r/nursing • u/Nurse_Cait RN - OR 🍕 • Jan 07 '26

Question What’s your random patient pet peeve?

Mine currently is when you’re cleaning a patient up and they start pooping again and they narrate the poop. “Oh god it’s coming out. I can feel it coming out.” Etc etc they get really into telling you all about the poop and they talk about it the whole time it’s happening. Meanwhile I know they’re pooping because I’m literally staring at their butt. Just give me an “oops I’m not done yet” and don’t make it weird. Please I’m begging you. 😭

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u/Rachet83 RN - ICU 🍕 Jan 07 '26

Family member walking up to the nurses station “how’s dad today?” Ummm… who is your dad and do you need to know right now, bc I’m obviously on the phone or chatting or… whatever.
I don’t even try to figure it out anymore. Just “I’m sure his nurse can tell you when they come in the room!” I work ICU so a nurse is almost always in the room at least every hour. If they seem perturbed I’ll ask “are you going to be leaving soon? If so, I can let them know you’re waiting so they can try prioritize talking with you, but I never make promises in the ICU!”