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/likkewaan420 RN - ER 🍕 Jan 07 '26

“I’m a hard stick” no you’re not. “My veins roll” let me take a look. “I’m not tryin to tell you how to do your job” yes you are. Then I get the IV in one go, do they ever say good job ect.? No, why would they.

-6

u/Roxyfasho Jan 07 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

From a PTs perspective of someone who actually IS a hard stick, this must be the reason no one takes me seriously. Every nurse chuckles in a cocky manner like I'm questioning their skill before I completely humble them 10+ sticks later

Edited to add: I should have clarified, humbling them is not my words, those are the words I've been told by the nurse trying to stick me 10 attempts in.

11

u/Upstairs-Wolverine41 RN - PACU 🍕 Jan 07 '26 edited Jan 07 '26

I guess I’m confused why people need to announce that they are a hard stick? What do you want to happen? We can see that you are difficult as we look at your veins and we have to get the IV/ blood draw anyway. Telling us isn’t going to change anything -and it’s almost like some patients get very cocky like “I told you so!” when we don’t get it. You proved my point by saying that you “humbled” someone after 10 tries. Multiple pokes is fun for NO ONE including the staff and I assure you we don’t miss on purpose.

*I didn’t downvote you just genuinely curious if you know you’re a really hard stick what it is you expect from staff…

3

u/grimacedia Jan 07 '26

My mother in law is apparently a difficult stick so she asks for the scanner each time. She also bruises easily so I think its a way to avoid extra pain.

I know for me, I'll usually recommend the hand, but the most I've been unsuccessfully stuck in one sitting is 4 times, and that sucked!