2026-02-09 – Weekly Nursing News : Patient excuses: amusing or alarming?

Last week on the forum, there was a lively discussion on patient interactions, particularly focusing on the creative excuses patients come up with. Another recurring theme was the challenge of continuing education, especially for those working night shifts. We also saw thoughtful exchanges on mentorship in nursing education, exploring how to foster effective relationships between seasoned nurses and students or new grads. Additionally, technical topics like the use of checklists for high-alert drips and the chemical shorthand of potassium sparked intriguing conversations.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Encountering Patients’ Creative Excuses
Nurses shared amusing and perplexing excuses they’ve heard from patients, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of healthcare work.
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Making CEUs work on nights
This thread dives into strategies for earning CEUs when you’re on the night shift, a common hurdle for many nurses.
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Building Effective Mentorship in Nursing Education
An insightful discussion on creating meaningful mentorship programs to support and guide nursing students and new grads.
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Why is potassium labeled ‘K’
Curious minds explored the historical and scientific reasons behind the symbol for potassium, sparking a fascinating conversation.
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Rapid checklist for high-alert drips
Nurses exchanged tips on using checklists to safely manage high-alert medications, emphasizing patient safety.
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Chemo teaching tools that ease anxiety
This thread offers practical tools and techniques for educating patients about chemotherapy, aiming to reduce their anxiety.
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Short bursts or deep dives for CEUs
A debate on whether short, focused learning sessions or in-depth courses work best for continuing education requirements.
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What’s the deal with the Hippocratic Oath
A reflective discussion on the relevance and interpretation of the Hippocratic Oath in modern nursing practice.
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Quit hiding the point
This conversation revolves around clear communication in nursing documentation and patient interactions.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions. Your insights and experiences make this community a valuable resource for all of us.

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Sometimes it helps to ask patients open-ended questions about their excuses. It can lead to surprising insights and maybe even a chuckle. For example, I once had a patient who said they couldn’t come because their cat was feeling sad?

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I’ve noticed that calling out patient excuses with a bit of humor can really lighten the mood. Like when a patient said they couldn’t come in because their cat was ‘too needy’ — I joked that I’d send a nurse to cat-sit! @nurselife, how do you handle those quirky situations while keeping things professional?

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It’s funny how excuses can sometimes reveal a lot about a patient. I had one who claimed he couldn’t make an appointment because he was ‘training his goldfish to swim.’ Maybe it’s worth considering how we can use humor to build rapport, especially when addressing the more serious sides of care. How do you think we could leverage those moments to teach about accountability?

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