What's the meanest thing a patient has said to you?

Arflwr25 · Mar 13, 2016

I can't remember exactly but I know that I have come across many patients at a skilled nursing facility that are just plain mean... One thing is to be confused but another is to just be nasty and feel entitled and discriminate CNA's or those who don't have the same skin color as they do! I am starting to see that it's a cultural thing and it's sad because racism exist everywhere... We become nurses because we want to help others and we understand that many patients are in pain and well they can't help being mean, but there are times when we are nothing more than human and people's attitudes just plain hurt... Especially those that try to make you feel less than them! :-(

parachles · Mar 13, 2016

Just last week one of my long term care patients told me: "You know what I hate about you? You're always so happy. It makes me sick."

I'be been called a lot of names over the years, and generally I can let them roll off like water from a duck's back. But this one stung.

Also, back when I was still a CNA (20 years ago) I has a patient who was the sweetest - rolling around the facility in her chair, telling all the staff how she loved them - right until it was time for her shower.

She'd spend the whole shower hitting, kicking and swearing and yelling " I HATE YOU!" at whichever poor Aide was assigned her shower. Well, one week it was my turn. This were going as expected, when suddenly, she stopped mid punch, looked at me and said: "I don't hate you... I DES-PISE YOU!" and went back to her usual kickinG and swearing.

I couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the night. Honestly, that story still makes me giggle. :)

Friskee, BSN, MSN · Mar 14, 2016

Demented patient told me she hopes I give birth to a stillborn. I'm 7 months pregnant

alby_dangle · Mar 14, 2016

Last year, I was working the day before thanksgiving....this female patient told me and the doctor she hoped that we choked on our thanksgiving dinner. I didn't take it personally. :roflmao:

Grnogre · Mar 16, 2016

I work with an oriented lady in a SNF. She has assaulted, demeaned, threatened and just raised hell for everyone. She pinches and hits CNA's, interferes with care gor her roommate, and is all around unpleasant. Some of the staff is terrified to answer her call light as she is wildly unpredictable. 2nd day I worked with her. She broke me emotionally. I left work that night, cried all the way home. My poor husband did the best he could.

I have had patients insult me and say mean things before. I thought I had a pretty thick skin, but she cut me to the core, and just kept hackng away at me while I provided care for her roommate. Never felt so bad in my life.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Mar 16, 2016

I had a resident who told me one night that I knew nothing about medications, much less asthma medicines, that I was ignorant and knew nothing. I should call his Dr. and ask him what it is like having an asthma attack. He has been dealing with this for 40 years and inferred that I haven't so therefore he knew much more about the condition than I did. I will grant him that he knows more about what works for him. YET, I have also been dealing with asthma for about as long as well as having 2 children and a husband with it (how my 3rd kid escaped, I have no idea).

It wasn't what he said per se, but how he said it and that he was ranting, not even thinking about anything he said. I told him twice that he was being inappropriate and left the room. Sad thing is, he doesn't even use the inhalers properly so wonder how much less he could be using. But, that is not a hill I am going to battle.

GamerNurs · Nov 24, 2016

It's a proven fact that sick people can be some of the meanest you'll ever meet, unfortunately. I understand to an extent but going through a tough time does not give you free reign to be as hateful as you want!

I've been told I am "getting fat."

I've been told that I'm just an LVN and that's not a real nurse. Multiple times actually. This resulted in my crying in the bathroom.

I answered the phone at the beginning of my shift and it was a family member of a patient who passed on the previous shift. He yelled at me and said "It's your facilities fault she died. I hope you all burn in Hell! *click*

At least the positive comments I've received far outweigh the hurtful ones ðŸ¤—

AllOfMyWat · Nov 24, 2016

Demented patient told me she hopes I give birth to a stillborn. I'm 7 months pregnant

Why on Earth didn't you say, "And I hope you ******* die in a fire. Too bad we don't always get what we want,"?

MionePhoenix · Dec 3, 2016

Me: Mr. X, please put your feet back in bed. (Has a head injury and has already kicked me in the face, and has now slipped out of his restraints and I can't get into the room fast enough if he gets up, so I'm going for distraction as my tech is running to assist me.)

Mr. X: Go to hell!

Me: Okay, but you still have to put your feet back into the bed!

Mr. X: F* you!

Me: Again, that's fine, but you have to be all the way in bed!

We got him back into bed, re-restrained, and some Haldol on board. He was fine the rest of the shift. The next day, with a different nurse, he tried the same thing and wound up flat on his face. I got lucky.

Generic ER Nurse · Feb 13, 2017

probably threatening to murder me and my family. I walk to work, it really wouldn't be hard to do.

but side note,

Kind off of subject but...

When working ER, and patients talk to you with plenty of swears, slang and slurs while they are asking questions or explaining their "illness", I love answering their question or repeating their question back to them (just to make sure I understand correctly) using the exact same swears and slurs, but in a professional medical manner. They get to, why shouldn't we? Not to mention, the look on their face and family members when they realize what they sound like.