Do you sometimes feel like an awful nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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Do you sometimes feel like awful, horrible, dangerous nurse? I sometimes have feelings like that.. to make story short, had a new patient today (I work home health). Lady, eighty something, , lives upstairs by herself, on several BP meds as well diabetic on oral pills (metformin). Husband just recently passed away, son and daughter in law lives downstairs, seen mice in her apartment, forgets or doesnt take her meds on daily basis, last time she had her meds refilled was in january 2011, yet most of the pills lie untouched in her bottles meaning she hasnt been taking her meds as she suppose, blood sugar today was normal, checked her BP 160/100. Wanted to giver her the BP meds (she takes 3 in the morning one in the evening). Couldnt do that because she wasnt sure whether she took those meds (my intuition tells she has not touched those pills for BP today). Was ready to give it (based on my intuition). Confirmed with son. Son has no idea whether the mother took her meds today. I called my boss, boss adviced me to not to give those meds today since I may double dose her, so I witheld the meds. Set up a medication box,refilled all the necessary meds in the box instructed the daughter in law to administer those meds to patient daily starting tommorow, phewwwww close call. Yet forgot to tell the son to remove all the medication bottle from the patient's table (in case she wakes up and decides to take her diabetic pills and bp pills).

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Specializes in MR/DD.

I would think that some sort of intervention was needed, based on her blood pressure reading.

I would have called the doctor, regardless of weather or not she took her medication.

I do not work home health so I am not sure of what protocol is. That is what I would have done in my facility.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

First, let's define the "awlful nurse" thing. In my estimation, an awlful nurse is one who either 1) does nothing or 2) does harm. Sorry, Black Heart, you don't fit that criteria.

Now, we've all had instances, for one reason or another, where we did not perform our duties to best of our ability. That merely makes us fallible human beings.

The important thing is that you were proactive in your patient's care; you therapeutically manipulated your media to the best of your ability AT THAT TIME, and you are now in the process of evaluating the situation. Live and learn.

So, in essence, you may "feel like an awlful nurse", but those are just your feelings. They're not reality.

The best to you,

Dave

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

If you worry that you might have forgotten something it just means that you're trying to do the best for your patient but like the rest of us you aren't perfect. Doesn't fit the criteria for "awful nurse" in my book.

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You are fine- you're not awful.

I think that if you work with this lady more, you may need a referral to get her more help (ie-caregivers or moving).

Situations are often very messed up and nurses are not perfection with halos- fix what you can, learn what you are able and leave with your sanity. :smokin:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Reflection in nursing is good: we evaluate our practice and try to learn from situations so when confronted with them in the future, we know how to react.

Reflection to the point of beating oneself up is BAD. There is nothing wrong with evaluating your actions in this situation. But you have to remember, if you continue to beat yourself up, you will burn yourself out. You have to remember that somethings are out of your hands, you do the best you can with the situations you are presented. And, sometimes while that may not seem to be enough, it is better than nothing.

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Specializes in LTC.

Does your agency have a social worker? A visit may be in order to help her with these things. Sounds like you did a thorough job as a nurse, although maybe next time you find a similar situation give the doc a call like another poster suggested. :)

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fine unless she strokes.......sorrry had to say it that would be tough though, she wasn't symptomatic though prolly no biggie,

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I'm new to this site, signed up because I feel like I need a counselor that I can talk to about nursing, and realized that only other nurses can completely understand what I am going through. daveydo's reply to the "awful nurse" makes me feel better, coz sometimes I feel like I have to do it all and do it perfectly, and I feel like a failure most of the time because I don't. It's nice to read that others have those days too.

I think blackhearted nurse did well in that situation. Now that she's thought it through, she can take care of the meds on the table the next day, call dr. it b/p is still high, and get social service involved; all good advice from this forum.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Isn't it funny the way we are SO hard on ourselves? We expect perfection from ourselves when we are given imperfect tools in order to complete our jobs. We work in broken systems, and yet are being told to work faster, be more productive, work with less staff, and work without error. We have so many things to keep in mind knowing that there are SERIOUS consequences to both our patients and our livelihoods if we make an error. No wonder we are Registered Nuts!

On an off note, I think that the most wonderful Nurses Day gift that my hospital could give would to have a counselor or a chaplain work full time to JUST listen to our vents. How cathartic would that be?!?

OP, you are not an awful nurse. If you went to your patient's house, got some popcorn, plopped on the couch and turned on your favorite show while completely ignoring your little old lady, THEN you would qualify as an awful nurse.

STOP beating yourself up! You can only do so much. When I leave my crystal ball at home, I know I am in for a terrible day! Seriously, how were you to know that the pt had been totally non-compliant in her med regimen?

What does your NM think about this pt's situation? I am sure this is not the first time that a HH pt has been non-compliant regarding meds. Ask for some guidance, take a deep breath and know that you ABSOLUTELY make a difference.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Retirement Residence.

I would get them to set up a callendar and everyday put check marks for every med, so they can keep track!

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If anything, you sound like you're a genuinely caring person, and that's the kind of nurse I would want caring for my relative. We all forget things, and nobody can be perfect all the time, but we can learn from experiences too. Try not to beat yourself up, you're doing fine :hug:

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