Horrible 14 1/2 hr shift.

a psych consult

i wonder if she's scared to go home because she's lonely or something...reminds me of an episode of scrubs where the patient was crying for attention but pretending to be happy although she was lonely
I'm sorry you had a rough day though! :-((

Ammonia ampule - that sounds very appropriate. Setting limits - 'Ms X, we are very sorry that you don't really want to go home, but you will be going today, so please stay safe this time.'
Is her home life miserable? Call social services next time she comes in to investigate her home life.
And stock up on those smelling salts!!!

Too bad the doctor doesn't have any cojones to set limits. Unfortunately, as nurses, we are required to provide "customer service", or we get reamed when the patient complains.

Hey, next time she's "out" on the floor, bring in the body bag and start to unzip it, while having a spirited discussion with the techs on calling next of kin, getting her into the body bag, post-mortem clean-up, etc. THAT might open her eyes!

Hang in there!

Oldiebutgoodie

Been in similar situations (haven't we all?). My one consolation is that most of my patients usually prefer to be neglected--the less they see of me, the happier they are. Well, I work nights, so the occassional PITA lets everyone else get some sleep.

I agree about the psych consult. My first thought is, what's it going to accomplish, really? My second thought is, it might give her somewhere else to go for attention.

Ah, patients. Ya gotta love 'em. 'Cause ya ain't allowed to slap 'em.

I'm sorry you had such a bad shift! People are so crazy!

I had a patient once that was a addict. The MD was only giving him PO pain meds and had ordered aerosolized morphine just to shut the guy up. The guy was so upset b/c he wasn't getting IV drugs. He followed me up and down the hall my whole shift harrassing me. I also caught him licking the nebulizers to get those last drops of morphine. Finally at change of shift we found him on the floor and his arm was obviously broken. After a psych consult this guy admitted that he broke his own arm on the window seal in order to get IV pain meds....

Good thing I charted everything that crazy man did!!!

We had a frequent flier (younger pt w/ chronic illness) who had a VERY controlling (and complaining) mother, nothing was ever good enough, my son is being neglected, the nurse's don't answer his call light fast enough yada yada yada. Management stepped in after mom complained to the hospital administrator and set up a contract for his care IF he still wanted to be admitted to our hospital. Yep he had already made the rounds to the 5 other local hospitals and had gotten the boot from them. Pt was still a pain in the %^% but we had limits that we could remind him and mom of that they had agreed to. A psych consult is a nice thought but what good will it do, doesn't sound like she would be compliant with meds or counseling? Hope you and your co workers can find some much needed relief and enjoy your new little one!

4 pages of notes?! good gracious. that lady is a piece of work. jessie, i know you are breathing a sigh of relief that she's gone (for a while...)...