waking pts

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

hi there :) i've been reading for a long time but this is my first post. i'm starting my med/surg clinicals next friday. i was always timid about waking up the residents at the nursing home in the mornings to do their assessments because i always felt like i was intruding. i really need to get over this feeling. i'm wondering, how do you approach your patients first thing in the morning and wake them? we're supposed to take report and then get started. i'm kind of looking for hints or suggestions on what to do or say. thanks so much.

k

[shock-me-sane]

I always just loudly say "Good morning Mr. X!!!". Then I introduce myself and ask how they are feeling. I tell them I need to shine a light in their eye or do whatever I am going to do first.

It is better to be loud than timid. You don't want them to wake up with you just standing over them. That is pretty freaky. It is intrusive, but they are in the hospital because they are sick. Privacy is pretty nil.

I found that not being shy or timid actually allows the patient to feel more confident in your abilities. Show no fear!

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

I always just loudly say "Good morning Mr. X!!!". Then I introduce myself and ask how they are feeling. I tell them I need to shine a light in their eye or do whatever I am going to do first.

It is better to be loud than timid. You don't want them to wake up with you just standing over them. That is pretty freaky. It is intrusive, but they are in the hospital because they are sick. Privacy is pretty nil.

I found that not being shy or timid actually allows the patient to feel more confident in your abilities. Show no fear!

Thanks. I'm SO not a shy person, that's why this is so unusual to me. LOL And I am fine once I start my care - I don't have a problem being confident at all. It's that initial step I seem to be worried about. So, just walk into the dark room, flip on the light, call out "good morning Mr. Smith!" and get to it? LOL If that's all there is to it, I should be fine.

[verp]

Hello..I work in a small rural hospital on the med/surg floor. I like to take a washcloth into the room and when I am washing my hands before examining the patient I will get the cloth warm,then I go to the bedside and if the patient has their eyes closed I will say "Good morning Mr/Mrs....,my name is.....and I will be your nurse today",then I give them the washcloth while I start to do my assessment...I can use this method to check the patient's alertness, their motor skills, etc. by what they do with the washcloth. This method seems to help the patients to wake up gently and usually in a better mood ..and that can set the tone for the day. Hope this helps.:nuke:

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

i've been an rn for many years and worked the night shift a lot. stand a bit back and start calling the patient's name softly and increase in decibels if you need to. just be persistent. shouting and being loud is unnecessary. i never appreciated it when i was a patient. neither is turning on the overhead lights all of a sudden or shining a flashlight in people's eyes to awaken them. i learned a long time ago to never touch a patient to awaken them. some of the men will reach out to slap or punch you in their sleepiness. you can gently shake the side rail of the bed if you have to. people who feel they need to shout and make a lot of noise right to wake people up are nincompoops and need to be patients and experience what that is like when they are sick, not feeling well and perhaps in pain. it's inconsiderate.

[Hydakins]

I always knock on the door first. (not too loudly but audibly) Sometimes that arouses them and automatically reminds them of where they are or reminds them that they are not at home. It gives them a chance to open their eyes or turn around to find out what is about to happen. Whether that works or not. I speak a little louder than softly at first and watch their expression to see if I need to speak louder. Those that cannot hear as well will be polite about it and tell you that they cannot hear. If they have problems hearing out of one ear, they volunteer that information. Do not automatically speak too loudly because those who have great hearing (especially older patients) may feel threatened and there goes your first impression on them or you just may scare them out of their sleep. Most patients dont start their uninterrupted nights rest until after the 3am or 4am vitals have been taken.

Just think of if your family member were in the bed and you were watching someone else try to awaken them. What would you like to see. You may find that something different works for you.

Dont turn on a bright light-thats illmannered. I personally would get an attitude and ask if the nurse if they had any sense- if that was done to me. That does not help you to see, it actually blinds you for a while.

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I used to also be pretty timid when I was still in nursing school, but after I got a job as a tech, that went right out the window. When you have 12 vitals to get and also need to look at the breakfast trays before the cafeteria lady takes them, you adapt.

Typically I just went into the room with my vitals machine and said "Good morning Mr. So-and-So, my name's Nicole and I'll be assisting your nurse today. Can I please take your blood pressure?" That was usually enough to get them awake for me to do what I needed to do, and yes, they may forget who you are when you wake them up with an intro, but you can always tell them again later.

Have fun in clinicals and take this time to learn all you can, you will need it later!!

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

I used to also be pretty timid when I was still in nursing school, but after I got a job as a tech, that went right out the window. When you have 12 vitals to get and also need to look at the breakfast trays before the cafeteria lady takes them, you adapt.

Typically I just went into the room with my vitals machine and said "Good morning Mr. So-and-So, my name's Nicole and I'll be assisting your nurse today. Can I please take your blood pressure?" That was usually enough to get them awake for me to do what I needed to do, and yes, they may forget who you are when you wake them up with an intro, but you can always tell them again later.

Have fun in clinicals and take this time to learn all you can, you will need it later!!

Thanks! I had an awesome first day!!! I loved my patient - he was great. (double total knee replacement) He was sort of dozing when I went to his room, and I didn't even stress about it... I knocked a little on his door and just said "Mr. X?" and intro'd myself and went from there. He definitely made it easy on me. My whole first experience went well - not so for a lot of my classmates, they were totally stressed out. I got to see and do some neat stuff and am looking forward to this week's clinical. I'm sure MY stressful week is coming, though! LOL

[loriangel14, RN]

Having a nurse come in and LOUDLY call your name and shine a light in your face would a be a distressing way to wake up. I always speak softly, only increasing the volume a little if they don't wake up. Being sound asleep and being awakened by someone bawling in your ear would not make you feel better.What a way to start the day.