Any opinions?

TazziRN, RN · May 17, 2006

As long as you are given inservices in trache and g-tube care and are precepted you should do fine.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 17, 2006

You'll quickly get past the initial shock of seeing these patients. I, personally, would accept the job.

tookewlandy · May 17, 2006

I work with mentally retarded people also im not a nurse yet but by 2008 i plan to be one. I love my job, and at first i was like you so i can tell you it probably is first day jitters. WHen i become a nurse i want to continue to work with people with MR, what type of facility do you work in, i want to get some perspective so i know where to apply when i get done with school?

Balder_LPN, LPN · May 17, 2006

In ref to your title: Any opinions?

Nope.....probably not around this place.

:lol2: :roll :chuckle :yelclap: :lol_hitti :icon_roll :smackingf

:lol_hitti:smackingf:rotfl::roll

Sorry that wasnt exactly a real contribution, but I just couldnt pass it up!

HI50 · May 17, 2006

I have worked with several MR patients and it can be a little more frustrating than your usual geriatric ones because of thier lack of understanding when explaining things to them, and behavior problems. The best advise is to provide concistancy, routine and be patient with them because they don't usually understand whats happening to them. Don't be afraid and talk to them like human beings. It is very rewarding when you are able to develope a trust and bond with them. Good luck to you.:welcome:

LPN1974, LPN · May 17, 2006

I work with MR people. I agree with everything Healthynurse said.

These are people, too, and you have give them respect and dignity just as you would anyone else.

We have had several at my job with G-tubes, but no trachs.

They can pull their tubes out in a flash. Why they do it, I don't know. Maybe something about it hurts them and they just want it out.

One of our people pulled his out just the other day. I was wishing the doctor would take it out, because it wasn't being used, he really didn't need it. He came back from the hospital with it, they used it there, but he didn't need it now that he's back with us. So I guess he was wishing he was rid of it, too, because he pulled it out.

And of course, you know when they pull it out, you've got to get something in the opening very quickly or it will close up real fast.

I experienced that on a person, too. She pulled hers out, and it was so NEW that it was almost closed when I got to it, and believe me I didn't dally around either. I was only able to get a very small thin catheter into the opening. Another couple of minutes and I think there would have been no opening.

And another person we had used to pull his out so often, that he got the hole so stretched out that it got to where he was leaking stomach acid and the skin below the opening was in a terrible shape.

They FINALLY took him back to be reevaluated and had to do surgery again and make a new opening, because he'd just ruined that one from pulling the tube out so often. He HAD to have the tube because he was so prone to aspiration.

Anyway, I love my job, but you can have difficulty with these type of patients, and their tubes. They just don't understand how important it is to not mess with the tubes.

HeatherLPN · May 17, 2006

MR is one of the most amazing and rewarding areas to work in, in my opinion. I work full time in LTC, which I really enjoy, but kept my part time MR job b/c I absolutely love it. It can be frustrating at times, but then again, any job can. Learn all you can about your clients and get some training on gtubes and traches and you should be fine. When I first started working MR I was a little afraid of some of the behaviors, but after getting to know my clients better, I learned that sometimes it's just unmet needs and can be corrected easily.