Does anyone else ever envy their patients?

Published

Be honest--do you ever the patients you take care of, even just a little bit?

It probably sounds wrong, but I often do envy the patients I take care of. Ultimately, they get to choose their schedule their way. If they want to sleep in, they can. If they want to stay up all night, that's their choice, too. They don't have to wake up to any responsibilities. They can sit around and watch TV all day, read, color, or pretty much whatever they like. They're able to order around staff members and can get upset when things aren't just the way they want, and get away with it. However, if I were to start demanding things from others...well, you can guess how well that would go. I wish I could have a call light to press every time I needed every single little thing. One patient stays in bed all day and all night, except when she goes to the bathroom; as someone who loves to sleep, I would totally love to have that life. Instead, I get to work two jobs and some nights get barely 5 hours of sleep while they do basically nothing all day and have all the time in the world to sleep.

Is there any way to speed up my life so I can finally reach the age where I get to sleep all day, lol?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Nope. No nope nope. I never ever envy my patients. They are in that situation not by choice. To THEM the luxury would be to have a fully functioning body capable of doing all the things they have had to give up, either in reality or just the possibility, because their body is malfunctioning.

Don't wish your life away.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, psych.

No effing way. Nope nope nope nope ...

Quite the opposite ... I feel lucky when I walk out those doors.

Take a longer look at your patients, OP. Do you really envy their positions?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OMG.

I am assuming you work with older adults living in some sort of a nursing home? I NEVER envy the older folks I work with. The feeling of helplessness that one must feel to have to push a button in order to be able to go to the bathroom......yeah no thanks.

And if you work in a hospital with acutely sick patient.....they are obviously there for a reason (aka sick) so why the hell would I be envious?

Sorry, this post is ridiculous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

What a strange perspective. To wish yourself into some type of illness in order to sleep and push a call bell?

I think the day a hospital-worthy illness hits you, you will see the folly of your envy. Sleeping 24/7 is highly overrated by healthy folks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Be honest--do you ever [envy] the patients you take care of, even just a little bit?

Sure, because being healthy is such a drag...

Are you seriously telling me that you'd rather be sick than able-bodied?

I wish I could have a call light to press every time I needed every single little thing.

You'd enjoy being dependent on others? Is this really how you feel or are you just creating posts that will likely result in a bit of drama?

Is there any way to speed up my life so I can finally reach the age where I get to sleep all day, lol?

That's sad. Live your life, you only get one. Old age will come soon enough.

I don't understand you. Just recently you were worrying that time was running out for you at the ripe old age of twenty-six, now you're longing for a time when you'll be bedbound and infirm?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is no way a hospitalized patient can "sleep in". They are subjected to a constant barrage of hospital personnel that interrupt them.

I was recently admitted overnight. I HATED required someone else to assist me in any way, shape or form.

I would NEVER trade my health and independence.. for anything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Related to your other thread? https://allnurses.com/geriatric-nurses-ltc/long-term-care-1099179.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Be honest--do you ever the patients you take care of, even just a little bit?

It probably sounds wrong, but I often do envy the patients I take care of. Ultimately, they get to choose their schedule their way. If they want to sleep in, they can. If they want to stay up all night, that's their choice, too. They don't have to wake up to any responsibilities. They can sit around and watch TV all day, read, color, or pretty much whatever they like. They're able to order around staff members and can get upset when things aren't just the way they want, and get away with it. However, if I were to start demanding things from others...well, you can guess how well that would go. I wish I could have a call light to press every time I needed every single little thing. One patient stays in bed all day and all night, except when she goes to the bathroom; as someone who loves to sleep, I would totally love to have that life. Instead, I get to work two jobs and some nights get barely 5 hours of sleep while they do basically nothing all day and have all the time in the world to sleep.

Is there any way to speed up my life so I can finally reach the age where I get to sleep all day, lol?

I never do, but sometimes I envy the dead which might be even worse. I love my life and I have a good life, but it's a lot of hard work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I don't think you envy them, exactly.

I think you envy their perceived lack of responsibility, maybe mixed in with the attention they receive.

Or (and I say this as gently as possible - bear in mind that I have atypical depression myself) you may have a degree of depression yet to be diagnosed or treated (or treated inadequately).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Sure, because being healthy is such a drag...

Are you seriously telling me that you'd rather be sick than able-bodied?

You'd enjoy being dependent on others? Is this really how you feel or are you just creating posts that will likely result in a bit of drama?

That's sad. Live your life, you only get one. Old age will come soon enough.

I don't understand you. Just recently you were worrying that time was running out for you at the ripe old age of twenty-six, now you're longing for a time when you'll be bedbound and infirm?

Sounds wrong, but I actually don't mind being sick, because healthy people are expected to do more.

I'm not talking about the people that are completely dependent on others, but rather, the ones that basically do everything themselves and do what they want all day long. I don't necessarily want to be confined to bed, but would like the choice to stay in bed all day long like they do, if I so wish. I'd like to wake up every day with nothing on my agenda. I can't see some of the things happening in my life that I'd wished, so yes, I would like to skip forward past the disappointments and live each day as I wish.

And no, these posts are not for drama. While I probably wouldn't wish to be completely dependent on others, sometimes it would be nice to be on the receiving end, rather than on the giving end and still not being appreciated at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OMG.

I am assuming you work with older adults living in some sort of a nursing home? I NEVER envy the older folks I work with. The feeling of helplessness that one must feel to have to push a button in order to be able to go to the bathroom......yeah no thanks.

And if you work in a hospital with acutely sick patient.....they are obviously there for a reason (aka sick) so why the hell would I be envious?

Sorry, this post is ridiculous.

Yeah, I do work with elderly people, a lot of who are able to do a lot of things for themselves, but have the luxury of demanding others to do things for them anyway.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion