Throughout my career, I have been complemented on my deep voice. While working in Anderson, SC, I had a patient ask me if I liked fried chicken. After I responded "yes sir", he said, "son, with a voice like that and a taste for fried chicked, you should've been a preacher". Love it! That was 12 years ago and I STILL remember it. That is what makes patient care so fun!
I was working in a rehab unit with an elderly lady with dementia. She had started to become somewhat inappropriate with me over time. Then one day she finally crossed the line. After asking her out of bed to head down the therapy she said, "why don't you just come over here and get in bed with me?" My response was, "Now you know Ms.#####, that just might get us both into trouble." And she replied, "Oh, come on, you KNOW you want to!"
Time for Ms. ###### to get another therapist!
Come on Travelbookers...Who is next? Let's hear some fun stories (without compromising HIPPA!!)
One of my 1st pts out of school said I looked like her husband when he was younger. She would lean extra hard into me during txfrs, tell me how sweet I was, & always wanted a hug at the end of tx. One day, she included a little peck on the cheek during a txfr. I asked to have another therapist see ASAP, but not before she tried to plant one on my lips. Sweet ole gal.
Just recently, a much younger than I am used to pt called me holsum... I laughed so hard I almost fell off my stool!!
Overheard in gym: "if I were younger, your wife would have a fight on her hands"... love it!!
I was working in school based therapy. Here is the best thing that was ever said to me by a patient. "the next couple of months look real busy Cathy, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to fit you and that balance beam into my schedule for awhile. You do know that I'm kind of a big deal right?" No joke, I had no clue what to say to her but me and that balance beam were back the next week. This was a 4th grader.
A pt once told me she had a son who was 73, somwhat surprised (I didn't think she was much more than that) so I laughed and said I had a son who was 21 (I did) and added that that was because I had given birth at age nine. She put her had on my shoulder, looked deeply into my eyes and said with great sympathy "It happens in the best of families, dear" The entire gym stoically stiffled a laugh. "Thank you" was really all I could think of to say.
I have a SNF resident (former school librarian) who has taken over duties of running the library. In the library/sitting room is a double door to a garden area. My resident (let's call her Ginnie) called me over as I passed the doorway the other day and told me that she needed to know how to unlock "that door!" Another resident had just walked out the door, and Ginnie had actually locked her out. The problem was that she didn't remember 5 minutes later how to unlock the door...so I showed her how to unlock the door. She was so relieved!
"Those GD kids!" she cursed! And then she laughed. "Those kids are running all over the place! It's a good thing the principal didn't see them!"
We both laughed. She was referring to the old lady who had just walked outside with her walker! She continues to crack me up every day. Aren't these people we serve just great?
Had a patient at an acute care hospital who told me he wanted to work really hard as he was eager to get back to his nursing home . Having worked in most of the nursing homes in the area I asked him which he was from. He named a home which had a really dreadful reputation so I asked what it was he was missing. He replied that every night when he got his tray a little mouse came out and he fed him. "he'll be starving by now!" he exclaimed. He did get to go back "home" but the state closed the facility shortly afterwards. All residents were transferred to other facilities. No news was ever recieved on the relocation of the mouse.
One of the funniest things I’ve heard from patients comes from a 91 year old man in the ER. I had to go and draw blood on him and he asked me if I’ve ever been kissed by a 91 year old. I told him “not yet”. I knew he was in bad shape but he keep it rolling. He then asked me if I’ve ever been to Hawaii, I told him that I haven’t been yet. He said he wanted take me at Christmas time to Hawaii. I told him I would see at Christmas time. The next day, the patient was now in ICU and again needed blood work. I walked in and he was looking much better than the previous day asked me if I had ever been kissed by a 91 year old, I said no but your still taking me to Hawaii at Christmas time right. He’s daughter was in the room and whipped around and said “Yeah, you and the other 17 nurses that come in here, and he still needs to fit mother in on that trip too”. I just started laughing, it was so funny, we then started talking about traveling and I could tell he really did enjoy the conversation. I don’t have much patient interactions or none at all, but these moments are worth it.
I wish everyone could have been in our gym today. A particularly difficult elderly man was in complaining loudly, as usual, about the staff the therapy etc when he exclaimed " and to top it all you know what I've left in my room?" "Your manners! " retorted an elderly woman. Could have kissed her! he didn't, have much to say after that.
Detoxing patient this morning admitted to ICU in 4 points an hour before shift change. "Hey take my teeth out," "you don't have dentures," "These dogs don't bite," "no I am fond of my fingers," "awww, come on," "tempting but no," "Really these dogs don't bite," "um no"
My co-worker just recently had a TKA and decided to start themeing her walker. She had it decorated for Christmas with a horn and tinsel with Christmas lights. She decided to change it to Mardi Gras for the month of March. She took a little old lady to do a toilet transfer and when the lady sat down on toilet with the walker still in front of her she says "wow this hospital is really into Mardi Gras they have all the walkers and bathrooms decorated with Mardi Gras lights and tinsel.
Here's another classic. working with a pt he told me he was going to see the movie
War Horse. He wanted to see it as his Grandfather was in the trenches in WW2 and worked with the horses.
Really I said, So was mine! All 4 years. My Grandfather was awarded an Iron Cross for it, he added.
Oh! what to say to that, he was evidently fighting for the Germans, my Grandfather fought for England!!!
Thankfully we have all come a long way!
When admitting this almost 90yr old man I found him and his wife in the bathroom. She was helping him change clothes to the hospital gown. I decided to take this opportunity to do his skin assessment. When I walked into the bathroom to have a looked he became distress and told me not to look at him. His wife said "honey she's seen plenty of naked people." He then said "but I don't want her to see how small it is." His wife looked at me then put her head down and shook it. What does one say to that? Whether its true or false. Turns out he was just joking.
Maybe I just have too much fun in SNFs but here's one more!
Lady was admitted , her cognition was good, her hearing was not.
Nurse asked can you tell me your name? She could. Can you tell me where you are, she could. Can you tell me what year it is? she heard. Can you tell me what urine is?! She replied Well it's pee isn't it?!
an 86 year old patient today told me she was looking for a man, she is a widow. Flollowing criteria needed. 1. Must be able to shop for groceries and carry them indoors. 2 be a kind person. 3. Have a good pension AND good insurance! I guess criteria change with age!
I had a patient who was exteremly hard of hearing. I said "Mr. G you are awesome!" He goes "I flew away?" I said "no you are awesome!" He said "I am fat!?!" I said NO (by this time everyone gym looking at us and I am almost yelling at the poor guy) you are AWESOME! He said "I am FAST?" I said "yes Mr. G you are fast!" He said "well that's good!"
I had another lady who was hard of hearing and I was asking about her dog. I said how is PA (doggies intials) She goes "Oh...PA she does everybody well"
I look back at all of my travel assignments and never had I had so many inappropriate but hilarious comments said to me except in the current facility that I am at and particularly in the "memory assistance" AKA "I am losing or have already lost my mind" floor. I have some funny ones but the one above is as bad as I will post.
A TBI patient who is usually quite grumpy, complained of a stomach ache. Knowing he has a history of constipation, I asked him "Have you had a BM today?" He replied, quite loudly, with agitation, "What the hell is a BM?" Everyone in the clinic turned around to look, and he just sat there looking at me waiting for an answer. I whispered to him, "Did you poop today?" To which he replied, "Why the hell are you asking me that? What the hell kind of place is this?"
_edited-1.jpg)
