Nursing Nightmares: Horror Stories from the Front Lines (and How to Make Nurse-Patient Interactions a Treat)

It’s a good thing many nurses have a healthy sense of humor.

It’s just one component of the profession’s trademark resilience, and it keeps nurses going even in the face of adversity, burnout, threat of harm, or just a good old-fashioned bad day.

Nurses also have a chance each day to lead by example. When you’re a nurse, any moment can be a teachable moment. NurseJournal recently took to social media to gather real-life patient “horror stories” and tips for how nurses and patients can work together to make interactions a treat for all parties involved.

Nurse horror stories run the gamut, from the intense to the intensely silly. It’s all in a day’s work on the front lines of healthcare in America.

One nurse details the problem she had with a patient family member who had an odd sense of priorities.

Another story outlines the odd requests patients often make to their nurses — everything from performing a song to giving a pedicure:

As the frontline workers of hospitals, nurses often face the brunt of a patient’s rage. In this example, a nurse explains a situation in which she had to leave due to the threat to her safety:

Lastly, there will be patients who refuse help or simply create a scene—sometimes a rather intense scene—for attention or another personal reason:

How can we avoid being a “bad patient” or family member? What can nurses do to improve their own experiences? In this section, discover how you can treat nurses nicely so they can best perform their — very important — jobs.

Nurses work hard and deserve the support of their patients, community, and personal networks.

One study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal showed that 60-80% of Americans were not forthcoming with their care providers about information that could be relevant to their health. Sometimes, these omissions included not disclosing their unhealthy diets or lack of exercise due to embarrassment.

Remember that your nurse wants to be your healthcare advocate. Giving them the right information is critical to helping them make the best decisions on your behalf.

Healthcare is based on the order of severity and urgency of patients’ needs. While it’s important to voice your demands, respecting a nurse’s time and keeping requests to a minimum is just as important. Use call buttons responsibly and be mindful of a nurse’s time constraints.

The healthcare system can be frustrating to navigate. Don’t direct your frustration at your nurse without cause. Misplaced anger or frustration runs the risk of alienating one of the key members of your care team.

Remember that you and your nurse are working toward the same goals. Rather than be angry, express your concerns constructively.

While you should always feel comfortable asking questions, respecting your nurse’s expertise is important. Part of this respect includes following instructions and guidelines.

Nurses are highly trained and sophisticated healers, with intimate knowledge of the latest techniques in modern medicine. Reducing them to stereotypes has a damaging effect.

Giving your nurse a gift can be a great way to express your gratitude. According to Jen Chung, a nurse practitioner based in Atlanta, GA, nurses “go nuts” for alcohol.

(Check out NurseJournal’s comprehensive nurse gift guide for a host of great ideas.)

Below are other gift ideas broken down by gift type.

Showing gratitude ultimately does not need to be an overly complex endeavor — and sometimes just takes a simple “thank-you.” Turning horror stories into a sweet experience is often a matter of simple courtesy, and in remembering that nurses are there to help.

“If you’ve had great care from a nurse, don’t hesitate to let the nurse manager know,” Campbell says. “Nurses are often blamed for everything but rarely recognized for a job well done.”