*some language. At no time am I bashing the patient.Just stating the facts*
So, I had a crappy day. Actually 2 crappy days. I could seriously write a frickin novel about the last 2 days, but I will save all of your sanities (is that a word? lol) and give you the bullet points:
*I had a patient that was been in the hospital since 1/7/09 (it is now 3/02/09), so needless to say, shes freakin sick.
*she has a family member in the room 24 hours a day, which isnt so bad except that they also refuse to help care for the patient, so if she needs a pillow or
a blanket moved, the call bell is rung. Shes needs the chapstick that your holding your hand. Oh you cant put it on b/c youre not a nurse? Do you realise
that its CHAPSTICK..they sell it to the general public? No? Of COURSE, id be happy to come in here and put chapstick on your wife/mom/aunt while you stand
and watch me..I have NOTHING better to do.
*this patient cannot talk, has a tracheostomy in her throat, a bed sore on her ass and is uncomfortable ALLLL OF THE TIME (not her fault, i know..it just didnt make my day easier). the family was convinced when she wiggled her foot, it meant she poo'ed herself (and she poo'ed almost everytime she was moved). Mind you, her foot is one of the ony parts of her body that she COULD move, so it really couldve meant anything.
*No, I cant give her percocets because shes wiggling her foot. Yes, I realize shes probably uncomforable, but I can not overdose her b/c you tell me too.
*You think she shit herself again? Why? Oh, b/c shes wiggling her foot again? Her foot apparently has a lanugauge that you can understand and I can not.
*This patient has orders to sit in a chair for as long as possible every day. Guess how sitting on a bed sore feels? IT FUCKIN HURTS!! It also makes it
impossible to clean her as often as needed. We realize that, but its a necessary evil. Please dont tell me its been 13 minutes since she was last checked.
She lucky that shes getting checked on every half hour (which is only because I was there as a student, the nursing staff doesnt have time to make checks
that often, nor are they mandated to.)
*Yes, I just cleaned her about 20 minutes ago. Her foot is wiggling again? Oh, well, guess what? I CAN NOT lift her by myself. Telling me I "Shoudve eaten my
wheaties" doesnt change the fact that I CAN NOT LIFT HER BY MYSELF. It took four of us last time, & dont sound offended when I tell you this as if you dont
know that your wife/mom/aunt weighs over 300 pounds.
My heart felt for this woman. Her eyes spoke a 1000 words, and it looked like she just wanted to be left alone. When asked yes or no questions about her family, she told us her husband made her uncomfortable, and she didnt want the tracheostomy, she wanted to die. She will probably never recover. I think if the family WASNT there, she wouldve gotten better, more attentive care, since most people tried avoiding that room so that they wouldnt be met with the glares of the family who didnt want to help.
So, I had a crappy day. Actually 2 crappy days. I could seriously write a frickin novel about the last 2 days, but I will save all of your sanities (is that a word? lol) and give you the bullet points:
*I had a patient that was been in the hospital since 1/7/09 (it is now 3/02/09), so needless to say, shes freakin sick.
*she has a family member in the room 24 hours a day, which isnt so bad except that they also refuse to help care for the patient, so if she needs a pillow or
a blanket moved, the call bell is rung. Shes needs the chapstick that your holding your hand. Oh you cant put it on b/c youre not a nurse? Do you realise
that its CHAPSTICK..they sell it to the general public? No? Of COURSE, id be happy to come in here and put chapstick on your wife/mom/aunt while you stand
and watch me..I have NOTHING better to do.
*this patient cannot talk, has a tracheostomy in her throat, a bed sore on her ass and is uncomfortable ALLLL OF THE TIME (not her fault, i know..it just didnt make my day easier). the family was convinced when she wiggled her foot, it meant she poo'ed herself (and she poo'ed almost everytime she was moved). Mind you, her foot is one of the ony parts of her body that she COULD move, so it really couldve meant anything.
*No, I cant give her percocets because shes wiggling her foot. Yes, I realize shes probably uncomforable, but I can not overdose her b/c you tell me too.
*You think she shit herself again? Why? Oh, b/c shes wiggling her foot again? Her foot apparently has a lanugauge that you can understand and I can not.
*This patient has orders to sit in a chair for as long as possible every day. Guess how sitting on a bed sore feels? IT FUCKIN HURTS!! It also makes it
impossible to clean her as often as needed. We realize that, but its a necessary evil. Please dont tell me its been 13 minutes since she was last checked.
She lucky that shes getting checked on every half hour (which is only because I was there as a student, the nursing staff doesnt have time to make checks
that often, nor are they mandated to.)
*Yes, I just cleaned her about 20 minutes ago. Her foot is wiggling again? Oh, well, guess what? I CAN NOT lift her by myself. Telling me I "Shoudve eaten my
wheaties" doesnt change the fact that I CAN NOT LIFT HER BY MYSELF. It took four of us last time, & dont sound offended when I tell you this as if you dont
know that your wife/mom/aunt weighs over 300 pounds.
My heart felt for this woman. Her eyes spoke a 1000 words, and it looked like she just wanted to be left alone. When asked yes or no questions about her family, she told us her husband made her uncomfortable, and she didnt want the tracheostomy, she wanted to die. She will probably never recover. I think if the family WASNT there, she wouldve gotten better, more attentive care, since most people tried avoiding that room so that they wouldnt be met with the glares of the family who didnt want to help.
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