if he is on a tracheal tube why is he awake?

he was asking for his "Swedish fish" which were on the counter..

I think he was saying "scrotum itch".

And this is an FML why? Yeah, it's damned annoying. Ask a doctor for a restraint to keep the medical equipment in place if it's really a problem. As for being called stupid bitch, you are a nurse, your job is to help him, not like him. Water off a duck's back. Just be thankful he isn't combative. My last combative patient sent me to the ER.

I can totally see where this is an FML. In the medical field you bust your ass to make people healthy and then you have morons like this trying to hurt themselves and when you do your job, they feel the need to be jerks... just because it happens a lot doesn't mean it's not FML It just means your job sucks... but hey! Someone has gotta do it! Thank you for putting up with shitty people so that we have nurses to take care of us when we're in the hospital and at the doc's office ^.^

it's your job, these things happen -_- ydi for choosing this job...

Well, if he has a tube in him, he may not in his 'right mind' so don't take it personally. I would advise him that there are 3 options if he does not cease and desist. a) he can rip it out and I will put another one in (I don't mind, I can try a foot IV if all his hand/arm/AC veins are blown); b) he can be restrained physically (I don't mind, allows me to practice my knots); c) I can ask my partner to fire up the meds (I don't mind, but I will need to get an IV for my partner... Go back to step a). Patient care is all about them and has very little to do with us (except that we have to do our jobs as professionally and compassionately as possible). I would explain what will need to happen if he doesn't leave his IV alone (and that the optimal scenario is that he just let things remain as they are). If he persists, fire up option a, b, c. Also look him straight in the eyes while touching his arm or something. I find if they see that you aren't there to hurt them they are more likely to calm down, even with a head injury. If your FML is serious and you're taking it personally, I suggest getting some counselling to learn coping strategies or find another profession. Remember, you're not the one with the tube and IV in you so it's a pretty good day, overall.

If you can't deal with rude and verbally abusive patients, screaming, crying, and bodily fluids, it's time to look for a new profession. In the medical setting, you're going to get something unpleasant quite a bit more frequently than you're going to get thanked. If you can't deal with that, you need to get out now while this is the worst thing you've encountered.

Hopefully it was just the drugs...

Yeah... I know that, at least here, it's standard practice to sedate for anything that goes down your throat... Tubes, cameras, etc. I wonder if the patient even had the option to be sedated.