3 am fixer uppers

This topic was suggested by a friend!

Don't you just hate it when you have your last assessment charted, vital signs complete and morning meds ready to be given so u can just give report and leave and then bam u have an admission coming because decided they been having chest pain for 2 weeks and at 3 am it's time to go to the ER!

Maybe they never heard of going to the doctor's office or stopping by the clinic to get checked out! Maybe they stopped by after leaving the club and said "hey now is a good time to check on that chest pain!" I just don't get it. The ER is for "emergencies" not a convenient 24 hour doctor visit! Utilize your physician and clinics for the non-emergent treatments and stop wasting the ER resources for your convenience. And you wonder why the average wait time is 5 hours lol.

This is Foxxy and that's just the way I see it!

Are you done yet?

As nurses we have to understand that everyone's job is important. It really bothers me when we interrupt or delay someone else's job. If your patient needs to go for an xray, dopplar study or any other procedure,you don't need to do a complete assessment, vital signs and give your medications before they leave. This holds up the person transporting the patient and also delays their diagnostic testing or procedure. If the nurse's aide or patient care assistant is in the middle of giving your patient a bath, don't interrupt to take your vitals or give their meds. You can wait till they are done but if you are in that big of a hurry, help do the bath to speed up the process!

We have nurses who think their duties are more important than the next persons. In some aspect this is true but you also have to realize if it isn't an emergency it can wait.

This is Foxxy and that's just the way I see it! If you agree or disagree let me know how you see it!

Do Not Resuscitate

I know death is never easy especially for immediate family but I believe it is necessary to respect the patient's wishes. Recently we had a patient who was dying of lung cancer and decided he wanted to be a DNR because he was tired of the battle. On the last day of his battle the wife was very upset and wanted the doctor to undo the DNR but was unsuccessful because the doctor told her she had to respect his wishes. Later that night he died and the son went bezerk. He fought with his sister and demanded we do an autopsy because he believed the respiratory therapist killed him(nevermind the fact he was actively dying of end stage cancer). He was told the autopsy would cost $2500 and he said he would pay it. Then he decided he wanted the crime lab to do the autopsy so the funeral home decided they didn't want anything to do with the family. The body was taken to the morgue and the family was left with the responsibility of getting the body transported out by the next morning. Needless to say the family left three hours later but I am sure the drama continued.

My guess is this was his way of coping with his dad's death. People react different ways and usually need someone to blame! I can't imagine what would have happened if the patient had not made his wishes clear up front. I believe it is better to be prepared especially if you are terminally ill. It relieves the family of painful decisions and can also but not always avoid drama.

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!

Drill Seargent

Attention!!!!! I have been given the title of drill seargent on my unit. We receive post op heart surgery patients and early ambulation is a key factor in recovering. I am the nurse who doesn't take no for an answer! I don't ask you if you are ready to walk, I tell you it's time to walk. I don't allow patients to lie in bed all day, they must sit in the chair most of the day.I battle with patients and their enabling families about this and I am always the winner. It is my goal to get you back home and not have you endure a lengthy stay. So yes I will take the name drill seargent any day. At ease soldier!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!

Winding Down

For those of you who don't know, nursing is a veryyyyyyyyyyyyy stressful job. We deal with alot of things on a daily basis. Our jobs don't just consist of giving out medications and wiping butts. We deal with sick patients (some of which are very unpleasant and angry because they are ill), their family (some of whom are very demanding and think they know more than the doctors and nurses), doctors (some who think nurses are just stupid even though we are the ones who do all the work), management ( most think this is the way it should be done and there is no other way even though they wouldnt be able to do it themselves), other departments (some think their job is of utmost importance and yours isnt), student nurses (Help them for they do not know what they are getting into lol), family issues (those who want u to play security and give a list of those who are not suppose to visit.......guess they dont know we arent door guardians) and also coworkers (some of whom think they know any and everything. So occasionally we get off work and go grab a drink to wind down.

Last night we visit Cezuela's which is a mexican restaurant. Margaritas were 2 for 1 and so we all had our 2 and got a nice meal, vented about our jobs, talked about our families and just enjoyed ourselves. You need to unwind every now and then with people who understand your job and how it affects your family life as well. I must say I truly enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next "Margarita night".

What do you do to wind down after a long day of work? Have any venting you would like to do about your job? All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

Too Hot to Handle!

With the temperatures being as hot as they are, we need to take some precautions. Heatsroke (aka sunstroke) is a very serious heat-related problem. With people doing their gardening, mowing the lawns, cleaning out gutters and such you need to make sure you have adequate fluid intake. If your body temperature is rising and there is not proper measures taken to cool your body down dehydration and more serious things like organ failure can occur. Organ failure means your heart, brain, liver or kidneys cannot work properly due to lack of oxygen.

Signs and Symptoms include:
Headache
Confusion
Passing out
Nausea
Seizures
Flushed skin, sweaty,cold clammy skin
Temp of 104
Irregular,fast heart rate and low blood pressure

If you notice any of these symptoms while out in the heat, you need to seek treatment ASAP. You can apply ice packs to the neck,armpits and groin area. You cna drench yourself with cold water. DO NOT GIVE MEDICATIONS FOR FEVER!!!!

Remember if your kids are playing outside, make sure they come in frequently for water or popsicles or place a water cooler outside for convenience.

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!

Morning Routine

How do you start your mornings off? Do you have the same routine every morning? The beginning of my day varies. On a great I get up at 5 am and get on the treadmill for 45 min, shower and am ready to leave for work at 6am no later than 6:15. If I need uplifting I tune in to some gospel music otherwise I laugh with Tom Joyner and his crew. I need to be in a good mood so I can be pleasant to my patients! A happy nurse usually generates happy patients although some people are determined to just be grumpy. Sometimes a smiling face is enough to brighten their day.

Have a routine you would like to share? What motivates you in the mornings? All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Brain Attack

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability.
Up to 80% of strokes are preventable.

A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

Stroke Symptoms include:
SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.

Anyone can have a stroke. But your chances for having a stroke increase if you meet certain criteria. Some of these criteria, called risk factors, are beyond your control -- such as being over age 55, being male, being African American, Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander, or having a family history of stroke. Other factors which are controllable include: smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, alcohol, alcohol use and diabetes.

Knowing your risk factors and taking responsibility for those you can control is important. I know I have a genetic risk factor because my father died of a stroke in his sleep at the age of 46. He was a smoker and had high blood pressure which he was noncompliant with taking his medications. Probably because it messed with his libido like a lot of men do but guess what you cant use it if you become paralyzed from a stroke!

For more information on strokes visit the National Stroke Association

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!

Crack is Whack!!!

I have never understood what would make a person sacrifice everything they have for drugs. We recently had a 39 yr old female who admitted to being a crack user. She had 3 children, 2 boyfriends and a girlfriend. Out of curiosity the nurse asked her what made her want to do crack and this was her response. She stated she was dating this girl and one day the girlfriend was at her apartment and went to the bathroom. She apparently was in there for a while and she knocked on the door and asked what she was doing. When the girlfriend opened the door she noticed the smell and asked what she was doing. She decided she would try crack out and said the feeling she got was like no other feeling she ever had. It was undescribable. Needless to say she kept trying to get the feeling again and has been unsuccessful but is very much addicted. She looks more like 69 than 39, she is probably 90 lbs soak and wet, has no teeth and looks a mess. If the outside of her body looks this bad I can't imagine what the inside looks like. More and more young adults are becoming addicted to drugs. Whether it be crack, marijuana, cocaine, ectasy,popping pills or others. It is important we talk to our kids and let them know it is cooler to be drug free! Make them feel comfortable talking to you about ANYTHING especially drugs and sex. Remember they respect you more than they show it. Your approval and acceptance means alot to them. No matter what, let them know you are there for them and show it as well. Let's keep our kids drug free!!!!!!!!!!
Know of any similar situations you care to share? Have your own story you would like to tell? All comments are greatly appreciated

It's in the Jeans

I get reminded quite often about the "fat gene" at family gatherings. My family loves to eat and it shows. I have made a conscious decision not to let the fat gene sneak upon me and my jeans! Yes it will take dedication along with exercise, healthy eating and lots of will power because I love food as well. Up until now I didn't have to worry about it but as we know, when you get older your metabolism slows down. I am reaching 40 in another year so I need to start planning right now. I have tried the 50 million pound challenge and I did complete 30 days but there is just so much brown rice and veggies I can take. I am going to try the frequent small healthy meals to increase your metabolism method. I also plan to get back to getting on the treadmill before work and taking a jog or walk around my subdivision in the evenings. No matter what remedy I can find, I am determined to keep my jeans looking good!

Have any good diet or exercise plans? I would love to hear them. What do you do to keep in shape? All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!

The Throne

Most people don't realize the effects pain medication has on your digestive system. The most common side effect from taking pain medications is constipation. When you are in pain you tend to not move around a lot which decreases your activity level. Well if you want to get back to your visits on the "throne' you need to increase your activity. Taking in some fiber wont hurt either. It is the biggest complaint of patients taking these medications. Get up, walk around, drink some prune juice (yuck) and if need be take a laxative. I try and give my patients a nice cocktail of warm prune juice and milk of magnesia. It works wonders. Besides you don't want us to unstop you with a plunger do ya? Hahahaha

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!

Say it isn't so!!!!!!!!

I was playing an online game (Black Hawk Down) and somehow we got on the subject of seafood when someone blurted out shrimp was high in cholesterol. Now I am a seafood fanatic and I eat alot of salmon because it is suppose to be good for you and I also love shrimp and pretty much all the shellfish. So this is very dramatizing to me. I will admit I don't really pay attention to how many calories, fat or cholesterol is in the foods I eat. So I decided I would investigate because my seafood just cant be bad for me. Well to my disappointment, I found it to be true. The highest of high cholesterol foods are eggs and liver. Some other foods that are high in cholesterol include:

Whole-milk dairy products
Butter
Cream
Ice cream
Cream cheese
Certain shellfish, such as shrimp
Other organ meats, such as kidney and brain
Duck and goose (which have more cholesterol than chicken or turkey; the skin on these animals is high in cholesterol).

Why be concerned with high cholesterol? Well it causes a condition known as atherosclerosis, which is narrowing and hardening of arteries. This is caused when your body cant rid itself of the cholesterol in your bloodstream and it begins to build up on your artery walls, along with other fats and debris. This buildup of cholesterol is called plaque. Over time, plaque can cause narrowing of the arteries. This plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can cause angina (chest pain), coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythm), TIA's (Transient ischemic attacks "mini stroke"), heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease and high blood pressure.

So now I must try and limit my intake of shellfish. It is going to be hard because I crave it at least once a week but where there is a will, there is a way!!!!!!!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

My New Abbreviation

I have developed a new medical abbreviation recently. It is PPN (Piss Poor Nursing). This abbreviation is acceptable and describes quite a few nurses. I am thankful not to fall in this category. The acceptable candidates for this category include but are not limited to the following:

1.They were too busy to do the dressing changes
2.They didn't have enough time to restart the IV the patient just happened to pull out at the last minute (even though the patient or family will tell you its been out all day)
3.They haven't given any medications all day including the much needed antibiotics
4.Your patient tells you he hasn't seen his nurse but once today
5.You have orders on your chart which have not been carried out yet (probably written much earlier in the day)
6.Your IV fluids are bone dry!
7. You have to give blood which should have been started hours earlier!
The list goes on and on!

Now for those of you who aren't in the nursing field and are reading this, fortunately there aren't alot of these nursing out there but they do exist. Most of us work hard to make sure we do our jobs but it is these kind of nurses that cause the "I have to write down everything they do and give" attitudes from family members.

Have any similar stories or labels you have for your field of work you would like to share? All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!

The Unlicensed Registered Nurse

There are a lot of knowledgeable Patient Care Assistants out there and I thank them for their assistance in the care of our patients. However, there are some who need to inform me where they acquired their nursing license from! They have the odacity to tell the nurse what treatment the patient needs. Last time I checked they weren't passing out any nursing licenses on the street even though I am quite suspect of a few nurses lol but that is a whole nother subject.

I think the PCA's forget their job titles and job description sometimes. You work directly under the nurse. The nurse is in charge of you! Not the other way around. Yes we rely on you to do your job but we are also capable of doing your jobs! Can you do mine? The answer is no!!!! Now don't think I am by any means belittling your job because I am not. I started my career as a PCA and took the initiative to advance myself.

Just remember your job title and what in entails. We worked hard for our license and were taught the necessary skills and knowledge to acquire them. So needless to say we can get a little teed off when told what we should be doing by someone without the knowledge or the skills to know what is needed!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

End of "stiff" report

Now let me first say for those of you who aren't in the medical field, we give a shift report to the nurse coming on before we leave to let them know about their patients. Also I want to warn you we find humor in things you might see as horrible!

So here goes. A nurse is giving report and is interrupted by the clerk and informed one of her patient's heart rate has dropped on the 30's. She acknowledges her and proceeds to finish report so the oncoming nurse decides to go in and check on her. When she arrives the patient is asystole( pulseless). She is a DNR (do not resuscitate) so she let's the leaving nurse know. The leaving nurse proceeds to finish report because she says she needs to hurry up and go home. Next she gives report on the "stiff" patient as if she were still alive and then leaves to go home. When I heard this story today I laughed because I know the nurse and it sounds like her. Now if I were present, she would not have given a report or left before taking care of the deceased patient. Which means calling the family, notifying the supervisor and physician and completing the necessary paperwork. Instead the oncoming nurse was left with these tasks. Have you ever experienced a similar event or situation? What horror story would you like to share? All comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Rooted in Love

My discussion today is not medical but it is healthy. Today we buried my uncle. My families slogan is "Rooted in Love" and we are just that. Today we celebrated the life of a beloved member of our family. We remembered him, we treasure him, we cherish the moments we spent with him but most of all we honor God's wisdom to end his suffering on this earth! As a family we grieved for him, as a family we shall be there to comfort each other, as a family we are ROOTED IN LOVE!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Knowing Your Medications

I can't tell you how many times I get patients who don't know their medications by name. We ask what medicines are you taking and they reply with " I take a small pink pill, a red one, green one and two white pills. One is a water pill and I know I take a blood pressure pill". Well guess what? You didn't tell me jack! If you don't know what medications you are taking I suggest you make a list and carry it with you. Knowing your meds is very important. You don't want to get something that doesn't interact well with what you are currently taking! You will be very thankful you made a list and your nurse will thank you too!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Heart Disease and You

As many of you know, I am a cardiac nurse so heart disease is one of my favorite subjects. Heart disease is the single most preventable cause of death. Lifestyle factors play a key role in heart disease. Things like smoking, failing to get regular exercise, and eating a non-healthy diet can significantly increase your risk of heart disease. Some of us are plagued by our genes so it is very important that we take these measures to help reduce our chances of heart disease. What many women dont know is that menopause increases your risk of heart disease. Our symptoms are also different than the classical signs of a heart attack which include: chest pain or pressure, pain down the left arm, jaw pain and shortness of breath. Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain. And as women, we usually are too busy taking care of everyone else and not ourselves so it is important we listen to our bodies and seek medical attention.

We must take those preventative measures to have a healthier heart. Eating properly, getting rid of unhealthy habits (smoking), exercising (30 min of cardio exercise daily is good) and managing other disease processes that increase the risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Remember only you can make the change and there is no better time than the present!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!

Next of Kin

Have you ever thought to yourself if something were to happen to you the right person would be notified? When I worked on a floor that had an acute stroke unit, we had a patient who had gone jogging and collapsed. He had a stroke and was unable to communicate. No one knew who he was and they had to post his pictures on the news to try and identify him. Eventually his identity became known and family was notified.

I think it is a good idea to keep emergency contact numbers in your wallet behind your ID. I also think when you are out for a jog or stroll we have something with us to identify us and whom to notify in case of emergency. I can't imagine being hospitalized and not being able to say who I am or not have my loved ones there for me. It is something to think about don't you think?

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Hospice

When I worked for Hospice, death was a common thing. I was the one who came out in the middle of the night to pronounce someone's loved one as deceased. I comforted them, made phone calls if needed and contacted the funeral home to pick up the body to relieve this stress from the family. Hospice is a god send. For those of you who are reading this, if you have been following my blog you probably read my post about my uncle dying from prostate cancer. Last night he left this earth to go home to Jesus. Knowing this was going to happen and even being quite acquainted to death, it is still heart breaking. The Hospice nurse was there doing the things I once did because none of us would have been able to. The good thing about Hospice is, their services dont stop when the patient dies. They continue to support the family. They are here to serve not only the patient but also the caregiver. Hats off to all the Hospice organizations around the world. My family thanks you for helping us through this transition.

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. It was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war) and was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. Most people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials.

I do not want to take away from those that gave their lives for our country but I often wonder what it was like for the medical staff. I can't imagine being a nurse during a time of war and seeing all the tragedies they must have encountered. Just thinking about it is enough to make me shiver. I wonder how their psychological status was affected. How they were able to deal with it on a daily basis. Seeing and hearing all the pain of those wounded men and women. Not only do I salute those brave soldiers, I also salute those brave men and women who medically treated them.

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Grandma's Pill Box

Do you know what's in Grandma's pill box? Better yet does grandma know what's in her pill box? Our older adults are living longer and independently but is it always safe? Not too long ago, my 92 year old grandmother was admitted to the hospital for dehydration. She doesn't live alone but she is very independent! I stayed overnight with her on her last night at the hospital and this is when I realized something about her medications. Apparently my relatives set up her pill box and she in turn pours them back in the bottle and takes them how she pleases. This is the problem that resulted in her hospitalization. She got dehydrated from taking too much Lasix (water pill). My resolution was to have them set up her pills in the pill box and then take the pill bottles with them. This way she wouldn't be able to pour them back in. She probably has no clue which pill is which.

Older adults have a slower metabolism, therefore pills stay in their bloodstream longer than normal. If this had been another medication like Digoxin which slows the heart rate or even a blood thinner it could have been more serious .If you have an older loved one and they are taking their own medications, it is advisable that someone knows what they should be taking and set up a pill box for them. Who knows, it could be a life saving task!

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Why Get Hospitalized?

It never ceases to amaze me how some people come to the hospital and then refuse all treatment! The purpose of coming to the hospital is to get treated for whatever is ailing you. Yet we have people who get admitted and then decide there is nothing we can do for them. They refuse medications, lab work and procedures needed to help with their course of treatment. Yes, you have the right to refuse all these things but why bother to come? It is a waste of everyone's time and energy in my opinion. The bed you occupy is a bed that someone who wants to be treated can have. The interesting part is they dont refuse food, the use of the TV or telephone and usually call for snacks constantly. Gets me wondering sometimes, if maybe they didn't pay their bills and have no food or electricity at home! What do you think?

All comments are greatly appreciated!!!!

Autism

Autism is still something most people don't talk about and yet it affects 1 in 150 individuals. It is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes or AIDS. Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Autism spectrum disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Most times, pediatricians dismiss the parent's concern and say their child will catch up. Follow your instinct and push for further evaluation.


The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development lists Applied Behavior Analysis among the recommended treatment methods for autism spectrum disorders. Some of the most common interventions are Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Floortime Therapy, Gluten Free, Casein Free Diet (GFCF). Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, PECS, SCERTS, Sensory Integration Therapy, Relationship Development Intervention, Verbal Behavior Intervention, and the school-based TEAACH method.

Most recently on May 7, 2009, President Obama included in his Fiscal Year 2010 budget $211 million dollars for Autism!

A friend whose 5 year old son has Autism is doing a fundraiser walk for June 13. If you would like to donate, click the link provided. You can find a walk in your area. http://www.walknowforautism.org/faf/donorR...supId=254705382


I have included another link to get involved on the government level. Let's speak for those who can't and give them the support they need. Who knows, it could one day affect you! http://www.autismspeaks.org/government_affairs/agenda.php



All comments are greatly appreciated.

A Dumb Thief

Today the EKG tech was looking for his EKG machine because it was missing. During his journey through the hospital looking for it, he called security and they had the machine. Apparently someone stole it thinking it was a laptop. Sold this $14,000 machine for $7. The buyer saw the hospital's name on it and brought it to the security office. Now for those of you who don't know what the EKG machine looks like I am posting a picture. I cried laughing thinking how stupid can one be to think this was a laptop. Woo I am cracking up as I type this!

Your comments and thoughts are greatly appreciated!

A Bad Seed

Typically men don't like going to the doctor. This is especially true when rectal exams are concerned! Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of deaths from cancer among US men. It is generally suspected when a hard nodule is felt during a routine rectal exam or an abnormal PSA(prostate specific antigen). These exams are recommended for men 40 and older. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, burning with urination or blood in urine. Early detection is the key. It can prevent metastasis (spreading of the cancer) to other organs.

This is something you men need to think about. It won't only affect you but also your loved ones! I have twin uncles who both were diagnosed with prostate cancer within a year of each other. One is doing fine whereas the other has metastasis and has begun the dying process.

There are many treatments and research is underway to identify the genes that cause prostate cancer.

Your comments and thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Childhood obesity

Recent studies show 16 to 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Mostly due to eating habits and lack of exercise. These days a lot of kids spend their time watching TV or playing video games. When I was growing up we played outside mostly. We played baseball,kick ball, volleyball, basketball, dodgeball and football. We had games like junp rope, hop scotch, hide and seek, hula hoop and many other games that kept us active. There was no eating fast food all the time. Parents cooked!

So what has changed all that? We need to teach our kids how to eat healthy but we must lead by example. We also need to encourage them to be active. Obesity leads to diabetes and heart disease. So let's keep our kids healthy and in the process we can keep ourselves healthy.

Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated!

My reward!

People always ask if I like being a nurse and I always say yes. Well that isn't completely true. I don't like being a nurse I love it!!!

I love being able to provide the care needed to help someone heal and get back home. I have seen patients who came in and thought to myself that poor family is going to lose their loved one only to see them do remarkably well and go home healthy!

I have also experienced the sadness and pain of watching someone die. I can recall one patient whose family and himself grew on me. He had heart surgery and told me he was going to die. Me being the type of nurse I am told him not on my watch you aren't! To make a long story short, he never got well. I always greeted him saying, "your favorite nurse is back" and he always gave me a smile. I got a smile on this day but he didn't look good. He was going to go to hospice the next day. His son-in-law sent his wife downstairs for a break and shortly after he came to the desk and said he thought he was about to die. I stayed with the patient and waited for them to return. His wife came in and told him it was time to go home and she would be ok and hugged him, then planted a kiss on his lips. He smiled and took his last breath! She immediately gave me a hug and cried. She thanked me for taking great care of her husband and told me he really liked me. She stated that I was the only nurse he ever told I was part of his family. It took all I had to keep from crying in her presence. Her family's gratitude and being able to touch a part of their lives was my reward. It is days like this that inspire me to give 100% of myself towards my patient care. There is no better reward I can ask for!

All comments are greatly appreciated. I'd love to hear your stories.

No Info

Unless you have been hiding under a rock you have heard of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Under this act, it protects the patients privacy and security of their health information. Every health care organization has patients signing they have received a copy of the privacy act. So why is it families get upset when you can't give them information especially over the phone? Would you not expect the same if you were the patient? What you don't see in that privacy act are the consequences of such a violation. This includes fines ranging from $100 to $250,000 along with imprisonment up to 10 years!

Now I don't know about anyone else but I don't look good in an orange jump suit and I sure don't have money to "give" away!

All comments are greatly appreciated!

Can i offer you some Xanax?

I love it when patients have family members who are active in their care especially when its an older patient, however sometimes they can be a bit overbearing! They might think they are being helpful to the patient or the nurse and sometimes they are. Here is when I feel the need to offer them some Xanax:

The family calls the nurse at least once an hour because the patient needs something and when the nurse responds the patient doesn't want anything!

The family constantly insists the patient needs pain medicine despite what the patient says until finally the patient gives in and decides they need pain medicine!

The family insists the patient needs something to calm them down and when you arrive the patient is fine but the family member is a wreck!

The family wants you to give sleeping medicine to a patient who is already sleep!

Restraints are requested because the patient won't keep still!

Now don't get me wrong, all families don't act this way but there are plenty that do and on these days I go home to a nice cocktail!

Feeding the habit

A patient with known substance abuse is admitted to the hospital with an infection and of course says they are having some pain. The patient requests Dilaudid for pain and Morphine is prescribed upon admission. Days later the admitting physician writes an order for Dilaudid every 2 hours for pain as requested by the substance abuse patient. Why does this happen? We already know the patient is a drug seeker and we give them what they desire. I don't have any problems with treating her "pain" but why give exactly what she wants? I have struggled with this question for many years and maybe someone can enlighten me on why this is. Is it to keep the patient from bugging the doctor?