5:50-8:45
4:45 a.m. The
alarm is vibrating my phone off the night stand. Tired from the previous day, since I worked a
16 hour shift, I do what many other nurses do, I get up and go to work
anyway. Arriving at work, it's 5:50
a.m., and I am told that my patient in room 202 is not being cooperative. Then,
the screaming started from my less than happy patient. I faced the music or the patient in this
case. He informed me he was not being
treated well, and he needed pain medications.
I agreed to check his chart regarding medication times, and he referred
to me in no so nice terms and told me not to come back without pain medication. I left his room and was immediately called to
room 216. An elderly woman, that was
very kind and followed her doctor's instructions exactly, had a bowel movement
after 5 days of no activity. The problem
was, she did not make it to the restroom.
Because of the patient’s lack of mobility, I stayed and helped the
nursing assistants to clean her up.
Leaving room 216 I received an urgent call to room 220. A patient that was admitted on my previous
shift was not doing very well, and after a quick assessment and call to her
physician, it was decided she would be moved to ICU. As I was explaining to the patient, she took
my hand and asks, “Am I going to die?” I
took a deep breath, and reminded myself that while I was on a normal hectic
course, the patient in this bed was frightened, and needed some comfort. I stopped everything to talk with the
patient, and explain the process of her moving to ICU. 15 minutes later I left the patient's room as
she was moved to ICU.
Then, I was on
to room 225, where I met a new patient that required an intake assessment. 25 minutes later I was summoned back to room
202, and to my very unhappy patient. He
had thrown a tray of food on the floor, and as I stepped in the door, I slid on
an assortment of eggs and applesauce. No
big deal, I picked myself up off the floor, went and changed scrubs and
returned to his room to hear how he was being ignored. I stayed with the patient, checked vitals,
etc. I was then called to the nurses’
station for a call from this patient's insurance company. After being told he had to be released that
day, I went back to his room to inform him.
8:45-12:00
At 9:00 I finally
got a chance to put my things from home away, including my lunch. Between 9:00 and 12:00, I accomplished the
following:
- Accompanied 3 physicians on their rounds
- Provided release instructions to one very unhappy patient, who took the paperwork I provided him, shredded it and threw it on the floor.
- Inserted a catheter into a very obese patient, who was quite embarrassed when she passed an enormous amount of gas literally right in my face.
- After assuring the patient with a severe case of the vapors, that as a nurse, I'd seen it all, heard it all, and she should not be embarrassed, I was informed by her, that a family member had surprised her the previous night by bringing in a huge platter of Mexican food, which included refried beans. After explaining to her that she was to be on a bland diet for her gall bladder, I left her room only to meet her family in the hall, carrying a bucket of fried chicken to her room. At this time, a little education and redirection was in order, which took another 20 minutes.
- I then inserted an IV into a patient whose veins had literally collapsed, so a call to his doctor was in order.
- Two more sets of release instructions were delivered and explained, medications were administered, and one patient required CPR prior to being transferred to ICU.
- One of my patient's with a very congenial personality offered me a sip of the vodka he had in his bag, so I spent some time with this patient in liver failure, explaining how imperative it was that he follow doctor's orders, and hospital rules. As I finished up recording on his chart, the overpowering odor of his freshly lit cigarette took me by surprise, sort of. Again, another reminder regarding hospital rules, and his physician's orders.
- More medication rounds, several IV’s, and 2 successful tube removals, it was finally lunch time.
12:45-3:00
I admitted
another 3 patient's to my area, one of whom insisted they had Ebola, even
though the tests confirmed it negative, and they had not been out of the
country, or had exposure. The patient
eventually accepted the diagnosis of an intestinal virus, only to then decide
they actually had bird flu, which the physician assured them they did not
have. The patient refused to eat the
lunch she received due to the fact it contained chicken, and she felt it was
not right to eat the chicken when she was certain of her own diagnosis of bird
flu. I special ordered her a grilled
cheese sandwich and ran on to the next patient.
Releasing a patient and providing instructions to them and their family
took a few minutes, followed by my patient that was in severe pain, and sent
down for emergency stomach surgery, I called and explained what was happening
to her very concerned husband. I then
answered 2 called from insurers and 1 call from a physician before my 2:45
break time.
3:00-6:00
I was lucky
enough to have a 99 year old patient that still had a great sense of humor, and
entertained myself and several nursing assistants and other hospital
staff. I provided admission assessments
for 2 more patients, did afternoon med rounds, and had 2 emergencies that
involved transferring the patient's to other units.
As
my shift came to a close, I went to say goodbye to my 99 year old patient that
had assumed the role of comedian, only to find him not doing well. After following protocol, and verifying DNR
orders, my patient passed away, but not before reminding me he had no regrets
in life, and was ready to “move on” as he put it.
At 6:30 p.m. I
got in my car, and took a deep breath, and remembered what my patient that
passed away had said earlier in the day, “one of the benefits of being 99 is
you can pinch a woman on the bottom, and she will laugh it off--hey, I'm an old
man.” A tear followed by a smile, I
drove out of the parking lot, being thankful for my job, and the ability to be
a nurse.
Related: List
of nursing organizations
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