What have patients told you that they shouldn't?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Okay, I have noticed patients (some, not all) think they can get away with saying just about anything to their nurses. Things I don't feel they would say to other people. What some of the rudest you have been told?

*A patient receiving physical therapy (87 female) mentioned how handsome the therapist is. Another nurse in the room pointed me out as his "sweet, little wife". The patient promptly proceeded to ask me "what he wanted with something ugly like you, couldn't he do better?"

*A friend of mine, and LPN, has Psoriasis. She does have "outbreaks" even though she has treatment, and she is very self-conscience about it. A patient asked her about her elbows, and she explained what it was and that it wasn't contagious. The patient asked another nurse to speak to the supervisor. She told the super that it was nasty and she couldn't look at it any longer. And the super proceeded to make the nurse "dress" the elbows!:angryfire

*I was sick last week (still am, but better). I still had to work, and hadn't sleep much the night before. I oversleep, and didn't have time to put on makeup, fix my hair, ect. Just showered, slapped my hair in a pony tail, and run out the door. A patient, a 30 year old female, informed me I looked like s**t and should be ashamed to be seen like that. And she didn't feel comfortable with me as a nurse since I obviously was unable to care for myself.

I'm sure some of you have gotten worse...so let's hear it! :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I've never had any comments like these! I guess I have nothing to contribute...

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

A couple of years ago, an older male patient demanded to know, "Who's in charge of all of these black slaves? I'm sick and tired of the care being provided by all of these (insert 'N' word)."

The charge nurse, who is also black, responded, "I'm in charge, and there are no (insert 'N' word) at this facility, sir. There are no black slaves here. They are nursing staff members."

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Okay, I have noticed patients (some, not all) think they can get away with saying just about anything to their nurses. Things I don't feel they would say to other people. What some of the rudest you have been told?

*A patient receiving physical therapy (87 female) mentioned how handsome the therapist is. Another nurse in the room pointed me out as his "sweet, little wife". The patient promptly proceeded to ask me "what he wanted with something ugly like you, couldn't he do better?"

*A friend of mine, and LPN, has Psoriasis. She does have "outbreaks" even though she has treatment, and she is very self-conscience about it. A patient asked her about her elbows, and she explained what it was and that it wasn't contagious. The patient asked another nurse to speak to the supervisor. She told the super that it was nasty and she couldn't look at it any longer. And the super proceeded to make the nurse "dress" the elbows!:angryfire

*I was sick last week (still am, but better). I still had to work, and hadn't sleep much the night before. I oversleep, and didn't have time to put on makeup, fix my hair, ect. Just showered, slapped my hair in a pony tail, and run out the door. A patient, a 30 year old female, informed me I looked like s**t and should be ashamed to be seen like that. And she didn't feel comfortable with me as a nurse since I obviously was unable to care for myself.

I'm sure some of you have gotten worse...so let's hear it! :nurse:

wow thats crazy. thanks for letting me know. i start my perp program for the cnet exam in 2 weeks. i guess we need more male nurses so that us men can help out with the nursing staff

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
A couple of years ago, an older male patient demanded to know, "Who's in charge of all of these black slaves? I'm sick and tired of the care being provided by all of these (insert 'N' word)."

The charge nurse, who is also black, responded, "I'm in charge, and there are no (insert 'N' word) at this facility, sir. There are no black slaves here. They are nursing staff members."

OMG!!! That would be hilarious if it wasn't so awful!!!

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OMG!!! That would be hilarious if it wasn't so awful!!!

wow i would have been so angry. i guess some patients can be monsters

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I too was told I looked like s*** with my blonde hair. This lady was confused and calling me Monica (my name is Angie) and told me to dye my hair back brown. Eventhough she was confused I was still insulted because I am a natural blonde.

I was at work one night while still in med/surg and we had a pt have a strange reaction after receiving dilaudid. The pt roomate angry that she was in for cellulitis of the finger and hx heroin abuse and demanded that she too get her pain med NOW as the other pt in the room is having this strange seizure like reaction to the dilaudid and we are trying to help her ( had crash cart in room just incase and pt connected). I ripped the curtain back and told her that she would get her pain med as soon as her nurse was available. (I thankfully wasn't her nurse) She then kept proceeding to call her nurse by name and I finally told her again that her nurse wasn't available because she was with her VERY sick roomate. Then she proceeded to tell me that "You need to get your fat a** on the other side of the curtain I want my nurse." The house PA and house Doc actually opened the curtain and told her to keep herself quiet and that she isn't the only person in the hospital. She then proceeded to tell someone on the phone that she wanted dilaudid because her roomante got it. The pt that had the reaction to the dilaudid did end up being transferred to the ICU for closer monitoring for the next few days. The poor pt having the med reaction kept apologizing for causing so much trouble. I told her that she didn't do anything wrong, but she still felt guilty. After she was stabilized she asked us not to leave her alone in ther with the other pt. I had a aide stay with her so I could help the other nurse get her meds caught up.:angryfire

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
wow i would have been so angry. i guess some patients can be monsters

I've dealt with old senile racists before. When they are in LTC and are faced with Black nurses or CNAs and have lost the ability to self censor, they can be very blunt in expressing their viewpoints. Even KKK members can end up in nursing homes and run of the mill racists can also let it all hang out.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

LOL in a nursing home, bulemic.

"Boy, you don't miss any meals, do you? You sure are BIG!"

She had to have a roommate change after she told her roomate, a larger (but by no means morbidly obese) lady: "I wear a size 8. What size do you wear, a 200?" Roommate was totally alert and oriented. And, of course, furious.

She was totally obsessed with weight and made remarks to anyone with an inch or more on her.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
A couple of years ago, an older male patient demanded to know, "Who's in charge of all of these black slaves? I'm sick and tired of the care being provided by all of these (insert 'N' word)."

The charge nurse, who is also black, responded, "I'm in charge, and there are no (insert 'N' word) at this facility, sir. There are no black slaves here. They are nursing staff members."

That is terrible.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
wow i would have been so angry. i guess some patients can be monsters
However, we are not to return the anger as professionals. The challenge is to respond to these irksome comments as tactfully and intelligently as possible without becoming angry enough to visibly lose one's level head. That's what professionalism is all about! ;)

I must admit that some comments are not even worthy of my reply, as doing so would consume too much of my time, energy, and brain power. We must choose our battles prudently, because every little annoying wrongdoing is not worth the fight.

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I've dealt with old senile racists before. When they are in LTC and are faced with Black nurses or CNAs and have lost the ability to self censor, they can be very blunt in expressing their viewpoints. Even KKK members can end up in nursing homes and run of the mill racists can also let it all hang out.

wow thank you some much. everyone on this website has been nothing but helpful. i guess i will have to learn to be more discipline and not let things like that bother me. i have a question. i kno it may have nothing to do with this forum but...i was also wondering (hopefully u can help me with this question) is it mandatory for lpn to clean there patients? you know when they make a mess on themselves?

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