I looked in here, and other places, and didn't see a sole thread dedicated to the madness that is PDN. As PDN's we go through... Well, a variety of experiences. Let's just say we could write one heck of a book.
So this thread is for:
1. Your wildest, craziest, saddest, happiest, most psycho private duty nursing/homecare stories (Pedi or Adults)
2. Venting about frustrating parents, cases, patients, etc
3. Advice on "should I stay in this case VS that one, etc."
I hope lots of people participate, I feel this is going to be helpful.... We can feel isolated out there in the field. I personally love sharing stories with other nurses. I'll go first, but I'll wait til I get home and can really type out some doozies. :)
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Lol. At least I'm not the only one who has had to deal with not having any toilet paper available. I had to deal with that on my last case. I would either hold it all day (I would be at the house for 12-14 hours) or use the bathroom & use the kid's wipes. Then the kid ran out wipes, I told the mom & she didn't do anything. THANKFULLY supplies were delivered the next day. Oy. I have never worked somewhere where there was no toilet paper. But come to find out the nurses keep a stash hidden. Just wow.
Lol. At least I'm not the only one who has had to deal with not having any toilet paper available. I had to deal with that on my last case. I would either hold it all day (I would be at the house for 12-14 hours) or use the bathroom & use the kid's wipes. Then the kid ran out wipes I told the mom & she didn't do anything. THANKFULLY supplies were delivered the next day. Oy. I have never worked somewhere where there was no toilet paper. But come to find out the nurses keep a stash hidden. Just wow.[/quote']
I pack a tissue roll and a paper towel roll...just in case....as well as sanitizer wipes and gel.
I keep in my car: TP, paper towels, Clorox wipes for the toilet and faucets, and tissues for my nose. These keep me comfortable. I may be adding house shoes to my kit.
Ohhh, I must share this one. I may have shared it before though.
I worked for a super sweet family from Thailand. They were overly appreciative. But...one of my first few shifts there created a memory that may haunt me for most if not the rest of my life. The kids room opened up into the kitchen and we used the kitchen sink to clean syringes. I went out like normal to clean syringes and in the sink was a dead rat! Not a mouse, but a rat. Blood was draining into the sink from the rat. I took my syringes back to the room and shut the door to get my thoughts together. So next thing I know, I smell this awful odor...I just knew.
Fast forward a few shifts later. Went into the kitchen and the mom was taking sips out of the pot. Back to the room to get myself together again. Ewww!
Fast forward a little further and I started realizing the cute cats I would pet on the way in the door were slowly disappearing. I thought no, it can't be. Well mom tells me at some point how animal control has been called on them before. Slowly I put stuff together.
One more fast forward and there is a cat hanging and they are preparing dinner. I didn't come out of the patients room until I went to my car to leave.
I will still say they were one of the sweetest families I have worked for. But anytime they offered me food, it was always a coincidence that I had just eaten.
Ohhh, I must share this one. I may have shared it before though.
I worked for a super sweet family from Thailand. They were overly appreciative. But...one of my first few shifts there created a memory that may haunt me for most if not the rest of my life. The kids room opened up into the kitchen and we used the kitchen sink to clean syringes. I went out like normal to clean syringes and in the sink was a dead rat! Not a mouse, but a rat. Blood was draining into the sink from the rat. I took my syringes back to the room and shut the door to get my thoughts together. So next thing I know, I smell this awful odor...I just knew.
Fast forward a few shifts later. Went into the kitchen and the mom was taking sips out of the pot. Back to the room to get myself together again. Ewww!
Fast forward a little further and I started realizing the cute cats I would pet on the way in the door were slowly disappearing. I thought no, it can't be. Well mom tells me at some point how animal control has been called on them before. Slowly I put stuff together.
One more fast forward and there is a cat hanging and they are preparing dinner. I didn't come out of the patients room until I went to my car to leave.
I will still say they were one of the sweetest families I have worked for. But anytime they offered me food, it was always a coincidence that I had just eaten.
Fast forward a little further and I started realizing the cute cats I would pet on the way in the door were slowly disappearing. I thought no, it can't be.
Wait. What?
Ok. I think I'd take having no tp over having Fluffy for dinner.
I can add more. Guess I'm in the mood to discuss it.
I've had the swat team come in. That was years ago. It was a dad that had all kind of issues. He even knew more than the Drs and would change vent settings.
Last year, I walked out of an apartment complex to cops with guns that are bigger than me pointed at me. They were looking for a guy that shot a cop. I had no idea. Never heard the helicopters overhead or anything. I dropped everything and put my hands up having no idea of what was going on. Long story short, they let me get to my car and eventually I made it out if the complex safely. That was a fun call to the boss :/
Then there was the hoarders home. They would get mad if you moved stuff. And I remember them getting mad when someone (agency, I think) told the family that blocking the front door was a fire hazard. They were mad that someone would tell them how to keep their house. There was a path as wide as one foot to walk and balance. I didn't stay there long for lots of reasons! But I've heard of other homes like that in the area from other nurses. It must be common.
Had a crazy parent that was crazier than the average crazy ones. I'm all for someone having religious beliefs. But this one was odd.
The mom would obsess over plastering the walls with handwritten Bible verses. Her kid had just enough brain function for a pulse and respirations. He didn't even respond to pain. Sad case. The mom expected us to play games with the kid and interact with him. I never figured out how. She swore that the kid would walk and talk one day and that she just knew God would show her a miracle. She wouldn't eat "evil"foods and just all sorts of odd things. The foods were random things like celery and candy. She thought us female nurses were evil for wearing pants. Well, the kid passed. I feel like it was the best thing for the kid! But I'll never forget all the Bible verses. She was definitely OCD and whatever the mental illness is involving religion. And anything her pastor told her had to be true....and boy were there some things she told me that were out there.
PerfectlyPlump, ADN, RN
181 Posts
That wins the prize for unique work settings.
I guess I don't know exactly WHAT qualifies a child for medicaid coverage for PDN.