Been on what I call the geriatric wing all last weekend and this week. Lots of completes, and I usually don't mind, except for one patient who I swear, hates me. He is difficult at best, and impossible at worst.
He has been in for almost 3 weeks. He's supposed to have been discharged twice, but family members keep appealing the discharge and we keep him.
I have to feed him as he cannot feed himself. He's on mechanical soft (and yes, I know the food looks/smells/and probably tastes rotten. I sure wouldn't want to eat it either). Mealtimes are like a battle zone... He screams and pitches a fit because I'm feeding him, swears worse than any sailor and truck driver I've ever known, throws punches, etc. The only thing I can seem to get into him is the ice cream or sweet dessert the kitchen sends up, and even then it's usually one or two bites, and then he starts screaming for me to get the (swear word) out of his room.
This morning, I was trying breakfast, and we went through the eating battle yet again. I had to step into the bathroom and count to 10 before I went back in to attempt to get another mouthful in him.
Bathtimes are no problem except that he swears at me through the whole thing.
I've had it.
I'm tired of this assignment.
I don't mean to whine, but it's very frustrating and draining, not to mention the bruises from the punches.
He is really sucking the life out of me.
How do I suck this up and not let it bug me?
I really don't want to care for this patient anymore, but I don't have a choice. I don't get to pick my assignments or my patients.
This one is really bugging me because I'm the one who seems to be able to turn all of the difficult patients around, but not this one.
IMO...If he can punch his nurse, he can feed himself!
:yeahthat:Especially if he can punch so hard that he leaves bruises. I don't blame his family for not wanting him discharged, but you should not have to put up with this. Please don't feel guilty over this, some people will act the way they do no matter how nice you are to them, and you are not responsible for his behavor. Has there been incident reports filed? Let us know what happens.
You do not have to put yourself in harm's way to provide care for a violent patient. Period. Good luck with this today. I hope you don't have to take care of him.
Got any big, scary looking male nurses (like me) around?
You'd be amazed how effective a raised eyebrow and an ever-so-slight snarl from a guy my size are at putting that kind of crap down!
Job security!
Oh, I wish.. only one male nurse, and he was Charge today. Got in to work and got my assignment, and sure enough.. I'm stuck with him again today. I talked to CN and he said to just go in the room when only absolutely necessary, which was fine with me. He couldn't change my assignment and wouldn't give me a reason why.
Conferred with the other aide on my wing and she offered to help me out if I needed it.
Turns out, I didn't spend much time with that patient because I had one patient come back from surgery, and was doing the Q15 vitals when I noticed BIG drop in pulse and BP. 15 minutes earlier, he was wide awake, eating his dinner, and talking to me while I did his vitals. My first thought was to call a code and as I was thinking that and to get an RN in there to double check (didn't want to call a code and then have to have it canceled a few seconds later), the MD walks in and he checked the patient. I gave him the vitals. He left the room, and went to talk to Charge Nurse. I charted vitals and realized his next set of Q15's were due NOW. As I walked in, I heard CN saying he would call the code.
After it was all over, I was talking to the patient's nurse and I told her about the BP drop, and how I thought I should call the code but the MD walked in. Then I said I started second guessing myself, that I triple checked the BP (used the machine twice, and did a manual). She said to me "Kylee, you had a feeling, you were right."
Seeing that I'm only a Student Practical (and on a leave), I was second guessing myself, which is why I wanted to have an RN check first.
What a night.... sure glad it's over so I can go fishing tomorrow.
Turns out, I didn't spend much time with that patient because I had one patient come back from surgery, and was doing the Q15 vitals when I noticed BIG drop in pulse and BP. 15 minutes earlier, he was wide awake, eating his dinner, and talking to me while I did his vitals. My first thought was to call a code and as I was thinking that and to get an RN in there to double check (didn't want to call a code and then have to have it canceled a few seconds later), the MD walks in and he checked the patient. I gave him the vitals. He left the room, and went to talk to Charge Nurse. I charted vitals and realized his next set of Q15's were due NOW. As I walked in, I heard CN saying he would call the code. .
Before the code, I ran into the family member in the hallway who keeps appealing the discharge. She complained about the food, and how he hates the soft food, the veggies, etc. Then she said "I'd talk to the dietician and tell them what he doesn't like, but they'll keep on sending him the same old stuff, and hopefully he won't be here much longer anyway."
Took all I could to not roll my eyes and tell her that he would have been out of here ages ago if she wouldn't keep appealing the discharges. Found out she keeps appealing because she doesn't like any of the nursing homes she has visited and he has nowhere to go.
I'm so tired of my floor being the Hilton Hotel.....
Before the code, I ran into the family member in the hallway who keeps appealing the discharge. She complained about the food, and how he hates the soft food, the veggies, etc. Then she said "I'd talk to the dietician and tell them what he doesn't like, but they'll keep on sending him the same old stuff, and hopefully he won't be here much longer anyway."
Took all I could to not roll my eyes and tell her that he would have been out of here ages ago if she wouldn't keep appealing the discharges. Found out she keeps appealing because she doesn't like any of the nursing homes she has visited and he has nowhere to go.
I'm so tired of my floor being the Hilton Hotel.....
I think you did the right thing. As I mentioned earlier, I suspect this is a family problem being played out. As much as you can, stay out of that family problem. It's likely not solvable at this point, and in many family dramas, everyone's so invested that they don't want the problem solved. Part of "he has nowhere to go" is likely that no one in the family can stand him, either, and especially they don't want him in their homes. At least take comfort in knowing you're not alone in disliking this nasty man.
true...I hear ya, girl...my floor has 5 "foo foo" rooms...newer rooms designed for the comfort and privacy of surgical patients...mainly because the neuro practice is bringing in a buttload of money for the hospital, and our neurosurgeon is awesome! He freely admits that he will always stand up for the nurses, and when our assignment is overwhelming he files complaints with the board of directors....(he's done this twice so far...)
do not feel bad if you are not reaching him, this is not a failure on your part, he is raging against the inevitable check the five stages of end of life, thee stages are also seen when there is a dramatic change in health,
family will need to make some hard decisions but you should not be required to undergo mistreatment, talk with the charge nurse and request a rotation with others, request that family be there at meal times
He was discharged this afternoon right when lunch got to the floor. The new patient in his old room is adorable, precious, and just as sweet as can be.
He was discharged this afternoon right when lunch got to the floor. The new patient in his old room is adorable, precious, and just as sweet as can be.
Thanks for posting this! I've been thinking about you and this basher. James Huffman's advice was right on the money.
squeakykitty
934 Posts
:yeahthat:Especially if he can punch so hard that he leaves bruises. I don't blame his family for not wanting him discharged, but you should not have to put up with this. Please don't feel guilty over this, some people will act the way they do no matter how nice you are to them, and you are not responsible for his behavor. Has there been incident reports filed? Let us know what happens.