What was your riskiest gamble dealing with a patient/family that paid off? Also will accept ones that went really, really bad.

Came on that afternoon. Had a middle aged guy who was pissed about everything going on the last few days. Late tests, no one answers the light, docs never come etc.

I walk into the room and he unloads on me for a solid few mins. I don’t say anything. Then I let him know I haven’t taken care of him but I hate it when the hospital doesn’t (insert everything). Tell him I will fix what I can. He sort of settles down but it still pissed.

“You know, you kind of look like Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore.”

He stares straight ahead, silent, not moving. For about three seconds it was so quiet you could hear a fly fart.

His wife “Omg honey you do.”

Patient starts to laugh. Wife laughs. I laugh. Patient is now laughing and fine. I handle some of the issues he was pissed about and he’s good the rest of the shift.