obituaries

Nurses General Nursing

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does anyone else find themselves looking in the obits for former patients? my family thinks that i am totally bizarre, please confirm that this is yet another "nursing feature!"

I read obits first thing, first to see if any of my residents have passed away and then to make sure my name isn't in there.

Originally posted by nrw350

that had to stink seeing that your patient was dead. How did you take it?

Nick

Sucked big time. I had discharged him that day. Walked him out to his car with his Holter monitor. He hugged me and his wife joked that he was getting a big thrill hugging such a young girl.

It was apparently a very big thrill.

Heather

I always read the obits. What never fails to amaze me ( altho it shouldn't ) is how many of our frequent fliers are murdered.

I have been on a holter monitor before, and hated every minute of it. Turned out to have been a bad ekg reading that freaked my doctor out and made him want to put me on prozac immediately. Long story made short, I have not been back to that doctor since.

Nick

PS: If he was anything like me, hugging a very careing nurse is a big thrill because it is sort of a chance for me to repay the nurse's kindness.

I always read the comics first, then do the crossword (at least I attempt to do it!) Then I read Ann Landers or her sis's column, makes me feel soooooo normal, and like my life is easy!!

Yes, I always read the obits. In Boston they are called the "Irish Sportspages"!;)

why is that?

Nick

I always do......

I'm Irish, so it's not a slur, Nick, but from what I understand from my relatives, when the Irish first became a major population group in the area Irish wakes were one of the big social events. Women went to mourn and talk and help the widow--they were usually held in the home-- and the men to drink and talk and eat and socialize. If you read "The Last Hurrah" by Edwin O'Connor he gives a great scenario of what part Irish wakes played in the politics during James Michael Curley's reign. (They sounded like mini-caucuses to me!)

Growing up, at my house, when the Boston Post came each morning, Dad would grab the real sport's pages and Mom the Obit's which she always called the "Irish Sports Pages." What she found there usually dictated her social calendar for the next few days. I don't know where the phrase originated, but have heard other Irish-American people use it.

You are not alone! I work on an Oncology/ Med-Surg/ Palliative Care Unit...we always look for patients from our floor. We have a bulletin board on which we post obits...sadly, this very morning, we posted two obits of two well known patients of ours.

The weirdest habit of mine is that I'm always assessing the veins of people I know for possible IV starts! My husband's veins are a favorite...I can get a 16 gauge in those babies!

Thats creepy of alwaysing assesing veins for IV's. I dont think I want to date/marry a medical professional if you all do that lol!!! j/k

Nick

I thought all nurses looked at veins. You never know who you'll be sticking a needle in next!! I have great veins but the last two times i had to be stuck, I mentioned this, and both times they missed. ( two different nurses with years of experience.) I'll never say that again.

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