Most Stressful Day

[TSgtRodrigues]

So I know there are a ton of posts in here about your most memorable drug seekers, the craziest patients etc. so, here's a new question that I haven't seen asked yet. We all have stressful days, days where we don't win, days where we just wanna cry at the end of shift. So, what are some of your most memorable stressful day stories? Where maybe you lost a patient that hit you harder than most, or did you just have family members that were too involved in their own feelings rather than the good of the patient?

[RN_rescue_ninja]

Maybe this was their [dysfunctional] way of grieving?

I had a home hospice patient who was dying and her husband was laying in bed holding her hand....While 5 of the children were fighting over the parents belongings and who was taking the dad to live with them. They were also drinking and physically going at it while I was in the bedroom with the parents.

It was so absolutely sad and disgusting how they were carrying on rather than in at the moms bedside where me and the Father/husband were.

We could hear everything and it went on for hours..... and yes I had two back to back 12 hour pm shifts. The next day some of them had sobered up but they still weren't talking amongst themselves. People can be so shallow at times... :thumbdown:

[ER_AllTheWayMay]

All 4 of my patients turned into ICUs in the ER. One had a hemoglobin of 5, active GI bleed. Another was active gi bleed, and he was in severe alcohol withdrawal. The other two were neuro ICUs because of stroke and no coworkers could help me because we got two severe burns at the same time.

I never charted so little in my life because I was too busy doing everything I could to keep these patients alive.

it made me rethink my career and harbor permanent distaste for the one coworker who was available to help me, but just refuses to do bedside care.

Luckily, it was just my worst shift ever....

You are amazing.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

I was in triage. Noticed a voicemail from my sister which was odd as she normally texts. A few seconds later security called, telling me that a young mother was walking in with her infant and freaking out. I knew in my gut it was my sister and two month old nephew. She had tripped while carrying him and fell. He had a skull fx and small brain bleed. I triaged him, started his IV, etc. and he did awesome, in part I think because his main nurse was also auntie. I had to clock out though. I triaged two other patients after he came in but I was mentally over it . I gave report to the flight crew, clocked out, and drove four hours to be his personal nurse for two days.

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

I was in triage. Noticed a voicemail from my sister which was odd as she normally texts. A few seconds later security called, telling me that a young mother was walking in with her infant and freaking out. I knew in my gut it was my sister and two month old nephew. She had tripped while carrying him and fell. He had a skull fx and small brain bleed. I triaged him, started his IV, etc. and he did awesome, in part I think because his main nurse was also auntie. I had to clock out though. I triaged two other patients after he came in but I was mentally over it . I gave report to the flight crew, clocked out, and drove four hours to be his personal nurse for two days.

Omg, being a first time auntie I can totally sympathize. My sister called me at work when my niece fell and smashed her face. I was near tears looking at her swollen, bloody little face!

[skylark, BSN, RN]

I still think the one with the roaches wins.

Reminds me of a place I worked years ago where we kept a baseball bat in the dirty utility and it was the student's job to squash the roaches each night.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

Omg, being a first time auntie I can totally sympathize. My sister called me at work when my niece fell and smashed her face. I was near tears looking at her swollen, bloody little face!

I'm not really a kid person but that boy owns me. He is now a happy and healthy 14 month old and my favorite person in the world. Being an aunt is the best job ever!!

[Suckitupbuttercup]

I still think the one with the roaches wins.

Reminds me of a place I worked years ago where we kept a baseball bat in the dirty utility and it was the student's job to squash the roaches each night.

No...Just...No...?

[rheath222]

Working in ALF and two very very strong (one a former cop and the the a former football coach) got into a fist fight. Two falls, and oh, one of the residents kept pulling the fire alarm, the security company kept calling and I did not know the password, they had changed it since I was on leave, hence the fire department. That happened four times. To top it off, the director would not come and help.

I had one brand new CNA and one lazy CNA.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Seeing as this is the er forum, i will submit as my most stressful day - monday. Any monday, including next monday.