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

Published

All day breakfast - Are you kidding me?!

Aren't you amazed by patients (and families) who think nurses are there to wait on them hand and foot. Yes, we provide service around the clock, but it is not in the form of food but medical care. What are some of the most ridiculous requests you have gotten?

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If I had a choice, I would feed the horse.

Me too!

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Don't leave home without it!

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

:roflmao:

I had a patient admitted for a bowel prep for a colo. Seriously. Her GI doc really wanted her to have the test done but was afraid she wouldn't complete the prep on her own.

So of course, I, as the 7P to 7A nurse, had the joy of prepping her. Her husband was kind of annoying me so I used my skills to kick him out.

Anyway, this patient stood 4'4" and weighed around 330 lbs. She needed not only a bariatric commode, but a SHORT PERSON bariatric commode. Which turned out to be too tall for her. So she convinced me to take her in the bathroom. I told her to ring when she was done.

She rang and asked me to wipe. I asked just this question and she said, "my husband." DANG IT! I'd just sent the fool home.

Eventually she gave up the walk to the bathroom and just crapped on herself all night and had us clean her up. It WAS easier than walking her to the bathroom, but COME ON. Also, the Royal Wedding was going on and I always associate it with cleaning her up because she was watching it.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

I once took care of a pt who lived 45 mins from the hospital. I also lived in the same area. He left some of his belongings after discharge. He was a schizophrenic and had OD'd. My boss asked me, "Hey would you just take these belongings to his home on your way?" What!? [emoji50] I know you don't like me anymore, but I'd rather not be kidnapped today.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Epic CT.

Patient: "I need to blow my nose"

Me with a smile: (hands him the tissue box that was on his tray table, right in front of him)

Patient: "I need the tissue, not the box!"

Patient was alert and independent...

I'm surprised he didn't ask me to blow his nose.

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How about being asked to sing a patient to sleep x2, then it turned into demands because I was supposed to take care of all their needs. Like I don't have someone else to medically care for.

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To crawl into bed with him. Lol.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Sometimes we get patients who lived with no other soul around. Older gentleman, found unconscious by mail carrier, found to have a large stroke, ICU, vent, LTACH. He is barely awake, unable to tell any contacts, relatives, friends. In a week or so, we get an angry call from a landlord, or other neightbor. Cats/dogs shuttered inside and yell day and night for food, grass is not mowed, pool not cleaned, letter box overflowing, old fridge died and the food is rotting and smelling. He must come home and clean up all the mess. If he can't, then... well, you are supposed to care for him, so why can't you come and do that for his property?

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I had a patient that used to call me to her room because she couldn't figure out a "4 pics one word" At least 5 times a shift.

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Just last shift:

family invited me to some candy. I politely refused and said that I'm deadly allergic to one obvious component of those candy.

In some minutes, I was called to shift leader and was told to exchange assignment immediately and not to enter the room even if there is a code. Sure I asked what so terrible I did... one family member came to that RN and just honestly told that he always wanted to know if "all those dudes who tell they are allergic to this and that really can die from eating that small candy, or what". He then proposed to the shift leader to order me to eat those candy in front of him while "someone" would stay there and control the process. "She's in hospital anyway, so nothing too bad will happen". He was just curious if something, anything happened anyway. Otherwise, they would not want "a nurse who lies".

I was a subject of that sort of "curiosity" while in middle school. Never expected such stupidity from an apparently mentally normal adult.

The request alone means he was not mentally normal.

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Jeez. I would have had her banned from the hospital. I wonder how much life insurance he had?

It's hard to believe someone is that stupid unless it's on purpose.

You should never be surprised by the stupidity of people.

Who was it that said something like "look at someone with average intelligence and realize that half the world is dumber than that"? I know that's not it, but that was the heart of the saying.

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A male patient wanted us to manscape his privates. Um..no.

A family wanted a Hip Fx certified PT to work with their loved one. On a Sunday. Sorry, only 1-2 PTs per unit today.

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