What rules have you broken to help a patient?

Nurses General Nursing

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We have a rule where I work about no pets being allowed. Last summer I had a young female patient, vented and going to die while waiting for a lung transplant and she was completely with it. I took care of her a lot and got to know her and her family quite well over the 6 weeks she was with us. I found out early on that she had a cat that she found as a kitten 15 years earlier. I am an animal lover so I decided one night to take her husband aside and see if it would be ok if he snuck the cat in. He nearly started to cry. He said I have been debating trying to sneak the cat in. I can't believe you are going to help me do this. She spent about 20 minutes with her cat and then the cat went home. She seemed more at peace after that. We also brought a dog in once back when I had this wonderful manager. She actually arranged the whole thing. The dog laid on the bed with this COPDer and he died peacefully later that night. His wife siad the dog was beside herself prior to the visit but that she was ok afterward. I guess she just wanted to say goodbye.

So what rules have you broekn to make a patient happy? For me it was well worth every second of those 20 minutes. I wouldn't have cared if they fired me!:)

Not to long ago when I was in hospital... the nurse permitted my sister to come in with her two children...

I was so lonely and tired of being tired it really cheered me up... my sis brought me some candy (a BIG nono) and lip balm.... i told her (in a daze) "no candy" the nurse comes in and say's - "yeah right... take and enjoy....." that I did indeed.... along with the two nephews.... they where the best candies I ever had....

The rules I have bent usually deal with dietary or children visiting. My philosophy is if a patient is 95 years old and has heart disease what are we going to solve by not letting them enjoy their favorite foods. My grandmother is 83 and battling CHF. My aunts are almost fanatical about her diet sometimes. While I don't think Grandma should be chowing down Big Macs three times a day, what difference is 2 sausage links dly once in a while going to make? ;)

I remember when my other Grandma was very sick in the hospital in 1983 with liver cancer. We knew her time was short. My sister, brother, and I hadn't seen Grandma for over 10 days (we lived next door) since she went in the hospital. My Mom talked to her nurse and asked if we could come see her. Getting me in wasn't a big deal because I was 14, but sister was only 10 and my brother 5. This darling nurse agreed to let my siblings come and see Grandma. It was the last time any of us saw her alive. I am thankful to that nurse for giving us the opportunity to spend some time with Grandma.

Rules are made to be broken sometimes. ;) :)

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

A few years ago, I nursed a darling old man who was dying. He & his lady love had been planning to marry, much against the wishes of his greedy, money grabbing children.These selfish children

( adult)even tried to get the doc to declare the patient incompetent!?!...These two dear old souls had been in a relationship for many years & it was their wish to be married. Sadly though, his health took a turn for the worse & he was going downhill very fast. Since the 'children' were being such ass*****, I came up with the idea of a ceremony involving a blessing on their relationship. While it wouldn't be the same as a legal marriage, it would mean so much to the couple. They were thrilled to bits about this idea & so, without the knowledge of the greedy brats, we set about arranging a "wedding". I organised a minister to perform the blessing & a couple of my colleagues & I bought flowers & other nice bits 'n 'pieces & decorated the patients room. We arranged the ceremony for later in the evening when I knew the brats would not be anywhere in sight ( ie; after visiting hours)The lady had her children present & a couple of close friends. The ceremony/ blessing went off beautifully & the patient & his lady were SO happy. We even managed to have a small supper to celebrate afterwards. He died the next day.

Those brats might have ended up with his money, but his lady love had his heart. I have a great memory!...

Cheers,

Grace

I somewhat think that the question shouldn't be one of "breaking the rules", but why such stupid rules exist in the first place!!!:( I have also sneaked in children, given sweets to a dying diabetic, and even held a mentally retarded child in the ICU in my arms, hooked to a portable monitor, multiple IV lines, the whole shebang, while he watched the fireworks from the ICU window on the 4th of July. When a doctor refuses an end-stage diabetic with neuropathy her Vicodin prescription because she might "get addicted", things have gone too far. :o

On the bright side, I'm now able to stir up LOTS of trouble and break LOTS of rules by questioning the use if some of these sacred medical sacraments. :devil: :devil: I'm not the most popular kid on the block, but I'm sure having lots of fun!! :chuckle

There is something attractive with the "REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE!!!' image..... :p

But the Rebel with a cause has something more then to be desired :)

My MIL died in March. She had been diabetic for about 10 years. That last evening she scribbled us a note. It said "Dr. N said I could have whatever I wanted to eat." (Her appetite had been poor for several weeks). My husband asked her what she wanted to eat and she wrote down "a chocolate milkshake, not sugar free". We went and got one promptly (with the nurse in full agreement). She only took 3 or 4 bites, but the look on her face was priceless. It was the last thing she ever tasted, except for some ice chips and 7up. Sometimes rules just have to be broken.

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