People trust doctors; after all, they've gone through years of education and training to take care of us when we're possibly having the worst days of our lives. Some even want to be as little of a nuisance as they can be. For example, 74% of patients in a 2020 study agreed to let medical students participate in their care because they thought it would be helpful.
However, sometimes that willingness to help can become rather pointless or even bothersome. Patients may think they're doing medical workers a favor but are actually making their jobs way harder. To shine a light on that topic, one netizen recently asked medical professionals online: "Doctors and nurses of Reddit, what is something patients do that they think is helpful but actually makes your job harder?"
#41
Im an EMT and work on an ambulance but my silly one is hyperextending your arm to take a blood pressure. I tell all my patients that when the cuff is inflating to keep their arm straight but relaxed, itll inflate too far if your elbow is bent but if youre flexing your muscles to keep your arm straight my auto-cuffs wont work.
Follow-up point since I know there have to be people here looking for things to do/not do, *a ride in the ambulance DOES NOT guarantee a room in the ER!* Your route of entrance plays zero part in your triage category. If youre bleeding out and you come in through the waiting room, youre gonna get seen sooner. If you come in on an ambulance complaining of some random pain, you can still end up in the waiting room. I couldnt begin to tell you the amount of patients ive had that got mad at me because ER Triage said they had weren't critical enough for a room right away. I feel for these patients, but these were days the ER was full and previous ambulances had brought in several people from a nasty car accident.
Calling EMS does not get you a room faster than the waiting room, so *if you feel safe enough* to take yourself to the ER, you wont be getting seen slower. Making the call to take yourself or call for EMS is hugely nuanced, and no ambulance will be rude if you decide to call just in case, so if youre unsure absolutely call.
Edit: rewriting my second point.
Follow-up point since I know there have to be people here looking for things to do/not do, *a ride in the ambulance DOES NOT guarantee a room in the ER!* Your route of entrance plays zero part in your triage category. If youre bleeding out and you come in through the waiting room, youre gonna get seen sooner. If you come in on an ambulance complaining of some random pain, you can still end up in the waiting room. I couldnt begin to tell you the amount of patients ive had that got mad at me because ER Triage said they had weren't critical enough for a room right away. I feel for these patients, but these were days the ER was full and previous ambulances had brought in several people from a nasty car accident.
Calling EMS does not get you a room faster than the waiting room, so *if you feel safe enough* to take yourself to the ER, you wont be getting seen slower. Making the call to take yourself or call for EMS is hugely nuanced, and no ambulance will be rude if you decide to call just in case, so if youre unsure absolutely call.
Edit: rewriting my second point.
5points
#42
A patient (85) would make her bed even if she just left for tests so the nurses wouldn't have to clean up a messy room. A wee bit of dementia but cute as a button.
5points
#43
Trying to bully the doctors and nurses into giving “better care” for their family member via being confrontational and aggressive. It usually makes it harder to provide care not easier.
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5points
#44
Not stopping certain medications in time for their surgery day; think blood thinners, GLP1s, certain blood pressure meds and diabetes meds. I provide anesthesia, so now I have to keep a tighter leash on their vitals during their surgery because:
-some standard anesthesia meds will further lower their bp and HR.
-some surgeries will have to get cancelled because they did not stop their blood thinners in time, and if it’s an invasive procedure like spine surgery, ortho etc, risk of increased bleeding is not worth ignoring this red flag.
-not stopping GLP1s 1-2 weeks before surgery puts them at higher risk of aspiration (vomiting, possibly into their lungs) under anesthesia. So, my choice of airway protection goes from possibly an LMA to more likely a tube (especially if they also have reflux and DM).
-recreational d**g use also affects anesthetic choice considerations, especially if it’s been partaken really close to surgery day. Even smoking cigs makes your airway more reactive (sensitive) and increases your risk of laryngospasm, especially when we’re putting you under anesthesia (induction) and waking you up (emergence).
Gotta have a backup for your backup plan, for things that are preventable.
-some standard anesthesia meds will further lower their bp and HR.
-some surgeries will have to get cancelled because they did not stop their blood thinners in time, and if it’s an invasive procedure like spine surgery, ortho etc, risk of increased bleeding is not worth ignoring this red flag.
-not stopping GLP1s 1-2 weeks before surgery puts them at higher risk of aspiration (vomiting, possibly into their lungs) under anesthesia. So, my choice of airway protection goes from possibly an LMA to more likely a tube (especially if they also have reflux and DM).
-recreational d**g use also affects anesthetic choice considerations, especially if it’s been partaken really close to surgery day. Even smoking cigs makes your airway more reactive (sensitive) and increases your risk of laryngospasm, especially when we’re putting you under anesthesia (induction) and waking you up (emergence).
Gotta have a backup for your backup plan, for things that are preventable.
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5points
#45
"Tell me more about why you came to the ER today"
"Well, 45 years ago..."
Please start with the most relevant details up front, we can work back from there if need be.
"Well, 45 years ago..."
Please start with the most relevant details up front, we can work back from there if need be.
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5points
#46
I had a patient that wouldn’t stop trying to help me make his bed. I told him several times that it is my job and I would prefer if he would sit in his chair.
He ripped his IV out on the bedsheet and bled all over :) turned a one minute job into a 20 minute job and I had to poke him again. He was nice, but god, dude, let me work lol.
He ripped his IV out on the bedsheet and bled all over :) turned a one minute job into a 20 minute job and I had to poke him again. He was nice, but god, dude, let me work lol.
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5points
#47
"Are you having any pain right now?"
Patient: "No, no pain. I'm good."
-Later during rounds
Doctor: "Okay, have you been having any pain?"
Patient: "...Oh, yes. All the time."
This happened so many times I started asking why they didn't just tell me, their nurse. Many said they didn't want to bother me. Others lied because many wanted to "prove" to the doctor that they really are sick.
Please, just tell me. I don’t want you to be in pain and having it just delays healing anyway...
Patient: "No, no pain. I'm good."
-Later during rounds
Doctor: "Okay, have you been having any pain?"
Patient: "...Oh, yes. All the time."
This happened so many times I started asking why they didn't just tell me, their nurse. Many said they didn't want to bother me. Others lied because many wanted to "prove" to the doctor that they really are sick.
Please, just tell me. I don’t want you to be in pain and having it just delays healing anyway...
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4points
#48
This one seems silly, but when I go to scan your wristband, just leave your arm where it is. I can see the barcode, moving the target doesn’t help. OTOH, if I need to put your BP cuff back on, please do lift your arm up and away from your body so I can wrap it around without having to wrestle with a limp arm while trying to line everything up.
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4points
#49
When someone asks for a Med refill but doesn’t know names or doses.
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3points
#50
When they go down rabbit holes. Some people just word vomit and it takes 20 minutes to get 2 minutes of useful information. Sometimes it’s just more efficient to answer specific questions than to give me a full narrative beginning with what you ate for breakfast 8 weeks ago.
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3points
#51
I worked with Doctors in public health. All of them hated patients saying “I have a high tolerance for pain.” It’s the doctor’s job to get rid of the pain.
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3points
#52
Exaggerating pain levels, saying your pain is a 10/10 when you are calmly sitting there, having a snack and checking your phone. Please try and accurately rate your pain. 10/10 is we need to admit you pronto.
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3points
#54
Aspirin 81mg daily. Do not take if you have not been told to do so for an event. The events can be stents, heart attacks or strokes to name only the top three. Do not take because ‘it’s good for my Mother, and I think it would be good to start. This causes headaches all around if you now need surgery for an elective type surgery.
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1point
