What Was the DUMBEST Request Made By A Patient?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Once, I saw a patient in a wheelchair while I was walking to my clinic and she asked me for a wrench. I asked why and she said "I need you to screw in my wheels".

Another one was I was walking out of the building by the information desk, where patients are allowed to make a courtesy call. I was talking to my friend on my cell phone trying to ask where to meet her to get a ride home from work. A patient ran behind me out of the building, into the street to ask me if she can use my cell phone. I turned around and told her to please ask the information desk and she said that she didn't want to be charged any extra money. I was so annoyed, I kept walking.

Was walking in a shopping mall (in uniform) and a patient I remembered ran to me and asked me to weigh her, and then right before I was able to respond, asked me if I can get on the computer and make an appointment for her. I told her I do not walk around with a scale and she will have to call for an appointment because I am off duty.

What's yours?

My patient asked me for a pecan. I really couldn't figure out why she wanted a pecan. It occurred to me that it was pecan harvesting time, as i saw 'PECANS FOR SALE" signs on my way to work everyday, but I still thought it was kind of odd that my r/o MI in ICU had her mind on pecans. She looked at me with exasperation and repeated, "listen I really need to pee, could you PLEASE get me a PEE CAN!!!!!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.
My patient asked me for a pecan. I really couldn't figure out why she wanted a pecan. It occurred to me that it was pecan harvesting time, as i saw 'PECANS FOR SALE" signs on my way to work everyday, but I still thought it was kind of odd that my r/o MI in ICU had her mind on pecans. She looked at me with exasperation and repeated, "listen I really need to pee, could you PLEASE get me a PEE CAN!!!!!

:chuckle That is hilarious! Thats just priceless.

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I had a patient ask if they could have lobster for supper. I replied I could ask, but I was not sure if it would happen.

Well their doctor was at the nursing station. Tongue in cheek, I told the doctor about their patient's request. Low and behold, he took the patient's chart wrote the order. ( patient is to have lobster for supper today).. sure as heck that patient got a small lobster tail that night.

amazing........lol

Specializes in thoracic, cardiology, ICU.

a patient complained to me that her ice chips were too cold and she demanded that microwave them to bring them to a more suitable temperature. I explained that if i microwaved them, they wouldn't be ice chips anymore, but she would have none of it. I brought in water and she yelled at me to bring her ice chips and further insulted my understanding of basic physics... :confused:

I would have drawn on her dry erase board

Ice+Heat=water

Erratic, when I was a bartender I had a customer request I blend her plain tap water because she did not have her dentures... She thought it would somehow magically become the consistency of a milk shake. I tried to explain it to her but the concept was lost on her. I think she and your patient must have attended the same school of magical physics... :)

Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
i heard my desk partner on the phone recently, to a new home health pt, saying "no, we cannot just drop everything to come help you get out of bed, mrs. ----. i guarantee you that medicare will not pay for that!"

that's like the call i once received from the wife of a well-to-do medicare recipient demanding that i immediately send an aide to "take out their trash".

needless to say, i politely responded that the visit would not be covered by medicare.

Specializes in thoracic, cardiology, ICU.

nursesalt- clearly, there is some new branch of theoretical physics that i'm not aware of yet. literally 20 minutes of my life was wasted explaining to her that our microwaves can't simply warm up ice chips. her response in the end was.. "well what do you know..youre what? 12? 13? get someone more experienced they'll know what i'm talking about!" :banghead:

+ Add a Comment