[mel1977]

I work with my mom who is a CRRN. I am currently in LPN school. She has always been such a wonderful TBI nurse and pretty professional too. But, you know there are times when we all goof up. She just came home and said she let an unprofessional comment slip. Okay, so the wife of a patient who has a severe TBI believes EVERYTHING he says. So he was caught smoking in his room and the aide told him he couldn't do that and took the smokes away. So, he of course called his wife as he always does and she called to talk to my mom. The wife said to her "WELL, you KNOW he has a brain injury-" and mom said "WELL DUH". I just thought that was so funny-she of course felt bad the minute she said it-we can't help but laugh now though. If you have ever worked with Brain injuries you know some of the families are really, well, odd. In reality, it isn't funny, but it is of course, nursing humor. ( I hope everyone sees the humor in this! )

[jillyk*rn]

Personally, I think we need to "Well...Duh" pt's families a little more often!!!

[mel1977]

I know. She has been a rehab nurse for going on 25 years and has never said that, so you can imagine her own suprise when what she thought came out of her mouth. The worst part was this guy has been a brain injury for a while and lived with his wife. She couldn't handle him anymore so that is why he is with us, so we can place him yet no facilities (long term) will even consider him. Just a mess, and really, I feel for him but what can we do now? We have done all we can for his brain injury and it isn't really his fault-but his wife really should know better! It is like when families believe every word that comes out of a brain injured person's mouth (not all confabulate, I know, but there are certain ones that say things that are silly but taken seriously. Even our TBI DR has done that a time or two and we are like "come on!" )

[linda scottish nurse]

I think that sometimes patients are not helped by there relatives at times

[silvergirl]

That reminds of the time I asked a SCI pt when I was giving him a suppository if I was hurting him cuz he sucked in his breath. He did it cuz he was yawning. Of course I couldn't see that at the time. He just replied well no guess if you were then I'd be cured (i.e. well duh you stupid nurse) It just slips out sometimes. Those comments.