What are some of the most ridiculous requests you have heard?

Karou · Dec 27, 2015

Three cots in a room for family members to stay with the patient. Three cots wouldn't even fit in our rooms... It was the patients sisters and they all acted like the patients hospitalization was a big slumber party, pajamas, popcorn and all.

Many patients want their labs ran or radiology tests read "first". They don't understand that radiology tests are prioritized and that I am a lucky nurse if I can even get STAT labs read quickly.

"You only get ONE try for an IV!" That's great but you're a dialysis patient with one usable and very scarred arm. House supervisor tried and failed. Patient demanded a CL at 02:00. Only IV medication was morphine... You can bet that didn't happen! She wasn't too happy about IM morphine either.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Dec 27, 2015

WOW...... (I am white and would not let a fellow coworker take that abuse.)

Thank you for this. I am of a minority race (black) and it truly made a difference for me when my Caucasian colleagues told me, this isn't right and stood up for me.

I would never even attempt to defend myself from a bigoted pt, but just knowing other colleagues had my back made me feel better about providing care to pts who shouted racial epithets.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2015

.....
And don't get me started on those who wanted to keep the placenta to plant it in the garden at home.....

Thats quite common for Maori families here...

We have a stash of empty icecream containers they can take them home in

Dikid · Dec 27, 2015

I think you deserve a gift.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Dec 27, 2015

Had a male patient ask me to wipe his butt clean while he was on the toilet. He was perfectly capable of doing this himself, but he seemed to enjoy having a female do it. I told him I would get our male pct to help assist him. Suddenly he didn't need anymore help in that area.

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 27, 2015

I think you deserve a gift.

Please use the quote function when replying to a post. No one knows to whom you are speaking.

Snigglefrits · Dec 28, 2015

"I expect daddy's medications to be given to him ON THE DOT when they're due!"

Explained to this family member that a code blue interrupted med pass and dad's meds were given within the acceptable time frame (due at 9:00, given at 9:36). Family member then had the nerve to state she didn't care about someone having a code blue, DADDY WAS TO GET HIS MEDS ON TIME.

She finally changed her tune when I asked if her dad was coding, would she feel the same if we stopped CPR where we could run around and give the patient down the hall their insulin shot on the dot?

Another nurse related that one of her pt's family members had wanted a cup of ice during that particular code and asked was it really necessary for "all of those folks" to be giving their attention to that one pt. The patients are usually ok, it is the family members who drive me up the wall with requests.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

"I expect daddy's medications to be given to him ON THE DOT when they're due!"
Explained to this family member that a code blue interrupted med pass and dad's meds were given within the acceptable time frame (due at 9:00, given at 9:36). Family member then had the nerve to state she didn't care about someone having a code blue, DADDY WAS TO GET HIS MEDS ON TIME.
She finally changed her tune when I asked if her dad was coding, would she feel the same if we stopped CPR where we could run around and give the patient down the hall their insulin shot on the dot?
Another nurse related that one of her pt's family members had wanted a cup of ice during that particular code and asked was it really necessary for "all of those folks" to be giving their attention to that one pt. The patients are usually ok, it is the family members who drive me up the wall with requests.

"I know you are busy. You always are. BUT MY MOM IS SO SPECIAL FOR ME, BECAUSE I AM HER DAUGHTER!"

Patient has, among other things, bad itch. Cannot really use her hands, so I agreed to scratch her back once in a while.

Patient: can you scratch for just a few minutes more?

Me: sorry, I need to finish (timed task), I will come back later.

Patient, exploding: why you are always have to do something? You are paid the same, whatever you do!

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 28, 2015

Sigh...................give 'em an inch and the entitlement goes through the roof.

Bob Loblaw · Dec 28, 2015

COPD'r on O2 who wanted to be wheeled to the smoking area of the hospital.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

COPD'r on O2 who wanted to be wheeled to the smoking area of the hospital.

Did you leave out the part where this took place in 1965?

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

I've posted this before, but I answered a resident's light, he "needed to pee". I retrieved his urinal from the bathroom and handed it to him. He looked at me smiling and said "you need to hold my dick". I told him no, he'd be doing that for himself. He held up his hands that he wore work gloves on and said "I can't, my neuropathy. You have to do it"

I said "Mr. D. I have seen you operate the controls for your bed. I've seen you flip through television channels faster than 99% of the people here. You are able to use your cell phone with no problems. I know you never miss a meal and you also had no difficulty in turning on your light to get staff in here. You WILL be holding your own member while you use your urinal.