What's a "difficult pt" to you?

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What does everyone consider to be a "difficult pt" and what unit/area do you work in? Curious what everyone thinks!

The first time a pt ever tries to push me down and mount me in a room -- Jesus, 'Take the Wheel'. I will lose my license.
You and me both......
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Violent and combative patients are an absolute dealbreaker. I will have nothing to do with them.

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Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Pts with anxiety issues. Nothing you say or do can convince them that they aren't dying!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

The difficult patients for me are the A and O 50-something's that are already in a nursing home, multiple co morbidities, in acute care for SOB or something that doesn't really affect how they feel to a great extent. Usually chronic generalized pain with IV morphine or Dilaudid q 2-3 hours. They never say thank you, talk to the nurses in a long list of demands, treat the nurses like personal maids, think nothing of soiling themselves (how does one get to that point???), have very limited bed mobility so it takes 3 people to change them, usually complain about the food, want snacks q 2 hrs, and attempt to delay diagnostic tests because they don't want to be moved.

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