old grumpy

[josh1974, LPN]

Just wanted to share this cause it helped make a stressful day a little better. Im work in an ltc. been there a couple months now, still a newbie in the field. Ok, so much for background. I have this resident that is depressed and a super grump and can really be an a.. also. Today I went in to ask him his pain level before I got his 8p meds. By the way, he and I joke around a bit when hes in a good mood. He said he had some pain in his rt knee, and me being me said "Man, if I looked liked you, I'd be in pain too". Well he got the biggest smile I have ever seen on his face, I mean ear to ear and maybe some more. He just said "buddy, thank you, I really needed that". When I came back with his meds he was still smiling and told me that I made him feel a lot better by just being one of the guys with him. :) Oh yeah, states been here all week too!

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Nice story. It bears out what I've been thinking, lately. We are humans. None of us is really capable of being Robonurse, anyway, and really, I think it might be better if we don't try.

Good job, Josh.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

That's so cute. :)

[nursel56]

I love it!! He probably hasn't heard decent guy banter in years! I heard another good one the other day, guy says to friend, "See you later!!" Friend says "Not if I see you first!!

To those who may be horrified by this-- just need to know that you already knew the guy and he knew you, so you had a good feel for how he would respond to it. Saying that to a total stranger---- mmmm---- not such a good idea. :chair:

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

Its things like that keep a nurse going. If not I would have quit a long time ago.

[rn/writer, RN]

Good for you, Josh.

We can be so sanitized, artificially therapeutic, and politically correct in our interactions with patients that it sucks all the air out of the room. Yes, we should be careful to assess how a patient might take what we say, but we need to be at least a little bit real. This is especially true in LTC where we are coming into the resident's home.

Thank you for being a real guy, Josh, and injecting a little healthy reality into this man's day.

[makes needs known]

The human touch. Nice story. Everybody needs more friends.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

It is great that you were able to be one of the guys with him. I think that a lot of the residents miss this kind of interaction. I work in LTC also and I can tell you that some of my residents love to joke around.

There is this one LOL where I work who would greet me every morning by sticking out her tongue at me. I would just smile and say good morning and go on with my day. Well, one day I decided that I was going to stick my tongue out at her and see what happens. That LOL giggled like a school girl and every since then I can do no wrong. When she gets combative (dementia) with ADLs and does not want to do anything for the aide they get me. As soon as she sees me she grins from ear to ear and is happy to do whatever needs to be done.

Now every morning I get greeted by someone sticking their tongue out at me and I stick mine out right back. Childish sure, but for whatever reason this resident loves doing this when she sees me. Who am I to deny her such a small thing.

[josh1974, LPN]

Whew! all positive replies! Was a little worried I'd get the "being unproffesional" speech or something. Thanks for all the great comments.

[nursel56]

Whew! all positive replies! Was a little worried I'd get the "being unproffesional" speech or something. Thanks for all the great comments.

Yeah!! :up: There's reason to be hopeful about our ability to lighten up and be real!

[Disco_Superfly]

Amen to that.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

I love taking care of grumpy old men! It's much more enjoyable when you can have fun with the patients.