Published
YES! Just this morning (4th 12 hr. shift in a row-finally time to go) I went to my last pt. for 0600 meds. Her feeding pump had a technical failure, so I get a new pump. The new pump gets reprogrammed and I go to prime it and it was also broken! I was so irritated. Then she wants to start telling me her life story about things breaking-I'm trying to leave the room to get a new pump-she tells me to slow down and take my time because she isn't going anywhere. On my way to get another pump my confused pt. broke out of one of his restraints and was hanging half way out of the bed. I slide him back in bed and realize he was laying in watery diarrhea. Blah, blah, blah. I still had I's and O's to do and we have to be off the clock by 0715 or we don't paid past that without filling a form, explaining why we are late, and the manager approving it. Never fails! LOL (now it's funny, but I was ill this morning!)
Worked in the Ward from Hell one night - dementia unit. Changed a patient's gown & his linen like 3 times in 30 minutes. He had weeping, bloody sores he kept picking & ripping the dressings off - and reaching into his nappy pads to smear pooh everywhere. Actually I think he was bored, had no visitors, just an old man that had been forgotten by the world. Oh, that was a loooong shift. I so wished I could have restrained his hands, but we aren't allowed to. You just do what you can do, smile at the patients & their families - then go into the toilet and fume there instead.
Sometimes it just FEELS like its done on purpose. I expect my day to be a complete disaster from beginning to end and when it isn't I'm pleasantly surprised. Yes I still get frustrated but when you set your expectations for a peaceful shift very low you're not dissapointed when thats exactly what you dont get.
UpinawayRN
98 Posts
Is it just me, or does anyone elses pts decide to poop, vomit(after complete bedbath and linen change) or crash just as you are getting your ducks in order to give report for a "today, I will get out of here on time"? I as of late can't get out on time if a million bucks were offered to me. Oh, and "Yes, hi, I am Doctor blah blah and need the labs and consent so we can take him to....HUH, really again? What? you have a big bump where your IV is? I am in the middle of wrapping this shift up, or so I thought. Yeah I know, comes with the territory....I really would like to leave on time boss and am not just slacking or riding the clock..just a vent.*sigh*