Feelings about past patients

[nialloh, RN]

I would like peoples thoughts about some of your first pt's.

My reason for asking this question is the fact that I was just in a bar talking to another nurse about one of my first pt's. I had him 2 years ago (I was a nurse for 6 months or so), and only worked with him a few times the few times he was with us. I got to know him well, and knew one of the few things he really wanted was a cup of coffee before he went to sleep. This was true even when he was confused near the end, even though he didn't drink it.

As I was talking about this pt, who I haven't thought about for years, I had this overwhelming sense of sorrow. I got upset, and acutely cried, for about 10 - 20 seconds. Then the feeling was gone. So were the tears. It was like it never happened. I was left sitting with my friend confused about what just happened.

I was just wondering if other nurses ever get feelings like this for pts long gone. I wonder this because I have talked about this pt before, and have never had a response like this before. I am not an emotional person, and don't react like this to anything.

This person passed a long time ago, and I don't know what happened to make me respond so.

I just wonder if this ever happens to anyone else. I really don't know what to make of it.

[zenman]

Drinking loosens you up a little, perhaps!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

There are many patients I'll never forget. Crazy enough it's the silly things I remember. Like the time 11 years ago Mr. "x" coughed a big one out of his trach right onto my lips. Or the patient screaming in his room and finally he poops the biggest, rounding softball size rockhard stool I ever saw and said "the Lord got that out of me, thank you Jesus". He was one of my very first patients. I'm sure he's gone by now as he had prostate cancer. Mostly patients in my past bring a giggle to me at the strangest times.