Dont you just love them

[teeituptom]

Really been hit heavier than normal lately with drug and drunk patients. And so many of them say "you have to feel sorry for me, I am sick". Yes I have to take care of you, and I have to do it nicely. I have no problem with this. But I dont feel sorry for them. The last one who told me I had to feel sorry for him, was on Meth and Cocaine. My response was that no I dont have to feel sorry for you.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Even when genuine tragedy hits, we still have choices, MM.

I will never figure out why it is so much more culturally acceptable for a man to pick up a drink than it is for him to get into counseling.

Dont look at me

I dont drink

Interferes with my GOLF game. now thats serious

[andhow5, BSN, RN]

... and the only thing we "HAVE" to do is to make sure there is no immediate life-threatening illness or injury.

*Edit to add: (and then I'll take care of them or disposition them per protocol.)

[Victoriakem]

My family member is a drug & ETOH addict. Our family has invested so much time, travel ( he lives in the caribbean after being deported due to this drug problem), money, and personal sacrifices on rehab medicine, alternative medicine, therapy etc. We have tried all our best to support him and show him we love him unconditionally.........to no avail. He spends soem time in rehab only to go back to his old ways. Most of the time he blames everyone else for his addiction and ALWAYS has the "poor me" attitude. We love him dearly but its so painful and frustrating!

Al-Anon is supposed to be very helpful for people with family members who have ETOH & drug problems. I'd recommend going to a meeting, as it has helped many others.:balloons:

[obernurse]

I dont feel sorry for them... i know from personl experience what alcohol can do to a family...i also know how easy it would be to be to say poor pitiful me my life has been horrible, I'll drink & take drugs....thats one way to deal with the sh** the other way is to dig your way out & make a better life for your self You come to a fork in the road & you decide which way to go. I chose the path less traveled & had to work to clear my way but it has been worth it...Yes , I take care of the pt to the best of my abilities. but I dont feel sorry for theim

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

This is a sensitive topic for me. I lost my beloved little brother to a drug overdose.

He was a good person, with a very bad problem, for which he was responsible. He never blamed his addiction or the reasons behind it on other people. He freely admitted "I made my own bed, and now I'm lying in it."

I remember when a former ICU nurse started working with me in a hospice unit. I have no ICU experience, and asked her about her experiences. She told me "ICU is ok, but I get really sick of those drug ODs who don't die. I wish someone would show them how to do it right the first time."

I was appalled. I replied "well, my brother did 'do it right.' He died at home, alone, of a drug OD at the age of 26. So, he never had the honor of being cared for by someone who wished he hadn't made it."

She apologised to me, and we worked together fine.

I know she was just venting, and did not really wish her pts had died.

My brother had been clean for 18 months when he died. He used "just one more time" and it turned out to be the last time.

Not all drug addicts are awful, unpleaseant, ungrateful people.

My brother was a loving, highly intelligent, creative person, who ruined his life and hurt his family with drug addiction. He was ashamed. He tried to beat the drugs, but he lost.

He had been previously hospitalized for an OD. He told me how nice the nurses were to him.

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the nurses who cared for him, wherever they are.:redbeathe

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I passed out so much dilaudid the other night I felt guilty about it