What's your favorite type of patient?

[GardenDove]

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.

[ICURN2004]

an intubated patient is my favorite.

they dont talk, you can medicate them to make them comfortable and know that they are going to get air. you can do your total assessment and plan their care and think while you are with them instead of hearing about there cat or having them tell you when they were a kid.... emotionally yes those things are important but i am there to help their bodies get better and i cant think about their cat being lonesome with out them instead of why the heck they cant breath.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

OR nurse here, so I also like the intubated, sedated, & paralyzed patients.

What I can't stand is the 400 # non-compliant diabetic coming back for an amputation wondering WHY? It's hard to prep that limb & then put it in the specimen bag. Truly heartbreaking b/c most of the time, that type of patient is non-compliant b/c they couldn't afford their meds & monitoring supplies & nobody took the time to give them proper teaching.

On a happier note, I also love those fiesty older folks who love to holler at everyone & everything. They're so cute!!

[adrienurse, LPN]

the harmless wandering dementia types whose sole motivation is looking for snacks and hugs.

[pepsihla]

A patient who plays an integral role in their own health. I like patients who ask questions about their health and their care we provide.

[Quickbeam, BSN, RN]

I thought I had posted in this thread but I guess not.

My favorite patient was always the newly diagnosed child with diabetes. They seemed to be very good at cause/effect..."do this, you'll feel better...hey! it works!". As the parents would be grieving the diagnosis, the kid would be busy learning what he/she had to learn. Always made me be proud to be a nurse.

[muffie, RN]

the one that has already had the hour of dicharge teaching/documentation with one foot out the door !

buhbye

[Calgon-take.me.away]

Favorite type of patients,,,lets see. Oh, yea,,crusty old alert little old men who on the outside are gruff and rough, but once you get to know them, you get them to open up and learn that they were married one time to the love of their life whose wedding picture is hanging on the wall. The have children and grandchildren who call them pop pop and like to climb on their laps as they get a ride in pop pop's "car" down the hallways. Then you see the picture of the handsome young man in an army uniform and learn that they flew over Japan and "dropped da bomb on those Jappies." I have taken care of Sam Snede, SR professional golfer, and the gentleman who wrote all of Roosevelt's speeeches, and can't forget the little old lady with the Elvis pictures all over her room..Turns out that her daughter starred with Elvis in numerous pictures and Elvis loved her beef stew.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

The live ones.:rotfl:

[adrienurse, LPN]

deleted

[RosesAreBlue]

I've always liked working with Alzheimer's patients. They're just like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're getting next! :3