"If you're quiet, you're not living. You've got to be noisy and colorful and lively."
--Mel Brooks, American filmmaker
Life is too short to be boring, as more than a couple of my patients told me today. I ran onto the unit at the Hotel and I was surrounded by a couple of long-timers, who kept asking me to come back.
This continues to irritate the Slug, much to my great amusement. New Manager is really surprised, but also overwhelmed. It should be interesting to see what happens during his/her first year. I just hope we all make it! He/she has no idea what's going on.
Stay tuned. I plan on being noisy and colorful and lively on a regular basis...just because it irritates some people.
Showing posts with label irritations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label irritations. Show all posts
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Patient comments and assorted shenanigans
Ah, being in charge ain't all it's cracked up to be. Here's a few things I had to deal with recently during my time in charge.
Playground politics
Patient needs help, doesn't get it, so he makes a mess. Other patients give him trouble about it. Muttering and rolling around follow up and down the hall.
One nurse solves problem: give patient his own little trash can. No more stuff on floor, and no more complaints from other kiddies.
Common sense...it's amazing! Now if the rest of the staff will pay attention...
Signs of a patient who needs to go home
Patient decides to keep wheelchair, walker (which he can't use anymore) and other wheelchair in his room. Problem: he has two other roommates and we don't allow wheelchairs in rooms overnight due to safety hazards (mainly for staff). Patient throws fit when I try to take the last wheelchair out of room, and he barricades it in a corner so far that I would have to rearrange furniture to get it out, turning on all the lights and possibly calling security.
Decision: bounce ball back to nurse manager...make her decide. The night crew did not need anymore excitement, thankyouverymuch!
Yes, I miss you too
Patient X (who was recently admitted), "I thought you didn't work here anymore?"
Me: "No still work here, you just saw me on the SU, when you went to the clinic."
Patient X: "Oh, that's why you were there."
Me: "Yep. Any questions?"
Stay tuned...
Playground politics
Patient needs help, doesn't get it, so he makes a mess. Other patients give him trouble about it. Muttering and rolling around follow up and down the hall.
One nurse solves problem: give patient his own little trash can. No more stuff on floor, and no more complaints from other kiddies.
Common sense...it's amazing! Now if the rest of the staff will pay attention...
Signs of a patient who needs to go home
Patient decides to keep wheelchair, walker (which he can't use anymore) and other wheelchair in his room. Problem: he has two other roommates and we don't allow wheelchairs in rooms overnight due to safety hazards (mainly for staff). Patient throws fit when I try to take the last wheelchair out of room, and he barricades it in a corner so far that I would have to rearrange furniture to get it out, turning on all the lights and possibly calling security.
Decision: bounce ball back to nurse manager...make her decide. The night crew did not need anymore excitement, thankyouverymuch!
Yes, I miss you too
Patient X (who was recently admitted), "I thought you didn't work here anymore?"
Me: "No still work here, you just saw me on the SU, when you went to the clinic."
Patient X: "Oh, that's why you were there."
Me: "Yep. Any questions?"
Stay tuned...
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