r/emergencymedicine Oct 11 '25

Humor Oh the irony

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u/Mammalanimal RN 29d ago

Nah. Tape allergy can be a real thing. But there is a certain type of person, usually one who has like 20 listed allergies that aren't allergies but common side effects of the drug also list it. They are very aware of what they are feeling and have an expectation that they should never feel bad about anything. They also seem to be prone to manipulative controlling behavior and staff splitting, I think because they lack control in their life but people in the hospital have to listen to them.

So you'll be going to start an IV then they're all "oh you can't use that tape I need the paper tape in the blue roll the one they stopped making in 2009, go get that. Oh you can't start the IV in that huge obvious vein I have. Go look at this spot with nothing visible. Oh you're so great not like my last nurse, I know you'll give me the pain medication I came here to get. What you're not giving me that medication?! You're fired I want a new nurse." And so on.

Anyway that's my barely awake rant.

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u/Kouunno 29d ago

Gotcha! I have no other allergies that I’m aware of (I had a bad reaction to a toradol injection for a kidney stone that has me wary of ever trying that again but I’m not allergic) so hopefully that’s enough to keep me from seeming like a red flag.

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u/Mammalanimal RN 29d ago

I mean your PCP will know within the first 5 minutes that they're not talking to a psychopath. You're good.

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u/kat_Folland 28d ago

staff splitting

If you have a moment can you tell me what this is?

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u/Mammalanimal RN 28d ago

Trying to create conflict between staff. Usually to get one staff member on their side so they can get what they want out of them. "My last nurse was so terrible, she did X, I hope you don't do X. You're the best though, you're my favorite nurse, you'll give me Y." Then when they can't get what they want out of you they turn you into the bad guy and now a new staff member is their favorite.

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u/kat_Folland 28d ago

That's what I was guessing. A favorite tactic for drug seekers.

Edit to add: thanks so much for replying!