Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,497 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Thread Closed Available for reading only.
| No. 10 | 
Jun 30, 2008, 07:29 AM
Updated
Jun 30, 2008 at 08:48 PM by TheCommuter
 Re: digital stimulation!!! Originally Posted by Dolce  I agree. I hate to stereotype, but I have many times heard patient's referred to as having a "quad personality." Often these individuals seem to have the idea that the world revolves around them and their needs.
Just an observation.
As a student nurse I am embarrassed and shocked with many of the replies I have come across on this site. Many of you are not acting like professionals and that is really concerning. I honestly think many of you would do well to remember that you or any of those you care about could wind up with an SCI by sundown tonight. You could then find yourself as the unwilling recipient of dehumanising but necessary practices like dig stim. What happened to having a bit of humility towards, understanding and respect for people that have experienced such a life changing event? I'm completely confident that most loathe having to go through the stress of their daily routines and attitudes like many in this thread are not easing the trauma any. If you take such issue with caring for others, why choose nursing in the first place?
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 11 |
Jun 30, 2008, 07:53 AM
Updated
Jun 30, 2008 at 08:50 PM by TheCommuter
Re: digital stimulation!!! Originally Posted by Disbelief As a student nurse I am embarrassed and shocked with many of the replies I have come across on this site. Many of you are not acting like professionals and that is really concerning. I honestly think many of you would do well to remember that you or any of those you care about could wind up with an SCI by sundown tonight. You could then find yourself as the unwilling recipient of dehumanising but necessary practices like dig stim. What happened to having a bit of humility towards, understanding and respect for people that have experienced such a life changing event? I'm completely confident that most loathe having to go through the stress of their daily routines and attitudes like many in this thread are not easing the trauma any. If you take such issue with caring for others, why choose nursing in the first place?
Thank you for your observations. However, I would like to point out that I was simply making a statement based upon personal experience with quads. These are not facts I have read in books or studied in nursing school. I have personally observed very manipulative behavior by some quads. Because they have very little control over their own circumstances they seek to control others around them. That is actually quite natural. I'm sure if anyone of us were in a similar situation we would likely behave in the same way.
| | No. 12 |
Jun 30, 2008, 08:07 AM
Updated
Jun 30, 2008 at 08:53 PM by TheCommuter
Re: digital stimulation!!! Originally Posted by Dolce Thank you for your observations. For the sake of not starting a debate I will not address each of the personal attacks listed here. However, I would like to point out that I was simply making a statement based upon personal experience with quads. These are not facts I have read in books or studied in nursing school. I have personally observed very manipulative behavior by some quads. Because they have very little control over their own circumstances they seek to control others around them. That is actually quite natural. I'm sure if anyone of us were in a similar situation we would likely behave in the same way.
I hope if nothing else this thread may make any one of you think twice before you generalise and marginalise people again who, much to their displeasure, have to rely on so called care professionals to survive.
| | No. 13 |
Jun 30, 2008, 08:33 AM
Updated
Jun 30, 2008 at 08:55 PM by TheCommuter
Re: digital stimulation!!!
Digital stimulation is a procedure that many but not all people with SCI need for proper bowel management. So need it several times daily. Some need it only every 3rd day. The person with the SCI knows their body and needs better than anyone else, including nurses.
Manipulative people often have learned that skill from working with health care "professionals" who don't listen, don't understand, and don't want to.
| | No. 14 |
Jun 30, 2008, 08:47 AM
Re: digital stimulation!!!
I too disagree with the generalizations but I also want to focus on the situation the op was describing. I think there is a lot of learning that can come from this thread. I personally had little if any training on SCI.
I too frequent carecure and KLD is a nurse and leading expert on SCI care (for those that dont know).
In my opinion, I still feel that most likely there is some problem if a person is requiring digital stimulation 3-4 times a day. In all likelihood the bowel program isnt being done correctly but there could also be other issues as well. I think it would be very rare (although possible) that someone needs digital stimulation this often). I hope you can respond KLD.
| | No. 15 |
Jun 30, 2008, 09:09 AM
Re: digital stimulation!!!
I want to make one more observation. I know there are hurt feelings but I truly do not believe that was the intention. Constipation or impaction is a horrible thing for patients with spinal cord injuries. Despite being paralyzed often it does cause nausea or even abdominal discomfort. It can also lead to AD which can be life threatening and horribly frightening for the patient.
So I think it is normal to become so concerned or "fixated" on your bowels. I think most nurses just dont understand the consequences of not having routine bowel movements. Instead of being controlling or manipulative it may be more fear or another issue.
I also wish I would have added more to my original post. I should have explained things much better.
| | No. 16 |
Jun 30, 2008, 05:35 PM
Updated
Jun 30, 2008 at 08:58 PM by TheCommuter
Re: digital stimulation!!! Originally Posted by KLD Digital stimulation is a procedure that many but not all people with SCI need for proper bowel management. So need it several times daily. Some need it only every 3rd day. The person with the SCI knows their body and needs better than anyone else, including nurses.
Manipulative people often have learned that skill from working with health care "professionals" who don't listen, don't understand, and don't want to.
I believe that I have treated all of my quads/paras with a great deal of respect and care. However, the "quad personality" that I mentioned is an observation that I and other rehab nurses that I have worked with have made. If you will notice this website is loaded with "categorizations" of people. ER frequent fliers, OB patient's with "fluff my pillow syndrome" and other offensive remarks. No it is not right to stereotype any patient. I was certainly not trying to. I was just trying to state my observations.
| | No. 17 |
Jun 30, 2008, 07:29 PM
Updated
Jun 30, 2008 at 08:59 PM by TheCommuter
Re: digital stimulation!!!
I have a masters degree in rehab nursing. I work full time in SCI care and have for the last 30 years. I don't work with "paras and quads". I work with PEOPLE with spinal cord injury which has resulted in tetraplegia (quadriplegia is a long outdated term) and paraplegia.
| | No. 19 |
Jul 01, 2008, 01:36 AM
Re: digital stimulation!!!
Some links of interest:
2002 survey:
From UK: PEOPLE WITH A SPINAL CORD INJURY AND BOWEL MANAGEMENT IN GENERAL ... The survey demonstrated the following (n=212): *80% of respondents were not satisfied with the bowel care they received in
hospital *70% of respondents were not involved in any discussion with healthcare staff
about their bowel management *60% of respondents were refused a manual evacuation of faeces by staff
whilst they were in hospital For some people with a SCI who use manual evacuation as part of an established bowel care routine being refused a manual evacuation can be severe and potentially life threatening. A number of anonymous vignettes are included in Appendix 2 that demonstrate the extent to which people with a SCI are affected by lack of appropriate bowel care when admitted to general healthcare settings and they are unable to continue with their established, routine bowel management.
Spinal Cord Injury Bowel Management & Programs
eMedicine - Bowel Management : Article by Ramon S Lansang, Jr
American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN) - SCI Neurogenic Bowel Care: Nursing Guidelines
SCI Neurogenic Bowel Care: Nursing Guidelines
I receive many referrals from Magee, Moss, Bryn Mawr Rehab along with local hospital rehab units and paraplegia/ quadraplegia still being listed as a diagnosis in Philadelphia area. From a homecare persepective, bowel program management is one of the key patient care needs identified and and taught by our staff. Having cared for many SCI patients over the years, and seeing a few cases of autonomic dysreflexia due to fecal impaction, I understand my patients fears when bowel program not properly carried out. What can best be accomplished for the OP patient? Having a care plan meeting with the patient, rehab team, dietary, charge nurse and physician to develop a realistic plan that meets your patients needs. At some point in near future, patient will be going home---if they are unable to perform procedure, caregiver needs to be identified and taught as home care is periodic and intermittent. Some patients do not respond to glycerin supp, others do well with biscodyl type. Exploring fears and concerns along with patient education needed here. use the above links to guide you in suggestions for best program. Re digital stimulation for sexual pleasure only, rarely have i seen this be a SCI patients sole purpose...more so side effect due to loss of voluntary control. Patients newly adjusting to spinal cord injury maybe demaning and controlling ---------I've seen same behaviour however with Advanced COPD patients who often fight for evey breathe too. It's great when a united front in caring for patient, educating them over choices they have in their life, setting goals and encouraging informed decision making and responsbility for decisions they make, helps the pateint regain sense of themselves and maxamize self care/ well thought out future care needs. |
| 396 members
3,404 guests 3,800
| 1 | | | 12 | | | 2 | | | 9 | | | 17 | | | 11 | | | 16 | | | 16 | | | 37 | | | 14 | | | 20 | | | 23 | | | 19 | | | 24 | | | 10 | |
|
Nursing News