refuses to turn (even if she has stage I on her bottom)
refuses beta blockers (HR 100's then shoots up to 149 sustained and elevated BP)
refuses pain medications (but complains of pain)
refuses respiratory treatment (but complains of shortness of breath)
complains the staff is not taking care of her -- translation: they're not here the second I push the call light
I tried various non-med interventions: warm compress, distraction by TV or music, etc. Dealt with an angry family member over the phone. I'm just drained. Anyway, by the time my shift was over, she was calm with stable vitals. At least I fixed that, but it's hard to fix everything else.
Major frustration-ya do wonder what she was thinking you were going to do. (Umm...sorry, my magic wand is in the shop?). You could almost argue her incompetent to make medical decisions for herself...
My opinion, this lady is pretty sharp--just stubborn, controlling, and manipulative. Her 2 children visited her and stayed with her during MD rounds then an hour after that.
I'm usually drained after work, then I get over this by the time I have to come in for the next shift. I was unusually drained when I took care of her because-->She refused my care and yet she demanded I be in her room the second she pushes the call light. And for what? Just to complain about something and then refuse to have interventions done--then, gets on the phone and tells her children that she's not being taken care of. It's very frustrating.
I honestly felt very bad for her, even though she made my shift like heck. I understood I can't 'make' her do anything. And I respected her wishes.
Supposedly this lady had a reputation of being verbally and physically abusive to hospital staff (even before this admission), which I found out the next day I worked. I never knew, and I'm not at all surprised.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
My opinion, this lady is pretty sharp--just stubborn, controlling, and manipulative. Her 2 children visited her and stayed with her during MD rounds then an hour after that.
I'm usually drained after work, then I get over this by the time I have to come in for the next shift. I was unusually drained when I took care of her because-->She refused my care and yet she demanded I be in her room the second she pushes the call light. And for what? Just to complain about something and then refuse to have interventions done--then, gets on the phone and tells her children that she's not being taken care of. It's very frustrating.
I honestly felt very bad for her, even though she made my shift like heck. I understood I can't 'make' her do anything. And I respected her wishes.
Supposedly this lady had a reputation of being verbally and physically abusive to hospital staff (even before this admission), which I found out the next day I worked. I never knew, and I'm not at all surprised.
Even more of a reason to not give her your emotional energy.
Was it her idea to come to the hospital or her family's? It sounds like possibly her real beef is with her family for taking her in, if that's what happened.
Chaya, ASN, RN
932 Posts
Major frustration-ya do wonder what she was thinking you were going to do. (Umm...sorry, my magic wand is in the shop?). You could almost argue her incompetent to make medical decisions for herself...