Disruptive behavior refers to any conduct that is inappropriate, impairs other people’s ability to function, or undermines the quality of care.

Such conduct can have adverse effects on staff and patients, leading to increased stress, decreased job satisfaction, job turnover, and reduced quality of care. While disruptive behaviors are relatively common in healthcare settings, some patients exhibit more aggressive and persistent behavior than others.

In this article, we highlight some of the most outrageous patients who are the epitome of disruptive behavior.

Patient #1: The Abusive Critic

This patient is always quick to criticize and belittle staff. No matter what they do, it’s never good enough for the patient. They also complain about everything from the food to the temperature in the room.

They purposely ignore instructions and make demands at all hours of the day and night. They often threaten staff with complaints and negative feedback if they do not get their way. The abusive critic is a nightmare for healthcare staff and can cause a lot of stress on the workers.

Patient #2: The Entitled VIP

This patient thinks they are the most important person in the hospital. They have a sense of entitlement and often try to bypass hospital protocols to get faster or better treatment.

They may demand private rooms, faster turn-around times for tests, and overall, more access to resources than other patients. They may even try to bribe hospital staff or threaten to take their business elsewhere. The entitled VIP is particularly difficult because they often believe they are right and will not accept any other opinion.

They can also pose a risk to the quality of care of other patients and staff.

Patient #3: The Paranoid Conspiracy Theorist

This patient is always convinced that someone is out to get them. They may report that their food is poisoned, that the doctors are conspiring against them, and that the hospital is hiding important information.

They may even refuse treatment or medications, believing that they are being experimented on. The paranoid conspiracy theorist can be difficult to work with as they may not trust staff and may complain to anyone who will listen.

Their paranoia can also create chaos and confusion, as staff may need to spend significant time responding to their concerns.

Patient #4: The Attention Seeker

This patient will do anything to gain attention from staff and other patients. They may pretend to have severe symptoms, engage in self-harm, lie about their condition, or even intentionally worsen their health to get more attention.

The attention seeker can be difficult to manage as they require a lot of attention from staff and may divert resources from other patients. They can also be disruptive to ward routines, as staff may need to spend time attending to the attention seeker.

Patient #5: The Demanding Bully

This patient is a bully who uses intimidation and threats to get their way. They may demand specific care, refuse treatment, or be verbally or physically abusive towards staff.

The demanding bully can create a hostile environment for staff and other patients and may cause significant stress and anxiety in the work environment. They may also create a safety risk for others, particularly if they engage in physical violence or threaten staff or other patients.

Patient #6: The Disruptive Family Member

While not a patient, the disruptive family member can often create chaos and stress in a healthcare setting.

They may either decrease or increase a patient’s anxiety, distract from necessary care, or be verbally or physically abusive towards staff. They may also refuse to follow hospital protocols and rules. Disruptive family members can be particularly difficult to deal with as emotions run high, and the need for communication and rapport with the patient’s loved ones is essential to care.

Patient #7: The Addict

This patient may be addicted to drugs or alcohol and may display erratic behavior. They may demand drugs or alcohol and become aggressive or abusive when they are not provided with them.

They may also display symptoms of withdrawal, such as shaking, sweating, and vomiting. Addicts can be difficult to manage as they require specialized care and may pose a risk to themselves and others.

They may also divert staff’s attention from other patients, and the need to manage medication administration schedules can be a significant problem.

Patient #8: The Escapee

This patient refuses to stay in the hospital and tries to escape. They may try to leave the hospital against medical advice, refuse needed treatment, or may purposely cause trouble to be discharged early.

The escapee can be particularly disruptive to the care of other patients as they may distract staff and require significant attention to ensure their safety and well-being. They may also pose a significant safety risk to themselves and others if they are allowed to leave prematurely.

Patient #9: The Non-Compliant Patient

This patient will not follow instructions or sometimes even treatment. They may refuse medications or therapy, violate dietary restrictions, or may engage in activities that are harmful to their recovery.

They often have their reasons for this non-compliance that they might not express clearly, and other times, they simply refuse care. Non-compliant patients can be particularly challenging to manage as they undermine the quality of care and may pose a safety risk to themselves and others.

Patient #10: The “Doctor Google”

This patient thinks they know more than their doctors and may try to dictate their own care. They may insist on treatments that are not medically appropriate, refuse medical advice, or demand unnecessary tests.

The “Doctor Google” can be frustrating for staff as they may need to spend significant amounts of time explaining why the requested treatments or tests are not necessary. They may also pose a risk to the quality of care as they may insist on treatments that are not appropriate.

Conclusion

Disruptive behavior can lead to significant stress and anxiety in healthcare settings and undermine the quality of care.

While many patients may exhibit disruptive behavior, some patients take it to a new level and cause significant difficulties for healthcare staff and other patients. Healthcare organizations must engage in regular training and education to manage disruptive behavior and ensure that all patients receive high-quality care in a safe environment.