Diabetic Foot Ulcer with Necrosis

[eatenalive365]

New to the job ... for the first time I changed the dressings for a set of necrotic toes, a gangrenous leg, exudating ulcers, slough, etc.... a cold, cold foot that smelled like death. The patient was bawling in tears when he saw a picture of it from my point of view...and of course he doesn't want to amputate! He's not even 50 years old.

I had nightmares when I came home to rest after my NOC shift. Please commiserate/share/help. How can I be a good nurse to him and take care of myself as well?

[TardisMom]

Sadly I have seen this situation more frequently then I would want (which is never) and it is always sad when the situation becomes lose your foot or possibly lose your life. It is understandable that your resident would be grieving the possible loss of his foot, mobility, ect., and I think as the nurse you should try to be empathetic and listen to his feelings and let him work through his grief. As far not wanting to amputate, you will just have to respect his choices whatever they may be.

Insofar as caring for yourself and having nightmares I would suggest trying to distance yourself emotionally from the situation, I am not by any means saying not to care about your patient, but don't bring it home with you. It will stress you out and wear you down if you let it. Do the very best job you can for your patient but decompress and leave it at the door when you clock out.

[Farawyn]

Talk to other nurses. They can handle it both intellectually and emotionally.

[sharpeimom]

Maybe it's too simplistic a suggestion, but something my dad used to do

was reach out and hang anything that wad still bothering him on a branch of a huge old tree in front of our house.

[kiszi, RN]

::HUGS:: You will see lots of sad cases in nursing and some things will stick with you for sure, but in time it will get easier to separate yourself and your emotions from that of your patients. This doesn't mean you don't care or feel for them, but the distance you create is necessary for your own well being and it is essential in order to have a long career as an effective nurse.