(I am sitting in the waiting room, hoping my ankle isn’t broken, when I overhear this:)
Mom: *to dad, dragging her five-year-old girl behind her* “Yeah, the doctor said it was just idiot pathetic vomiting. We have to come in if she tries it again.”
(It took me a while to figure out this lady was trying to pronounce, “idiopathic,” meaning, “of unknown cause.” That poor kid!)
(I work at the main information and patient enquiries desk for a major hospital. I get asked the full range of questions, some often way out of my scope of knowledge, but I try my best to at least point people in the right direction! People often give me very few details of what they want and just assume I will read their mind. I cannot check patients in for appointments; I must direct them to the clinic they are seeing.)
Me: “Good morning! How can I help you?”
Visitor: “[Last Name].”
Me: “Is that an inpatient you’re looking for?”
Visitor: “I have an appointment. [Last Name].”
Me: “Okay, what type of specialist are you seeing?”
Visitor: “[Last Name].”
Me: “Okay, I don’t need your name, just what type of doctor you’re seeing. What’s it for? Your heart? Bones? Lungs?”
Visitor: “[Last Name].”
Visitor’s Friend: “1:30.”
Me: *to friend* “What type of specialist?”
Visitor’s Friend: “[Last Name].”
Me: *trying so very hard to remain calm* “What. Kind. Of. Doctor?”
Visitor’s Friend: “Oh! I’m not sure. Hang on; let me check the paperwork…”
(I’m rather clumsy, and this time it lands me in the ER. The doctor that’s checking me out is actually my neighbor.)
Doctor: “All right, what did you do this time?”
Me: “Well, I woke up and wanted to finish reading my book from yesterday, but I wanted to make breakfast, as well, so I walked downstairs whilst reading, and I kind of fell…”
Doctor: *long pause* “At least you read, right?”
(I managed to break a bone in my arm, and needed a cast.)
(I work on a switchboard for a major hospital. We take all external and internal calls then direct them to the appropriate department.)
Me: “Good morning, [Hospital].”
Caller: “Hi, can I speak with someone about rescheduling my appointment?”
Me: “I’m sorry, but you will need to speak to the outpatients department, and they do not open until nine am; you will have to call back a bit later!”
Caller: “Oh, what time is it now?”
Me: “It’s 8:15.”
Caller: “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise it was so early! I hope I didn’t wake you, did I?”
Me: “Um… No?”
(Yes, he was completely serious; he continued on the conversation as normal after that! I’ll never know if it was just an instinctive reaction for him to say that, or if he genuinely thinks we sleep when there are no calls?)
(I am an NCT — a nursing care tech — basically one rung down from a nurse. We check vitals, help transport patients for surgeries or procedures, track their progress and double-check their treatment plans, help patients shower or get to the bathroom, and generally make sure that nurses and patients have what they need, and that none of the patients are showing signs of any impending medical problems or complications. We are legally not allowed to give medicine, administer treatments, contact patient family members for any reason, or give medical advice. All of this information is told to the patients when they arrive, and is in the information packet all the patients are given, along with a flow chart about who to call for what problem. Additionally, in my hospital, all NCTs wear green scrubs, all nurses wear blue, and all doctors wear white. This patient, who has been here for about a week and a half, calls me in.)
Patient: “My back feels just awful. Could you go get my next dose of painkillers a little early?”
Me: “I’m not allowed to give you any medications, I’m afraid. I can go get your nurse, though, or you can call her with this number on the board. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Patient: “Well, can you adjust my IV at least?”
Me: “I can’t do that, either; I’ll have to grab your nurse.”
Patient: “What about my sister? Did you call her with the new care plan?”
Me: “That’s also the nurse; I can’t contact your family.”
Patient: “Well, what about my diagnosis? What do you think I should do?”
Me: “I’m not allowed to offer any medical advice, either. Let me call your nurse, okay? She’ll be able to help you with all of this.”
Patient: “But aren’t you going to help me?!”
