When answering the call... light, that is.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Feb 14, 2022

We had a little old man that kept hitting the call light. Initially we were answering in person and he didn't understand that he kept hitting in the button, he didn't have any requests. Then he hit it once and the tech next to me, a man with a deep voice, picked up the intercom and said "what can I do for you?" He responded "God? I'm not ready yet" We were cracking up for a while.

0.9%NormalSarah, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2022

Oh please let this thread blow up, I could use a smile from some cute patient stories!

Here’s one that was pretty recent. Covid isolation patient in the ICU hit the button a couple of times and needed some fairly easy help around the bedside table, etc. I left and then less than 5 minutes later he hit it again. I called in to ask what he needed and he couldn’t hear me, so I went back in. I let him know it takes me a few minutes to get in and out due to PPE, so if he is able to think of anything else he needs to go ahead and ask me now so I might be able to head to my other patient’s room for a bit. So I help him again and he says he understands.

I leave and a few minutes later he hits the button again. When I go in he says he just missed me and wanted to know when I might come back. ? After that I gave him estimated times for my return each time I’d leave. Poor guy was just elderly, mildly forgetful, and here for another reason, just happened to be covid positive, so he was all alone just hanging out in his room with no visitors.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Feb 16, 2022

A really sweet little lady in the SNF put on her call light when we were super busy. I answered her light and asked her what I could do for her. Her answer was nothing, I saw how busy you were so I put on my light so you could come in and take a break for a few minutes.

Kristi Van Winkle, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2022

On 2/16/2022 at 7:37 AM, kbrn2002 said:

A really sweet little lady in the SNF put on her call light when we were super busy. I answered her light and asked her what I could do for her. Her answer was nothing, I saw how busy you were so I put on my light so you could come in and take a break for a few minutes.

That's so sweet...and annoying...

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 19, 2022

A young man I was possibly too kind to when he broke down in tears took a shine to me and started calling for the slightest thing when I was on.

He called in the middle of a super-busy shift when there were call bells going everywhere. I go to answer and he's texting his friend about the days events. His request:

"Do you spell 'scanner' with one 'n' or two?

Aghhhhhhh!!!

peach2218, CNA · Feb 19, 2022

I always respond to call lights with the same general question-- "Your call light's on, how can I help you?"

The sheer number of patients who reply with "Uh yeah, I need some help" just astounds me. Clearly you need help, I am aware of that, can you tell me what it is you need?

A few weeks ago I had a guy call and calmly say "Well, there's blood dripping out of my IV site all over the floor.... I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen?" I go in and his IV had come out. Blood was spurting out everywhere like it was The Shining and he's just sitting there apologizing for bleeding all over the place.

Kristi Van Winkle, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2022

I anwered another nurse's call light one night. Cute little dementia patient in there.

Me: Hi! What can I do for you?

Her: Oh! Esther! You came to see me! You didn't have to do that. I know how busy you are with all those kids and your job.

Me: My name is Kristi. I am one of the nurses tonight. Not your nurse, your nurse's name is Debbie. But I can help you since I'm already in here.

So she told me what she needed and I helped her. Several times while I was in there she thought I was Esther and I reoriented her. I finished up and went back out to the nurse's station. It was a busy night, so I was running around a bit crazy. I totally forgot about the encounter!

A little while later we are all sitting at the nurse's station and we hear someone yelling, "Esther! Esther! Are you there? Did you go home already? Esther?"

We locate the room and Debbie, the patient's nurse, goes in to help her, reorients her, all that. Comes back out.

A few minutes later the same patient starts yelling for Esther again. Debbie stands up, "Oh, this is going to be a long night!"

She is walking toward the room when it occurs to me who Esther is.

So I stopped Debbie and told her what had happened earlier. She laughed and I went into the patient's room to help try and reorient her. It didn't work.

The whole rest of the night she only wanted Esther to help her. So we stopped arguing with her and I was Esther for the rest of the night. I would come out of a room and one of the nurses would say, "Esther, you're being page."

I didn't mind, though. She was a sweet, cute little lady. I ended up bringing a computer into her room and finishing my charting in there.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 20, 2022

I answered a call light years ago when I was working in the MICU. The patient wanted to tell me that a UFO was landing in our parking lot, and the "little green men" had hovered outside his window staring at him.

It was a windy night, and the MedFlight helicopter was having a bit of difficulty landing on the roof helipad.

gemswanson90 · Feb 21, 2022

I was a new RN back in the mid-90's; a 96 year old nice little lady pushes her call light and my nurse preceptor and I get there quickly. \

Little Old Nice Lady:Oh! Thank You for Getting here So Quickly!

Us: Hello! How can we help you; your call light is on;?

Little old nice lady: I would like the head of my bed up just a little; I can't see Jerry (Springer) very well in this position

Me: Here is the button you can push~right here on the bed~ to make the top of your bed go up;)).

Little old annoying nice lady: I am 96 Years Old!! What Do You EXpect Me To DO?!

Preceptor and Me: ( LOL'ing)...Okay!! While we're here, is there anything else that you can think of that you'd like right now?