What's your favorite type of patient?

SillyLilly · Jan 23, 2007

On the more upbeat side of nursing, what's your favorite type of patient?
Mine is a cheerful, independent, and interesting old lady or old man, the older the better, who is sharp as a tack. I really like to find out more about them and their life experiences. I like the intelligent ones who have had interesting lives and careers, and who are well adjusted and personable.

Same for me too. Had one today. 102 yo f. (does not look a day over 82) Lives alone (in the same area her whole life), with a cna coming a few times a week. Still cooks and does dishes and some laundry, other light cleaning. Ambulates with a walker just fine. (and I also got a good stick in her too!) I like these types of pts, but in the back of my mind I know theyre clock is winding down and I just hope it is not on my time.... like my pt today is a full code! I could not subject her to that and then where would she spend the rest of her days?

Other pt I like--a pt who has one time meds, is pleasant, does not have any large complaints. You can check on them every hour and it is all ok. Especially nice when you have 3-4 moderate to heavy pts, and therefore you cannot get another admit because you are at your ratio.:monkeydance:

Also, I appreciate anyone who is a patient patient---with patient family.

AliRae · Jan 23, 2007

Usually a safe bet is "The Scoli". They all have the same orders. They're all pretty much the same age. They all cry, and most of them forget to breathe. There don't tend to be too many surprises, unless you count the things Dilaudid makes them say!

There are days when I yearn for "The Classic Vented Baby". Vec, versed and fentanyl gtts are running through a central line, preferably a triple lumen. She's not on isolation for anything and has continuous ND feeds. Her parents visit, but know when to leave. And she has cute clothes you can dress her in.

When I'm feeling really adventurous, I'll volunteer for "The Moody Teen". She'll usually come in sporting angry song lyrics scrawled across her abdomen in red sharpie. When asked why on earth she felt the need to take all the Tylenol, she shrugs. When you tell her what it might do to her liver, she shrugs again. She usually (but not always!) stops shrugging when you put another 18G IV in and drop and NG tube. Despite the shrugs, you'll probably spend a few hours in her room, trying to get her to talk. Good luck.

However, depending on my mood, sometimes I prefer the "The Chronic King". That oh-so-cute little guy who everyone knows, who's been there for five months (and is showing no signs of leaving). You know him. The crib is sideways so he can watch TV, you routinely trip over his toys, and he knows which nurses he likes. Everyone on the unit is at his beck and call. You'd give anything just to pack him up and take him home with you.

At the end of the day, I think my favourite thing about the PICU is that I have no clue what I'm walking into when I clock in every morning. I love it.

SillyLilly · Jan 23, 2007

continent!!!!!!!! :bowingpur
sorry but i have seen more poop and pee lately than i care to ever see!!!!!!!!!!!!! lots of nursing home residents being admitted.:angryfire

oh, and definetely that too....... everything else aside-just the time it takes up sometimes! i want to scream....

Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2007

Yup, definately continent, and grateful. With nice grateful family members.

GardenDove · Jan 23, 2007

Foleys are nice too. They are awfully convenient, esp in the middle of the night.

leslie :-D · Jan 23, 2007

When I'm feeling really adventurous, I'll volunteer for "The Moody Teen". She'll usually come in sporting angry song lyrics scrawled across her abdomen in red sharpie. When asked why on earth she felt the need to take all the Tylenol, she shrugs. When you tell her what it might do to her liver, she shrugs again. She usually (but not always!) stops shrugging when you put another 18G IV in and drop and NG tube. Despite the shrugs, you'll probably spend a few hours in her room, trying to get her to talk. Good luck.

i had to laugh at this.

having 3 teens at home, i'm sick to death of the attitudes and yet, when i observe them in public places, they are just so darned nice!

i recently had to bring my 17 yo dd to her np.

since she's still a minor, i needed to follow up with some concerns, and boy, was she ticked.

but when she met with the np, she was pleasant, polite and engaging.

i guess i shouldn't complain afterall....if only they could be that way at home.

lately i've accused all 3 of them of being drug addicts, in that they appear to have overdosed on suck pills.

leslie

Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2007

Foleys are nice too. They are awfully convenient, esp in the middle of the night.

I know I LOVE foleys! If only it weren't for those darned UTI's...

AliRae · Jan 23, 2007

lately i've accused all 3 of them of being drug addicts, in that they appear to have overdosed on suck pills.

ahahahaha! suck pills! if these patients of mine hadn't come in because of an OD, I would surely use that on them. As it is, it seems a little insensitive, no? "So, you took the whole bottle of Tylenol, and HOW many suck pills?!"

(I can dream, right?)

spiceyqueen · Jan 23, 2007

when working in rehab, had this patient who always had setback everytime he made it so far( one step forward, 6 steps back). but despite everything he would keep trying, whines when absolutely neccessary(and we understood), always had a smile when he was not in pain, we all called him Uncle X, he played pranks on us almost everytime ( got him a few times too) but one thing we all loved about him and his family is that they appreciated every single person at the ward( from the cleaners to the doctors). not to say he did not give us the shits sometimes. but just that appreciation, and respect we got from him

spiceyqueen · Jan 23, 2007

when working in rehab, had this patient who always had setback everytime he made it so far( one step forward, 6 steps back). but despite everything he would keep trying, whines when absolutely neccessary(and we understood), always had a smile when he was not in pain, we all called him Uncle X, he played pranks on us almost everytime ( got him a few times too), told us jokes( some really boring, some really hilarious) but one thing we all loved about him and his family is that they appreciated every single person at the ward( from the cleaners to the doctors). not to say he did not give us the shits sometimes. but just that appreciation, and respect we got from him is what we enjoyed most during his 12 month stay.

TxChic82 · Jan 23, 2007

i just love, love, LOVE those sassy, saucy, cussing little old ladies.
....the more they're a spitfire, the more i gush and smile and beam....
leslie

I am definetly a fiesty old lady lover! Im only a nursing student working on my BSN, but I am also a CNA in LTC and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fiesty old ladies. Ex. Lou who is weak and cannot walk alone. She has the alarm on her bed and her wheel chair and what not but that doesnt stop her from trying to take off, once she made it down the elevator. I just know thats gonna be me when Im that age if I cant walk. Theyre gonna have to tie me down..."GO LOU GO...ok wait not really come sit down"....lol....

Indy, LPN, LVN · Jan 23, 2007

I like patients who sleep at night, breathe all night, and either have a foley or are continent.