'She chooses to double down on the craziness': Nurse helps 90-year-olds load a box onto their car, gets confronted by angry customer

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jun 4, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

This nurse tried to do a good deed, only to get scolded. 

What would society ever do without doctors and nurses? They have one of the hardest professions. Shifts are long, like u/BookwyrmsRN's 14-hour day. The work can be thankless at times, and all those long shifts can impact a medical professional's daily life. This nurse had just gotten done a 14-hour shift and was understandably exhausted, and they had yet another shift in just 9 hours. Even with all of that exhaustion weighing on them, this person still took time out of their day to help an elderly couple who appeared to be struggling with their heavy purchase. 

That's when another customer at the store spotted the nurse and for some reason assumed they worked at the store. That's odd to begin with, since this person was still wearing their stethoscope and scrubs, not to mention their name tag that showed they were a registered nurse. You can check out the rest of the story, which just gets crazier and crazier. Commenters loved it, and applauded the nurse for being kind despite the circumstances. 

Next up, check out some very wacky shoes, like a pair of fish-flops or a pair of scuba heels.

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  • 01
    'Some assembly required. Good luck'
    via Dan Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash
  • 02
    Some assembly required. Good luck. On mobile so apologies for any formatting issues. First post as well.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 03
    This happened several years ago. I was the night time charge nurse over the ICU. I'd just finished a 12 hour shift at my hospital that had turned into a 14 hour shift because of a rapid response right before shift change. (Patient responded well). I was exhausted and had to return for a 4th shift in 9 hours. All I wanted were some items to drop in the slow cooker so I'd have something to eat when I got up tonight.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 04
    stopped at a well known big box store that sells groceries, clothes, electronics.. the works. I'm wearing royal blue scrubs, a name badge with a big RN under it and forgot to take my stethoscope off so it's hanging around my neck. The employees here….. well…... don't.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 05
    As I'm walking towards the store I see an elderly couple struggling to load a large box in their SUV parked at the front of the store. And I mean old. 90+ Shaky hands. Teetering around with limited mobility. The kind I see with a med list 3 pages long... no way would his hips take the weight without snapping... and I've worked enough tonight.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 06
    I approach quickly and address the female half of the couple offering help. It was gladly accepted and I got their TV loaded with very little difficulty. It was more cumbersome than heavy. I'm chatting with the woman who is explaining it's a gift for their son and her husband hadn't wanted to wait for help. (I'd wondered why an employee wasn't helping.). That's when it happened.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 07
    I will be RN. She will be EB for entitled EB: hey. Hey! Startled, We stop our conversation and look over. It's a lady in her 50s dressed in a cheap looking beige pant suit with a get your manager hairstyle standing about 15 feet away with a hand on her overly broad hip.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 08
    EB: IF you are ABOUT done. I need help over here. She then points to her cart with two boxes of bookshelves.. some assembly required. I realize she thinks I work here.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 09
    RN: Oh Sorry. I don't work... EB: You are already making me late! Just get it done! ...and DON'T scratch my paint up. The elderly lady and I exchange looks of disbelief and I try again.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 10
    RN: I don't work he... EB: Just get it done! She then steps away from her cart to grab her purse grumbling about " idiots" and is digging for her keys when the cart rolls further away and one wheel goes off the curb. The entire uneven load causes the cart to topple over. I instinctively jump forward to try to prevent everything from falling...
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 11
    I was unsuccessful. EB, who has now turned to see her particle board bookshelves spilled out on the cement. Corners of the boxes crushed and one has torn open with a few pieces and packaging now exposed. EB completely loses her and becomes a raging thunderc*nt.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 12
    EB: What the ! You moron! Pick them up! God ... I'm going to have you fired! You owe me new bookshelves! And I'm late! At this point. I'm done.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 13
    RN: Pick them up yourself! I Don't Work Here! I then turn to go inside when I feel her grab my sleeve and try to yank me around. I my sleeve out of out of grip and turn to face her now violently red face. She opens her mouth to start screaming again but I put my finger in her face and say...
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 14
    RN: No! Don't touch me! Shut the up! I do not work here, and even if I did. I'd quit before I help you clean up your ! EB stands there speechless. Mouth opening and closing. Sputtering in shock that I've dared raise MY voice at HER.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 15
    That's when the manager and an employee come out. As EB sees the manager and finds her voice. EB: Are you the manager? This man damaged my bookshelves and is refusing to pay for them.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 16
    I just stare in shock. Seriously?! Having realized that a man in bright blue scrubs with a stethoscope and a big RN badge really doesn't work here. Instead of apologizing, she chooses to double down on the craziness and now accuses me of breaking her stuff.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 17
    Before I can voice my denial the elderly gentleman I'd helped earlier steps in and explains the situation to the manager. EB is still voicing complaints but the manager realizes the real situation and apologizes to me and the couple.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 18
    I'm still standing by watching angrily as the manager deals with EB and inspects the bookshelves. They are not damaged. He offers her two new boxes but EB is now done with the whole situation. She says no. She's already to late because of me. Just glares over at me and says to the manager
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 19
    EB: Just load them. I'm already late enough because of this! The manager and employee then lift the boxes up and get them wedged into the ladies car. As I shake my head and go to enter the store I'm stopped by the elderly lady I'd helped earlier.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 20
    Lady: Sir. Thank you so much for helping us with the TV. I'm so sorry some people are so She then reaches for my hand to shake. As she folds both her fragile hands around mine, I can feel something in her palm she's giving me. Lady whispering: Don't look yet. Wait till she leaves.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 21
    I slide the package into my scrub pocket and Lady walks away. EB then gets in her car and (without apologizing or thanking anyone) peels out and drives away. I finally enter the store to grab my food items and when I reach in my pocket I pull out a plastic bag with a bunch of screws and hardware.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 22
    I realize immediately that the sweet little old lady took advantage of the commotion to steal the hardware out of EB's ripped box. I couldn't believe it. I had the biggest grin on my face as I did my shopping. And I have a new petty revenge hero to idolize.
    via u/BookwyrmsRN
  • 23
    BlondeGoddess12 One of the all-time best IDWHL moments I have ever heard of! Kudos. Slow clap. ;)
    via u/BlondeGoddess12
  • 24
    Aggressica K.O.
    via u/Aggressica
  • 25
    DIRTBOMB56 That is legendary, that woman probably imploded when she got home that must've been amazing
    via u/DIRTBOMB56
  • 26
    kneelmortals I'm hope I'm half as cool as that old lady when I get to her age! Woo! Go Granny! I have the biggest stupid grin on my face right now.
    via u/kneelmortals
  • 27
    mythrowaawaay Old lady got moves!!
    via u/mythrowaawaay
  • 28
    ButtonJoe I was fully expecting a, "Then she gave me $100" ending. This was an order of magnitude better. I would mount those screws on a wall in my house like a trophy.
    via u/ButtonJoe
  • 29
    PirateNinjasReddit That was an unexpected twist. Street justice from a nongenarian.
    via u/PirateNinjasReddit

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karens old workplace-stories jobs job nurse work demanding old people karens in the wild workplace entitled karen story karen entitled people i don't work here lady
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