Things That Truly Scare Nurses | A Halloween Special

Move over, ghost stories! As nurses, we've seen things that would make Stephen King's spine tingle. In honor of Halloween, let's explore the real horrors that make nurses' hearts skip a beat (and no, we're not talking about those irregular ECG readings).

The Chart of Doom
Picture this: It's 0300, and you're getting report on a new admission. As you flip through the chart, your blood runs cold. The documentation is... incomplete! *cue dramatic music* No allergies listed, no medication reconciliation, and is that... illegible handwriting? Now that's scary.

The Mysterious Missing Supplies
Legend has it that somewhere in the hospital lurks the Supply Cart Ghost, who strategically removes exactly what you need right before you need it. Need an 18-gauge needle? Poof! Only 22s left. Looking for that one specific dressing? Vanished into thin air! Time to channel your inner detective and hunt down supplies in other units.

The Code Brown at Shift Change
No horror movie can capture the terror of hearing those dreaded words just as you're about to give report: "Can you help? It's everywhere!" Suddenly, your quick shift change turns into a scene from "Mission: Impossible" – except with more PPE and less Tom Cruise.

The Caffeine Catastrophe
The break room coffee maker is possessed! It's either producing a mysterious sludge that could probably strip paint, or worse – it's completely dead. Time to perform an emergency coffee run, stat!

The Haunted Call Light
Some say there's a patient call light that rings endlessly, even when no one's in the room. You answer it repeatedly, but it keeps coming back... like a ghost that just won't rest. (Or maybe Mrs. Johnson in Room 204 just really likes company).

The Workstation of Terror
You're charting peacefully when suddenly – *BAM!* – the computer decides to update. All your unsaved documentation vanishes into the digital void. Now that's what we call a real nightmare!

The Parade of the Full Moon
Every nurse knows the legend of the full moon shift. Like werewolves transforming under moonlight, normally calm units become centers of chaos. Coincidence? We think not!

The Haunted Break Room
Rumors speak of a mysterious force that makes time move twice as fast during breaks. Thirty minutes disappear in what feels like seconds. Scientists are still studying this supernatural phenomenon.

The Curse of the Almost-Empty Bladder
The ancient curse states: "The moment you finally get a chance to use the bathroom, three call lights, two doctor calls, and one emergent situation shall immediately present themselves."

The Phantom Pain Scale
Patient: "My pain is 12 out of 10!"
*Meanwhile, they're watching TV and eating chips*
Some mysteries of nursing will never be solved...

Safety Tips for a Nurse's Halloween

1. Ward off evil spirits with the sacred "Just Going to Take a Quick Break" ritual (Results not guaranteed)
2. Protect yourself from the Supply Cart Ghost by hoarding... er, "strategically storing" essential items
3. Keep holy water (coffee) nearby at all times
4. Never, ever say the words "It's quiet today" – that's just asking for trouble

While others may fear vampires and zombies, nurses know the real horrors lurking in the hospital halls. But fear not! Armed with coffee, comfortable shoes, and a slightly twisted sense of humor, we face these terrors head-on.

Remember, if you hear strange noises during your night shift, it's probably just the pharmacy robot making its rounds. Probably.

Happy Halloween, fellow nurses! May your shifts be peaceful, your documentation be complete, and your coffee be strong.

P.S. If anyone figures out how to exorcise a haunted call light, please contact us ASAP!