Maybe you used to be important...

[Amina516]

..but right now..no one gives two shits.

I had a patient, the SWEETEST, most compliant and willing to participate patient ever. Thankfully, I had her for night shifts and no family was present during these times. These stories were relayed.

The patients husband, however, apparently was a very important person in our hospital system and retired in early 1990s. Cue him thinking he still runs shit and can talk to employees however.

First, patient was admitted to a double room. OH NOES!! He couldnt have a double, not for his wife, so after much finagling a private room was secured and she was moved there.

After that, he would just sit with his wife and basically snear at everybody who dared enter.

The first day she was there, since she arrived after lunch her dinner tray didnt come up when the rest of the patients did, but was on its way. HOLY SHIT! Its like we smacked his momma. He RAGED all over the room up to the front desk and DEMANDED that someone apologize to his wife b/c a dinner tray. Her nurse (which wasnt me at the time, thank Jeebus) went in and said "Sorry for the wait. *Other nurse* is calling down and it should be up shortly".

Angry Old Man: HOW DARE YOU ENTER HERE AND NOT APOLOGIZE TO MY WIFE!
Nurse: I sai...
AOM:YOU STOP BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE. I DONT CARE IF ANYONES CALLING DOWN, YOU TELL MY WIFE RIGHT FUCKING NOW THAT YOUR SORRY FOR NOT HAVING HER DINNER UP HER IMMEDIATELY.
Nurse: Look, I...
AOM: SAY YOURE FUCKING SORRY! NOW. YOU ARE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HER NOT EATING RIGHT NOW!
Nurse:*bursting into tears* I..I'm sorry...(continues generic apology)

Dude, seriously. It was dinner!! Now this nurse is one of the most soft spoken and sweet people on the floor, so her crying was a manifestation of her being overwhelmed im sure.

Patient is here for a couple days and each day is filled with her husbands ranting and raving about random trivial shit.

Then, a day before shes to go home. The husband is there again, picking. He speaks with the nurse who tells him patient is not to be discarged today as theyre waiting for *X* level to get to *number* before she can go.

A little later, nurse re-enters and husband pipes up "So what time will we be leaving today?"

Nurse: Excuse me?
AOM: What TIME will we be leaving today? Cant you hear?
Nurse: Im sorry sir. Obviously, YOU cant hear b/c i clearly explained to you earlier that *patient* was not going home due to *x* level.
AOM: WHAT? THATS BULLSHIT. YOU LIED TO ME! YOURE A LIAR!
Nurse: I dont know who you were listening to, but I explained and detailed her plan for today and discharge was NOT something we discussed.
AOM:BUT YOU TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING TO DISCHARGED! i HEARD YOU
Nurse: No, I did not.
AOM: i WANT TO SPEAK WITH THE DOCTOR.
Nurse: Sure thing! *sweet as pie*

Luckily a nurse practitioner is traipsing by and the situation is explained. She walks over to the patients chart and writes something like "NO DISCHARGE, CONTINUE *medication*.

Patients husband was PISSED! Called nurse, a liar all day as she flitted and hummed around the room. After lunch she had an extended conversation with the patient all the while ignoring her husband. They laughed and talked of random things. The patients husband left shortly after.

I dont get paid enough to deal with stupid, angry families.

[bainsidhe]

I can't imagine how difficult your job is and how difficult it is for the patients to be in such a stressful situation (being in a hospital, I mean). But all I can think is that hubby was DAMN lucky security didn't escort him away.

[Exaspera]

What did the wife do regarding his behavior? At least tell him to shut up!

[fireheart]

Ugh. His wife's in hospital for something or other and all he cares about is his owns ense of entitlement? Sheesh, I hope that she asked for divorce papers along with those vital signs...

[Amina516]

From what I was told, she kinda just sat there and waited it out. Both of them were pretty much UP there in age, so Im sure she was resigned to his behavior.

I did figure that in his time, the nurses in the hospital werent much more than the doctors bitaches and glorified maids. In a time where pinching an ass cheek was considered a compliment and nurses chain smoked at the front desk. Im guessing that was just left over thinking he was awesome, but it doesnt fly anymore. He just wouldnt quit.

[Hanzoku]

Because he's (presumably) a comfort to the patient, you couldn't ban him him from the hospital grounds, could you? I'd long to tell that level of entitlement to get the h*** out before the police are called to remove him. -_-

[Sliceanddice]

im surprised the nursing supervisor or a hospital official didn't have a serious word about his behavior in the vain of 'we dont want to make you not be able to be with your wife but this behavior is not acceptable nor tolerated'

[jedimaster91]

I dont get paid enough to deal with stupid, angry families.

This. Most of the patients I see are pleasant or at least civil. Families, not so much.

[Stormraven]

I wouldn't wish him on you, but that EW needs to meet Dr. House and try his complaints with him.

[Amina516]

Slicey - B/c this guy was a VIP, no one would DARE approach him on his behavior (which i find to be BULLSHIT), however our manager did tell the day shift nurses that his behavior was not to be tolerated and to call him out on it if necessary. Im not sure if she was present for the 2 outburts or not, but someon should have told him to cut it out.

Jedi - Most of the patients i find to be happy or at least resigned to helping in their care so they can be discharged faster. Their families however, woo doggie. Im not a maid, nor am I a personal servant. Ive had to say it before, and Im sure Ill say it again. I long for the days when I worked in the OR and had little patient contact and absolutely NO family contact. /sigh. I envy the rad techs, respiratory techs, food service people etc b/c they all eventually leave. LOL.

[jedimaster91]

I envy the rad techs, respiratory techs, food service people etc b/c they all eventually leave. LOL.

Sometimes it doesn't seem like they will.

[trailerparkmedic]

And people wonder why I, as a woman in my 20s, don't squeal with excitement over working L&D or Peds. I can't even imagine dealing with parents.

[PepperElf]

now we know why she needed a private room


because if she'd been in a double room, the other patient could legally have him kicked out of the room.

(and i'm kinda wondering if maybe that's happened before...)

[boringscreenname]

We had a patient up in the mental health unit, and her husband was very out of control. He would go and get the other patients and staff members worked up. His wife actually told him he should consider checking himself into the unit, so he could get help, but he refused.

Anyway he got so bad, that the director of the mental health unit banned him from hospital grounds and visiting his wife. I work as a security guard, and was told if he shows up, call the cops and have him removed from the property. We've also had other patients' family members get banned too, because the staff got so sick of dealing with their drama and bullshit.

[tropicsgoddess]

I can understand that having loved ones in the hospital isn't fun, but it's no excuse for the guy to act like an asshole.