Cops and nurses

Yes, cops and nurses have a lot in common.

Sometimes we're dealing with sundowning patients who are perfectly content at the beginning of the shift is fun, but don't forget, they add a extra level of excitement just before shift change.

One of our security guys was on rounds and asking if one of our people had "called anyone" today. Nope, I tell Officer T., Mr. X. is good. He just calls his wife, she understands he's demented and plays some music he likes over the phone. Officer T. leaves.

Mr. C., who was being good all night, got perturbed when his son left without getting his ice cream. He called him and he told him he'd be back tomorrow. Hence the agitated cascade begins....and ends with a call to 911 on his cell phone. Unlike the hospital phones where our 911 routes everyone to security, his cell phone sent him to the nearest 911 call center for CouldaWouldaShoulda County.

CWS county does not appreciate 911 calls from demented rehab patients. Officer T. and partner come over to visit Mr. C. and talk to him. Mr. C., agitated, refused to talk to me, but told the officers the same story. He refused to surrender his phone however. I eventually left and passed on the task of getting the phone to Z., the following charge nurse, called  the on-call doc, then notified our house super.

Now if only I'd stopped to get a donut (or a drink) after everything. Maybe next time.
Stay tuned.