A nurses Request

Nurses General Nursing

Published Sep 22, 2009

rockenmomRN

158 Posts

Specializes in Tele.

A Nurses Request......

Dear Patient of Mine,

I have a request, nay a plea that I must ask of you.

Please dear patient, after I have worked tirelessly through the night trying my best to keep you safe, keep you alive I have to beg of you...

After I have put my fingers in places dear god intended as an 'exit only' oraphis, and after carefully and tenderly cleaning up vomit from between the folds of your neck and chin. Not to mention that you now need to be deep suctioned for fear that you aspirated some of said contents, and there's no telling what will try to fly in my face while you are gagging on the suction tubing...

After I have wiped you down when you mistakenly lost control of your basic body functions and changed your bed sheets for about the 5th time tonight...all while you were still in the bed because you are no longer able to ambulate around...

At the end of a long night that I've looked after your anal tube, urinary catheter, chest tube, the wound vac attached to your sternum, your peg-tub, J.P, Davol or hemovac, what I really need of you...

After I've spent the evening doing dressing changes from your central line, peripheral line, and or your art line...all the while making sure I kept sterile so as not to further cause you infection...( Not to mentions the dressing changes from your peri-anal abscess, "lady" procedure and/or your fractured manhood; you know what that means)...

After a long shift full of dressing and undressing into and out of those yellow gowns, gloves, mask, face shield, surgical cap, O.R. booties and/or leggings...

After politely listening to how you're husband/wife has a 'you know what' in his or her 'OH MY ____', waiting quietly while you explained for what must be the 30th time why you are not to blame for all your own problems...

After I've religiously turned you from side to side every 2 hours, just to make sure you don't develop a pressure ulcer, all the while my wrists and back heels are killing me...

After I have stayed ahead of your pain, being ready with you next dose of vicodin, norco, morphin (P.O and/or I.V.), Demorol, phenergan, Benadryl, Fentanyl, Methadone, neurontin and any number of benzo's...sleeping pills, nausea, cardiac med, diuretics, antidepressants, really I could go on.

So after a full night of taking care of your cardiac monitor to make sure your ticker doesn't stop or blow up for that matter, after assuring your blood pressure has remained stable, your body temp has left you too cold or cooked your brain, after carefully counting your respirations to make sure all those narcotics haven't put you out permanently...

My dear patient these are just the few things I have taken time and given special attention to for you, to assure that you have the best chance of recovery...

Little do you realize You are not a 1:1, no actually I have four other patients just like you who are equally as deserving of the limited time I have, so this makes it 5:1. I have no CNA for I am a "Primary Care Nurse", and our unit is short staffed. Ask the thousands of New Grads, hospitals are NOT hiring right now, and legally on this acute of a unit I should really only have 3:1...

Now my request to you is this...Please don't assault me with any of the following or anything I may leave out...I would appreciate not being on the receiving end of your pillow, your brush/comb, poop, foley bag, spit, fist, open hand, foot, IV bag, food, fork, spoon, flowers, toilet paper, cups, babies, panties, chonies, bras, water in the face, call light, medications (that is unless you're sharing that dilaudid), phone (cell phone or hospital)...

I would also appreciate not being verbally abused...no I'm not here illegally, no my education wasn't free, I'm really not a B_ _ _ _ _, nor am I an idiot, stupid, retarded, incompetent, a slave, door mat, maid, servant, housekeeper, or a grabby to..OH AND I COULD NEVER BE OVERPAID FOR WHAT I DO!!

You see, I am your nurse and as such, I care about your well being, your family, your life after you have left my care. I am your advocate who speaks for you and your family when the physicians who are equally as overworked, miss something or just do not want to address and issue b/c its not related to your diagnonsense...

Please try and treat me with the same dignity and respect that I have afforded you and your family, try to remember that when I'm not in these scrubs I'm someone's mommy, someone's wife, sister, daughter and friend and neighbor. I not only take care of you but those who are walking the halls of this place where you have come in your most desperate time of need, I help with homework, drive field trips, volunteer in the community, as well as continue to study to make sure my skills and knowledge is always up to date.

When it comes down to it I ask...Please dear patient, have some patience. Please don't be the one who makes me hate what I have chosen to do, please don't make me regret all the schooling and family sacrifices I went through just so that I could take care of you today...after all I'm coming back tomorrow and chances are I will be your nurse again...