appreciate it when i'm 35 and look like i'm 25 (i hope)

OMG! You are me exactly! I'm 23 and short and a brand new RN. It was funny when I interviewed a few weeks ago the lady asked when I was graduating from high school :chuckle She quickly corrected herself and said "you're just so young!"

Jessica

jarrn03 · Jun 16, 2005

This drives me nuts..when I admit patients and start EFM I explain the US and Toco. I explain the Toco can tell me how often and how long the contractions are BUT not how strong. That the number means nothing as long as we are using it externally. So when I come back in the dad or family members are saying WOW did you see how big that contraction was, it went all the way up to 60. So again I explain why the number is what it is only to come back in later to the same thing. DRIVES ME NUTS!!!!

The other question is when do you think the baby will come..on and early primip that's being induced.

Have a great day!

BabyRN2Be · Jun 16, 2005

And how many times have we heard daddy's say "can I get an epidural too?", its not original, cute or funny. Try again.

I've heard this so many times too and I couldn't agree with you more. UGH!

That and the "taking the baby" thing. Where are you taking it? Shopping?