What's Your Best Nursing Ghost Story?

Nursing is a profession that often involves long lonely night shifts in eerie hospital wards. It's a perfect breeding ground for ghost stories. These stories often involve sightings of apparitions, strange noises, and unexplained events that are said to have taken place in hospitals, hospices, and other healthcare settings. Some of these stories are believed to be based on true events, while others are purely fictional. Regardless, they continue to captivate and intrigue both nurses and non-nurses alike - providing a spooky glimpse into the world of healthcare after dark.

I know you have seen and heard freaky things. Share your nursing ghost stories...

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

Have you read the thread, Selling Out Grandma yet? If not, it's extremely interesting, and a good suggestion. Since most nursing homes are in the conditions are now degenerating in them, I wouldn't be surprised if more of the nursing homes become haunted. My hope is that God will soon intervene and send a special angel the owner's way to straighten hin/her up.

[SDS_RN, RN]

This thread is great. I've always believed in ghosts and it's good to know I'm not alone.

Not many nursing stories but a few family ones.

Back in 98' my grandpa died of a massive heart attack at age 59. I was at work when I found out and rushed straight to the hospital but they were unable to save him. After his funeral I was having a hard time dealing with his sudden death. I was driving home from work about a 6min drive and I was crying and asking him to give me a sign that he was okay and I looked up into the sky and their were two falling stars one falling on each side of my car. After that I was at peace and I was thankful that he gave me the sign that he was with God.

A few years after my grandpa passed away we found out my grandma had breast cancer and only had 6mo-1year to live. She did the chemo and radiation and felt miserable but no matter what she would not let you see that. She loved being with and taking care of her kids, grandkids, & great grandkids and she would never let you do much for her. She was just a great woman. I spent a lot of my childhood and my life I guess with her because i grew up right next door to her. She was like a mother to me. Her birthday was Dec. 22nd and mine is Dec. 23rd so we always celebrated our birthdays together. In Dec of 2001 we celebrated our birthdays together on Dec 22nd because I was leaving on the 23rd to go back home about 1.5hrs away. The night before I left I stayed at my dad's house and had a great dream about my grandma. I was so happy about it that I told my dad and spouse that I had a dream that grandmas cancer was all gone. That gave me some peace and I went back home. The next noc on Christmas Eve I got a phone call from my dad saying that my grandma had passed away. I was devastated but everytime I think about that dream I feel at peace because I know that her cancer is now gone and she is in heaven with God and my grandpa. I also think that she held on long enough for us to celebrate our birthdays together one last time before leaving. The next year my cousin and his girlfriend found out that they were going to be having a baby and their due date was Dec 22nd my grandma's birthday but Kaitlynn did not come until Christmas Eve. It's both a sad and joyous for our family. I believe that my Grandma wanted us to have something happy to celebrate on the day that she passed away.

Sometimes I find myself missing her so much it hurts but I still continue to talk to her she never talks back but sometimes I feel her presence in my dreams and I think that's her way of comforting me. It's been 10 yrs since my grndpa passed and 6 yrs since grndma passing and I am still sitting here crying as I'm writting this. They were both very special people and I miss them dearly.

[SDS_RN, RN]

Sorry that was sooo long.

[SDS_RN, RN]

bump.....

[RedWeasel, RN]

Ok I should be going to bed--and I am, but I was sorting through a box in the kitchen when the two overhead lights went off. The porch light and driveway light stayed on--used same switch plate. I just froze. I thought A) their is a critter in the walls chewing on something (OMG) or B) my dad is saying hello---no I don't usually believe that---in the past I have had things happen which I feel were 'signs' telling me things, but this was WEIRD. I flicked the switch off then back on and the light just came on again. I sat and thought about it. Stood froze more like it. I thought wouldn't that be nice? Him saying hello? See, I am staying with my mom for a while and working eves I always stayed up late and left most lights on downstairs, well in the past he would go the the BR and then I would hear him shuffle over to the kitchen lights and shut them off....he was notorious for that-- (that and c/o no one putting tpaste caps back on-oh the day they invented flip tops!). So a few minutes ago it dawned on me---maybe if it is possible he was saying quit cleaning, turn off the lights and go to bed.....wouldn't that be nice? Not a nursing story--no but since he died last month, and TODAY is his birthday it is a nice thought to think he is still looking out for us....who knows? Won't hurt to think that....right?

okay this is even weirder....I now know that at that time my niece was on the way into the world--born 12 hours later....still on my dad's birthday....(my nephew had been born a month before this--12 hours before my dads funeral) He was just winking at me I think like 'I usually got the gifts on this day but I am sending you the best one ever...'--and my neices dad (my brother) had been born on my Grandmothers (my dads moms) birthday....of all days for my niece and nephew to enter the world....all natural too, no inducing! sweet~!

[StrwbryblndRN]

Not a ghost story but interesting none the less.

Ever since my daughter was able to speak, she has had an uncanny way of knowing what I am thinking at the time.

A few examples:

I spent one night after the kids went to bed looking up types of dog breeds to see which would fit our household. I have not spoken about a dog to the kids because I do not want to get their hopes up and the idea just hit me that night. Well the next day she would not stop talking about getting a dog. Not a big deal but stuff like this happens all the time.

Another time I was thinking to myself if I had gotten the mail. My daughter was holding my hand at the time as we were walking. She stated to me out of nowhere, "I already got the mail for you mommy, remember".

Anytime I am thinking of some activity to do with the kids she always brings it up to me right before I was going to bring it up to her.

I can't think of any more examples but there are many.

Anybody have this connection with their child?

[Mary C, MSN, RN, APRN, CNM]

Bump. What a cool thread.

[StrwbryblndRN]

Finally after months of reading this thread and working overnights I have a story. Simple but still a story.

Well at 0600 this morning a callbell went off in a pt's room who is unresponsive trach/peg TF. Well his TF was empty and his pump alarm went off. Shortly thereafter his callbell rang.

Now I picked up the phone and said in a quiet yet confused voice.

"can I help you" I then went to the room and no one was there. He was exactly as I left him and call bell on table. He is located at the end of the hall and is droplet precautions. So no one would have gone in.

Also for the last few weeks when I get off on Monday mornings (this morning included @ 0930) the elevator opens up on the 3rd floor. I work on the 4th and a friend who I went to school with works on the the 3rd. We have opposite schedules and have not been able to see or talk to each. So I always get off and say hi. I usually do not remember to go see her till the evlevator doors open.

Not a big deal but I feel it is a sign.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

i'd have to say nurse managers. i've heard they exist, but i very rarely see one.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

too funny!!!

[dragonfly43]

I use to work the night shift with 2 CNAs, in LTC. I have always said I was sure the facility was haunted. weird stuff mainly, sitting in the Small Dining Room and seeing shadows pass by the door when no one else was around, hearing a voice softly call my name, that type of thing. Well one night we had one of our residents die, I had pronounced him and we were waiting to hear from the family if they were going to come up and view the body. Well he had a distinct way of calling out or some sound he always made. You always knew it was him when he did it. Well we were up the hall and one of the CNAs and I heard this sound and we looked at each other and started creepy down the hall toward his room. Of course I started thinking I had goofed big time by the time we got there. And we stood outside the room both of us afraid to go in, not knowing what to expect. Finally I lead the way in to the room and we saw that he was indeed still dead. I even rechecked him but it was very obvious. It did freak us both out though. We occasionally talk about it. Of course we laughed at ourselves afterward.

[Shenanigans, RN]

I'd be here all year if I got into what I've seen - and I'm jsut a student!

But the one that "creeped" me out the most, I came onto work (as a care giver) and I was sitting in the nurses' station when I heard a particular patient call out "Is anyone there? I'd like a cup of tea, please?". I went to her room and I stopped because another patient was hobbling along the corridor without their walker, and the whole time I was helpign this patient I could hear the other particular patient talking.

So I helped the walker patient back to the lounge, (because the pt calling out would be in her bed, so would be safe) where I met up with the RN who told me that the patient I'd heard talking about cups of tea had died that mornign and the funeral director was coming later!!

[SDS_RN, RN]

Bump!!!