Published
This situation just kind of sits in my caw. I floated to a same day surgery orthopedic unit. My patient a 30ish year old otherwise healthy man, came out with ACL repair. He had had a femoral block but soon upon arrival was complaining of a lot of pain, but he was acting weird, saying he needed to straighten his leg, he needed to stand up, even kind of trying to get out of bed, then saying he has claustrophobia, that he gets panic attacks when he flies. I asked if he had seen a doctor for his panic attacks, he said no, I asked what he did when he got panic attacks, he said he drank (I'm pretty sure he was referring to when he flew??? I don't think? he was an alcoholic?) I was giving the IV pain meds as ordered but was thinking this guy could use some versed?
I mention to the charge nurse his weird behavior, that I had maxed out his pain meds (not a whole lot had been ordered) and that I thought he needed versed (I would have called anesthesia for an order). She said NO if he got versed he would be here too long. I gave more IV pain meds, (he never got a LOT, I have given more than he got to different patients)
I was trying to push his PO intake so he could get PO pain meds, I had alreayd given him IV Zofran, and as I was getting the PO pain meds he threw up!!!! By then it was my turn for lunch, he was passed onto another nurse and it was mentioned to me "she will get him out of here!" He was gone when I got back but still I feel annoyed. How did the charge nurse get the idea some versed would lengthen his stay???? I have no idea if it would have helped, or made any difference, but to say, no then he will be here longer seems crazy?