Frustrating Things Patients Do

[HurricaneKatt]

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Please share your entertaining and frustrating patient encounters!!!!


Patient checks in for a recheck for bronchitis that isn't getting better. His PCA checks him in and not seeing him I ask "is he here?" (she often beats him to the appt or vice versa)
her "Yes, he's outside the building smoking"
Yes, please do smoke a cigarette right before your dr appt...for your respiratory problems.... 👍


I also had another Pt check in and was waiting to be called back. While she was waiting she comes up to me at the front desk, cigarette in hand, and asks if I have a lighter! Even if I did happen to have a lighter, I am certainly not going to give you one so you can go smoke before your appointment! We are a health clinic for goodness' sake! 🙄

I also sat back and watched in amazement as a patient's mother full-on argued with the provider about what medication her son should be receiving. Then she argued about the diagnosis too. ("No, it's definitely not that, I know it isn't that!") 😕 I'm like wait...you have HOW many years of medical training...? Just saying.... She was a very nice woman otherwise, just a bit um...pushy. 🙄😛


I know there's plenty more, but those are some of the most recent. What are some entertaining and/or frustrating patient experiences you have had?

 

[phikapdoctor]

When you put the psych patients next to each other in the E.D. and they keep trying to escape together.


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[mtremblay]

When patients come to the ED for a chronic condition and when the provider asks them if they've seen their PCP in the past for this thy say "no, but it's just so bad now I decided to come the the ED".

 

[deleted472157]

"I've been suffering from a little bit of back pain recently. Can I have a month's worth of Percocet?"

 

[MedPR]

When patients come to the ED for a chronic condition and when the provider asks them if they've seen their PCP in the past for this thy say "no, but it's just so bad now I decided to come the the ED".

I call bs. Real patients call it the "ER".

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[SpecterGT260]

I call bs. Real patients call it the "ER".

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[CuttingCorneas]

Happened recently:

"Are you on any medications?"
"No. Well, just an inhaler for my asthma, but I hardly ever use it."
"How often do you use your inhaler?"
"Not very often. Only when I feel like I can't breathe."
"So would you say once a month, once a week?"
"No, really not that often."
"Ma'am, I'm trying to figure out the last time you used your inhaler."
"Oh, this morning."

Walked out of the room like 😕

 

[HurricaneKatt]

When you put the psych patients next to each other in the E.D. and they keep trying to escape together.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app

👍
Pt came in and got an Rx for antibiotics. She left a message 2 days later on the prescription refill line at 5pm (which is checked at the end of the day when we close at 7pm - patients are told this) that she was feeling worse. No one called her back IMMEDIATELY so she called and left another very rude and angry message that she would not be returning to the clinic. The next morning I was in, and she called as if nothing had happened wanting to schedule a same-day appointment. I told her that we were booked and had a notice on her account that she no longer wanted our services. She gave me the whole story about how horrible that an (insanely busy) office didn't call her back immediately, and then asked for more/new meds. I gave the message to the provider and he said exactly what I knew he would - give the darn meds time to work!!!!

 

[Ellie Arroway]

When patients come to the ED for a chronic condition and when the provider asks them if they've seen their PCP in the past for this thy say "no, but it's just so bad now I decided to come the the ED".

PCPs? People have those in the US?

 

[Bangersandmash]

I'd say the most annoying thing they do is get sick. Makes doctors have to work harder.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Happened recently:

"Are you on any medications?"
"No. Well, just an inhaler for my asthma, but I hardly ever use it."
"How often do you use your inhaler?"
"Not very often. Only when I feel like I can't breathe."
"So would you say once a month, once a week?"
"No, really not that often."
"Ma'am, I'm trying to figure out the last time you used your inhaler."
"Oh, this morning."

Walked out of the room like 😕

I'm confused. She seems to have answered your questions (re: "how often...") just fine. Just because she used her inhaler this morning doesn't mean she uses it frequently. What am I missing here? 😕

 

[HurricaneKatt]

So not a frustrating thing at all, but I thought it was so cute and funny. We had a little girl come in for a flu shot - she ASKED her parents to take her to get her shot. She took the shot like a champ, no crying or anything. Mom on the other hand was a drama queen about it when she came in a few weeks earlier. The little kid's a rock star! 👍

 

[cbrons]

I also sat back and watched in amazement as a patient's mother full-on argued with the provider about what medication her son should be receiving. Then she argued about the diagnosis too. ("No, it's definitely not that, I know it isn't that!") 😕 I'm like wait...you have HOW many years of medical training...? Just saying.... She was a very nice woman otherwise, just a bit um...pushy. 🙄😛

Who is "the provider"? The physician? The nurse practitioner? The PA? Be more specific.

"Provider" is one of those terms that is used in places that have midlevels, and it confuses people as to who they are actually seeing.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

I'm confused. She seems to have answered your questions (re: "how often...") just fine. Just because she used her inhaler this morning doesn't mean she uses it frequently. What am I missing here? 😕

Let me clarify: she said she wasn't currently on any medications. She made it very clear that she never uses her inhaler/hasn't in a long time. 3 hours ago is apparently "a long time."

 

[typicalindian]

PCPs? People have those in the US?

Nobody informed you that the word PCP now directs to "EM physician" when you look it up?

 

[sworzeh]

"I've been having this awful, constant back pain for years and I want you to fix it. *then rambles on about everything wrong with them since they were 20*" -patient

"Has anything changed that brought you to the ED at 2am?" -doctor

"No, I'm just tired of the pain." -patient

Plus it's amazing how patients can have pain for so long, yet it's never bad enough to metion to their PCP.

 

[Lollygag]

I'm pre-med but I'm working as a pharm tech just for cash and this girl comes up to me, has to be like 13 years old:

Patient: I need birth control
Me: Do you have a prescription?
Patient: No I just want to get it over the counter
Me: Are you talking about plan B?
Patient: No, birth control
Me: You need a prescription, I can't just give it to you.
Patient: Well I don't want to go to the doctor, he treats me like an idiot.
Me: 🙄
Patient: When I ask him questions about birth control and how it works he just stares at me.
Me: If their questions about the drug I can get the pharmacist for you.
Patient: Oh yea duh I'll just ask you!
Me: But I'm not the pharma---
Patient: Does it work for oral?
Me: Yes you take the pills by mouth
Patient: No, I mean does it work if I give a blow ***
Me: 😕 You can't get pregnant from a---
Patient: Because that's my biggest concern!!

😕😕😕 I guess health class isn't what it used to be.

 

[SpecterGT260]

I'm pre-med but I'm working as a pharm tech just for cash and this girl comes up to me, has to be like 13 years old:

Patient: I need birth control
Me: Do you have a prescription?
Patient: No I just want to get it over the counter
Me: Are you talking about plan B?
Patient: No, birth control
Me: You need a prescription, I can't just give it to you.
Patient: Well I don't want to go to the doctor, he treats me like an idiot.
Me: 🙄
Patient: When I ask him questions about birth control and how it works he just stares at me.
Me: If their questions about the drug I can get the pharmacist for you.
Patient: Oh yea duh I'll just ask you!
Me: But I'm not the pharma---
Patient: Does it work for oral?
Me: Yes you take the pills by mouth
Patient: No, I mean does it work if I give a blow ***
Me: 😕 You can't get pregnant from a---
Patient: Because that's my biggest concern!!

😕😕😕 I guess health class isn't what it used to be.

wow.....

 

[deleted451730]

obvious drug seekers. and entitled patients.

 

[Poetic Silence]

I'm pre-med but I'm working as a pharm tech just for cash and this girl comes up to me, has to be like 13 years old:

Patient: I need birth control
Me: Do you have a prescription?
Patient: No I just want to get it over the counter
Me: Are you talking about plan B?
Patient: No, birth control
Me: You need a prescription, I can't just give it to you.
Patient: Well I don't want to go to the doctor, he treats me like an idiot.
Me: 🙄
Patient: When I ask him questions about birth control and how it works he just stares at me.
Me: If their questions about the drug I can get the pharmacist for you.
Patient: Oh yea duh I'll just ask you!
Me: But I'm not the pharma---
Patient: Does it work for oral?
Me: Yes you take the pills by mouth
Patient: No, I mean does it work if I give a blow ***
Me: 😕 You can't get pregnant from a---
Patient: Because that's my biggest concern!!

😕😕😕 I guess health class isn't what it used to be.

That creeped me out on so many levels. . .

 

[Lollygag]

I work as a pharm tech, too.

"$30?! Insurance don't cover it?"
"Insurance covers the medication, they're $10 each."
"Why're they so much? I already have insurance and you're telling me I have to pay 30 bucks for my meds!!!"
"It's showing me that insurance paid for $126 for one of them, $40 for another one, and over a thousand dollars on the third one! They're only making you pay $10 for each of them though."
"Well that's stupid. I guess I'll pay this time but I'm not coming back to this pharmacy!!!!"

lololololol🤣

 

[KnuxNole]

I'm pre-med but I'm working as a pharm tech just for cash and this girl comes up to me, has to be like 13 years old:

Patient: I need birth control
Me: Do you have a prescription?
Patient: No I just want to get it over the counter
Me: Are you talking about plan B?
Patient: No, birth control
Me: You need a prescription, I can't just give it to you.
Patient: Well I don't want to go to the doctor, he treats me like an idiot.
Me: 🙄
Patient: When I ask him questions about birth control and how it works he just stares at me.
Me: If their questions about the drug I can get the pharmacist for you.
Patient: Oh yea duh I'll just ask you!
Me: But I'm not the pharma---
Patient: Does it work for oral?
Me: Yes you take the pills by mouth
Patient: No, I mean does it work if I give a blow ***
Me: 😕 You can't get pregnant from a---
Patient: Because that's my biggest concern!!

😕😕😕 I guess health class isn't what it used to be.

Maybe she's talking about that insta-route from the mouth to the uterus!

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I'm pre-med but I'm working as a pharm tech just for cash and this girl comes up to me, has to be like 13 years old:

Patient: I need birth control
Me: Do you have a prescription?
Patient: No I just want to get it over the counter
Me: Are you talking about plan B?
Patient: No, birth control
Me: You need a prescription, I can't just give it to you.
Patient: Well I don't want to go to the doctor, he treats me like an idiot.
Me: 🙄
Patient: When I ask him questions about birth control and how it works he just stares at me.
Me: If their questions about the drug I can get the pharmacist for you.
Patient: Oh yea duh I'll just ask you!
Me: But I'm not the pharma---
Patient: Does it work for oral?
Me: Yes you take the pills by mouth
Patient: No, I mean does it work if I give a blow ***
Me: 😕 You can't get pregnant from a---
Patient: Because that's my biggest concern!!

😕😕😕 I guess health class isn't what it used to be.

I always love good pharm stories

 

[MedPR]

I work as a pharm tech, too.

"$30?! Insurance don't cover it?"
"Insurance covers the medication, they're $10 each."
"Why're they so much? I already have insurance and you're telling me I have to pay 30 bucks for my meds!!!"
"It's showing me that insurance paid for $126 for one of them, $40 for another one, and over a thousand dollars on the third one! They're only making you pay $10 for each of them though."
"Well that's stupid. I guess I'll pay this time but I'm not coming back to this pharmacy!!!!"

Lol. I wish I was a pharm tech.

I do have a frustrating story about physicians though (I work in a microbiology lab).

On the phone

Resident: Hi can you read me the results for my patient's cultures please. Here's the info
Me: The only cultures your patient has are from earlier this afternoon
Resident: Yes I know. I ordered them STAT and I want to know what the results are
Me: Cultures can't be completed STAT
Resident: Why not?
Me: 😕 Because the organisms have to grow
Residen: Fine *click*

 

[SpecterGT260]

Lol. I wish I was a pharm tech.

I do have a frustrating story about physicians though (I work in a microbiology lab).

On the phone

Resident: Hi can you read me the results for my patient's cultures please. Here's the info
Me: The only cultures your patient has are from earlier this afternoon
Resident: Yes I know. I ordered them STAT and I want to know what the results are
Me: Cultures can't be completed STAT
Resident: Why not?
Me: 😕 Because the organisms have to grow
Residen: Fine *click*

What kind of resident hasnt had micro lab?

Also.... who says "stat"? 😕

 

[MedPR]

What kind of resident hasnt had micro lab?

Also.... who says "stat"? 😕

Idk, but it isn't uncommon where I work and I work at a top 10 hospital.

Lots of people say "stat". I was under the impression it was common. I guess not though, lol.

 

[cbrons]

What kind of resident hasnt had micro lab?

Also.... who says "stat"? 😕

i say stat to my wife... i.e. get me Jimmy Johns stat! or get me a coke stat! etc.

Lol, I laughed when i read that. The resident was probably relatively new, tired, and PO'd.

 

[MedPR]

i say stat to my wife... i.e. get me Jimmy Johns stat! or get me a coke stat! etc.

Lol, I laughed when i read that. The resident was probably relatively new, tired, and PO'd.

Haha that's cute.

 

[Dr McSexy]

I'm pre-med but I'm working as a pharm tech just for cash and this girl comes up to me, has to be like 13 years old:

Patient: I need birth control
Me: Do you have a prescription?
Patient: No I just want to get it over the counter
Me: Are you talking about plan B?
Patient: No, birth control
Me: You need a prescription, I can't just give it to you.
Patient: Well I don't want to go to the doctor, he treats me like an idiot.
Me: 🙄
Patient: When I ask him questions about birth control and how it works he just stares at me.
Me: If their questions about the drug I can get the pharmacist for you.
Patient: Oh yea duh I'll just ask you!
Me: But I'm not the pharma---
Patient: Does it work for oral?
Me: Yes you take the pills by mouth
Patient: No, I mean does it work if I give a blow ***
Me: 😕 You can't get pregnant from a---
Patient: Because that's my biggest concern!!

😕😕😕 I guess health class isn't what it used to be.

Had an Ob/gyn attending tell me a story about a couple who was trying to get pregnant for over a year. They started doing the work-up studies to determine why the couple couldn't get pregnant. Sometime during the midst of all that, it eventually came out that the couple was engaging in anal sex as their means of attempting to get pregnant.

 

[cbrons]

Had an Ob/gyn attending tell me a story about a couple who was trying to get pregnant for over a year. They started doing the work-up studies to determine why the couple couldn't get pregnant. Sometime during the midst of all that, it eventually came out that the couple was engaging in anal sex as their means of attempting to get pregnant.

the scariest part about this story is that there are no laws to prevent people this stupid from having kids

 

[CuttingCorneas]

the scariest part about this story is that there are no laws to prevent people this stupid from having kids

That's why, as their physician, you need to be smart about it. When you find out about the anal sex, your reaction should not be a lesson in sex ed. It should be something like "hmm, still not pregnant? That's odd. Well, keep doing whatever you're doing, and report back to me in another year or so." It's not like they'd know they're being duped.

 

[Poetic Silence]

Had an Ob/gyn attending tell me a story about a couple who was trying to get pregnant for over a year. They started doing the work-up studies to determine why the couple couldn't get pregnant. Sometime during the midst of all that, it eventually came out that the couple was engaging in anal sex as their means of attempting to get pregnant.

What a bunch of idiots! Everyone knows women get pregnant from kissing.

 

[EndersRebutal]

Maybe she's talking about that insta-route from the mouth to the uterus!

Well if a knife is involved it could happen. This article is about a girl who got pregnant after having oral sex.

Its a strange world my friend.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellne...nant-sperm-survival-oral-sex/story?id=9732562

 

[CuttingCorneas]

What a bunch of idiots! Everyone knows women get pregnant from kissing.

I thought that was just Eskimos?

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

When patients come to the ED for a chronic condition and when the provider asks them if they've seen their PCP in the past for this thy say "no, but it's just so bad now I decided to come the the ED".

That may be frustrating, but that's the logical response you're going to get when 1/3rd of the country has no access to health care beyond emergency care. It's not necessarily them being lazy, it's them saying "I don't have the money to see a doctor. I'll just have to hope that this gets better. Well, okay, this is getting really bad now to the point where I need help NOW, guess I have no choice but to go to the ER".

 

[KnuxNole]

Well if a knife is involved it could happen. This article is about a girl who got pregnant after having oral sex.

Its a strange world my friend.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellne...nant-sperm-survival-oral-sex/story?id=9732562

 

[Geebeejay]

What kind of resident hasnt had micro lab?

Also.... who says "stat"? 😕

Well, orders can be written as "stat"

 

[Geebeejay]

"Belly pain" or "N/V" patients checking in to the emergency department with two bags of McDonalds, and sipping on a x-lg soda.

"Uh, you can't eat that"
Pt: "Oh, why not?"
"A. You need a belly scan with contrast, and need to be NPO pending results. B. If you are really having 10/10 belly pain/Nausea and Vomiting, how could you possibly choke down two big macs?"

 

[Lollygag]

Had an Ob/gyn attending tell me a story about a couple who was trying to get pregnant for over a year. They started doing the work-up studies to determine why the couple couldn't get pregnant. Sometime during the midst of all that, it eventually came out that the couple was engaging in anal sex as their means of attempting to get pregnant.

😱🤣 I can't believe people like this exist. It's a little more understanding when its a 13 yr old girl maybe they just don't get out much and haven't had health class yet but adults???

the scariest part about this story is that there are no laws to prevent people this stupid from having kids

👍

 

[Disinence2]

He wanted the gram stain

 

[SpecterGT260]

He wanted the gram stain

Usually this will be ordered along with cultures and a separate sample will be taken. Otherwise all tests kinda wait on growth. If it wasn't ordered correctly or there was insufficient sample or the sample was inappropriate for direct staining he is kinda stuck.

 

[KnuxNole]

Smoke (in some cases 2 to 3 packs a day), chew, drink, eat poor diet, don't exercise. Usually some combination of the above. All while not having health insurance. 😕 We do what I can but it's frustrating at times.

This is a daily thing you'll see in rotations. It can be frustrating when they have uncontrolled diseases and don't care to change, but some people want to change, but don't know how. Or they get defensive with the way the topic is brought up. Sometimes I see residents telling them "You should stop the drugs and eat right and go running!" and leave it like that, and the resident wonders why nothing has happened. -__-

 

[TheMightySmiter]

This is a daily thing you'll see in rotations. It can be frustrating when they have uncontrolled diseases and don't care to change, but some people want to change, but don't know how. Or they get defensive with the way the topic is brought up. Sometimes I see residents telling them "You should stop the drugs and eat right and go running!" and leave it like that, and the resident wonders why nothing has happened. -__-

I think that one of the most important things you can do to prevent burnout in your future carer is to accept these things and not let them anger you. The fact is, your patients are coming to you because you have all this training and they don't. Things like "Don't smoke!" and "Being obese can cause diabetes and hypertension!" are self-evident to you, but they won't be for many of your patients. For a lot of people, getting diagnosed with something like Type II diabetes is normal. Almost everyone else in their family has "the sugar". It's very hard as an educated person to understand that. Do the best job that you can to recognize the obstacles (socioeconomic, cultural, etc.) that might prevent your patient from being in their best health. Work with what you have. Help the patient do the best job THEY can, too. Don't expect any miracles. And accept the fact that you probably won't be the one to change their lifestyle.

I had a patient as a CNA in rehab who was trying to recover from a whole host of problems including blindness and leg injury. He was a diabetic. One of the night nurses once gave him a lecture on his poorly managed diabetes, and he completely blew up at her. He refused to believe that his diabetes had anything to do with his rehab stay, because in his mind he was there for his leg injury and couldn't accept that his diabetes was preventing his leg from healing properly. No amount of "diabetes education" was going to change his mind, because he wouldn't listen to any of it. You'll find a lot of patients like this, but you can't give up on them. Bitch about it to your colleagues in private, write about it in your (non-internet) diary, tell your mom. But don't let your frustration prevent you from providing the best care that you can given the situation and the patient's level of compliance.

 

[MedPR]

"Belly pain" or "N/V" patients checking in to the emergency department with two bags of McDonalds, and sipping on a x-lg soda.

"Uh, you can't eat that"
Pt: "Oh, why not?"
"A. You need a belly scan with contrast, and need to be NPO pending results. B. If you are really having 10/10 belly pain/Nausea and Vomiting, how could you possibly choke down two big macs?"

Didn't you know you can get a big mac for $0.25 if you buy one at regular price? Too good a deal to pass up, even with 10/10 pain. Cmon bro, this is America.

 

[MedPR]

He wanted the gram stain

I'm assuming you're replying to my post about a stat culture. He said he already saw the stain results and he wanted the culture results too.

 

[1cor1311]

When patients do not cooperate when you are attempting to help them, (feeding / cleaning / taking vitals etc.) =

 

[plumhill]

1. 65yo woman kept trying to strip for me
2. 78yo woman with dementia tried to bust out of the ED because she and her husband had planned a "special night." Pt history indicates she was never married.

 

[DrSnips]

I saw this old lady in the ED. Not really annoying, but just a weird encounter in an otherwise uninteresting night:

Me: "What brings you in tonight ma'am?"
LOL: "The paramedics pronounced me dead."
Me: "I'm sorry? I think I misheard you."
LOL: "The nurse too, she pronounced me dead."
Me: "If you're dead, then how are you talking to me?"
LOL: *shrugs*
Me: *Realizing this is going nowhere. "Do you have any family I can call for you?"
LOL: "My daughter. Her number is blah blah"
Me: "Okay, hang on."

I call the daughter and tell her what's going on. The patient has followed me to the phone and asks to speak to her daughter. I give her the phone.

LOL: "I can't talk long, they've pronounced me dead."
Me: "Well, should've seen that coming."

 

[MedPR]

I saw this old lady in the ED. Not really annoying, but just a weird encounter in an otherwise uninteresting night:

Me: "What brings you in tonight ma'am?"
LOL: "The paramedics pronounced me dead."
Me: "I'm sorry? I think I misheard you."
LOL: "The nurse too, she pronounced me dead."
Me: "If you're dead, then how are you talking to me?"
LOL: *shrugs*
Me: *Realizing this is going nowhere. "Do you have any family I can call for you?"
LOL: "My daughter. Her number is blah blah"
Me: "Okay, hang on."

I call the daughter and tell her what's going on. The patient has followed me to the phone and asks to speak to her daughter. I give her the phone.

LOL: "I can't talk long, they've pronounced me dead."
Me: "Well, should've seen that coming."

 

[Hopefull22]

1. 65yo woman kept trying to strip for me
2. 78yo woman with dementia tried to bust out of the ED because she and her husband had planned a "special night." Pt history indicates she was never married.

🙁 the second one sounds more sad than annoying