Case #1
Patient: "I need a note to excuse me from community service"
Me: Why?
Patient: "Because they want me to work out side and I sunburn easy"
Me: "Sorry we do not write notes to excuse people from community service, you need to go to your primary care doctor or walk in clinic"
Patient: "That is BullS*!t, F%^k you"
Case #2
Patient: After walking in "How long is the wait?"
Me: "It depends on your acuity level, we will triage you and see what is going on"
Patient: "I have had this mole for a year now and I think it might be cancer, you need to take me right back before I die"
Me: "Ma"am, you are not going to die right now because of that mole, we will get you back as soon as possible, but with the increase in patients, we must take back those who need immediate medaicl intervention right now" (as my tech was wheeling back a patient with pulse ox of 78%)"
Patient: "You insenative B!@#h, F%$k off!"
Patients family member: "I need in to room 2"
Me: "I can let you back, but you can't take food back, I can hold it up here for you"
Patient family member: "But it for the patient"
Me: "Sorry, but you father can't eat right now, he is getting ready for surgery, after surgery he can eat and we will provide him a heart health tray because the hospital don't allow outside food"
Patients family member: "this place is insane! everyone else would let me take it back, you are just being a snobby c@#t, go F#$k yourself" She then threw her Wendy's bag across the counter with one of the containers of chili exploding all over me. She was escorted out and I enjoyed the other bowl of chili:)
What really touched me was when a 98 year old man came up to me with some flowers from the gift shop. I asked him which room he would like. He said no, I do not need to get back there. I made a wrong turn a while ago when I went up to visit a friend and it seemed like you were having a bad day, so on my way done I thought a few petals would brighten it up. I almost teared up, it really was not a bad day, just a few patients behaving badly. I tried to explain that sometimes people just get upset due to the stress of being sick or hurt. He just nodded his head and told me that I was someones wife, mother, sister, and daughter and that no one should ever treat another that way. He gave me the flowers and thanked me for being a nurse. After he left I had to take a break, this little old man's sweetness made me tear up. It is not often that people see us that work in the ER as humans with feelings.
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That's an awesome story. I would have bawled in front of everyone.
ReplyDeletewhat a classy man. isn't it amazing how a simple thank-you can make your day?
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteHi MLee,
ReplyDeleteI tried leaving you another message on another post without leaving my name (because that comment was more personal and I didn't want my name being left out in the open). Was trying to reply you re. a message you left in someone else's blog that was addressed to me.
But this one, I have to comment openly. That was something my teacher always told us: To treat everyone nicely, because the man/woman you make pick up your dishes in the canteen, or the man/woman you yell at, is someone important. They are somebody's mother, friend, daughter, son, husband.
And if you don't want your mother, father, etc to be treated that way, never do it to anyone else.
And that is why I always hang back the clothes I try in the store, say thank you to the man who clears the rubbish off the streets, feed old people in the hospital I volunteer in, and wipe drool of a child with special needs' face without flinching.
Because I might only meet them for a blink of an eye, but to someone else, they are the world.
Feel free to shoot me an email if you see this!