Call me Cinderella

[audreysmagic, RN]

Oh, man, this one may take the cake this week for me. I needed some like minded peeps to understand. It's kind of hilarious, in the laugh-so-you-don't-crack sort of way...

So we're all familiar with patients who are pleasant enough, but a total timesuck because they need a lot of attention. I got one of those who quickly learned my name this last shift, and as soon as my butt came anywhere near the chair at the nursing station, she yelled my name down the hall. At 1 am, you know, because she wanted to remind me how tired she was. All the care offered, PRNs, the usual. For as tired as she is, nothing's taking her down, but she's not acting out, so whatever. Then she wants ice water. From me personally. And whatever other thing. So it takes me literally an hour and a half to type her admission assessment (a form that normally takes me 20-30 min max) because I'm running between her and the rest of my crew - who were, blessedly, well-behaved and/or sleeping at the time. At one point when I was running for more ice water, someone else requested coffee while I was up, but...hell, the coffee's all decaf and the ice machine's right next to it. WHY. NOT. (As for where my techs were, I have two and one was manning the desk and the other was with a patient doing belongings during the height of this.)

Now, finally, I start to settle her. I remind myself that some patients, particularly those who have spent a lot of time in SNFs, need a little more one-on-one attention. I remind myself this is mental health. I take a deep breath. I. HEAR. MY. NAME. Shouted, per usual, at approximately 90 dB. I plaster on the most sincere smile I can manage and poke my head in. "Hey. What's up?"

"Oh, I was just wondering what you were doing."

Well, I was TRYING to do my job, but...

I'd say I can't wait for my transfer to days, but that's just a different kind of chaos. And yet I chuckle every time a med-surg nurse tells me "I could never do psych!" and smile because there's no other field I'd rather be in. (Except maybe a well-baby nursery, but we all need our fond fantasies.)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt

Sometimes I prefer the patient who refuses anything and everything over the one who is a little too attached to me.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Yeah, it's a strange combination of happiness..."oh, they know my name!" and terror..."oh no, they know my name!" isn't it. At least when they just yell "NURSE!" at the top of their lungs you can kind of pretend they are not actually talking to you.

[nickfitz1969]

Cinderella!