The biggest issue I have to deal with in my RN role is that people play games with telephone calls. They won't answer the phone, they won't return calls, they won't talk to people on the phone, period. But they applied for state medical assistance. I tell them that unless they talk to me, there will be no state medical assistance forthcoming.  That's not my discretion, that's state regulation. This gets some people bent out of shape, and they give me a ration of crap, but these people always come around when I ask politely "Just to be clear, are you refusing to talk with me, yes or no?" It's interesting how the people who just a moment ago were giving me a ration of crap suddenly re-orient themselves, become quite contrite, and then say "Well, no, I'm not refusing, I'm sorry if you got that impression..."

The worst interactions I've had with the public in EMS or fire response are are drug users (who are often upset when someone else calls 911 and harshes their mellow) and women who call 911 and then get worked up when a bunch of large men come through their front door.

I've reached a point where, after a call, I finish the paperwork and report(s), get everything documented, and then I try to forget the encounter. This leads to one downside, which is people will come up to me on the street and thank me for actions during a call or healthcare encounter. I have to act as if I know who they are and what they're talking about, because I've taken pains to forget encounters with the public.