One of those days I would like to forget about...

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Oct 31, 2013

UGH. Hate days like this. I would say use your resources.

If you have CNA's ask that they pay mind to the call bell in your needy patient's room. That due to your really sick patient, you would appreciate the help.

Use your charge to eyeball your really sick patient with you. Does that patient need an alternate level of care? Is the patient responding to the treatment you are giving them? If not, then something else needs to be done.

Also, if it is a whole lot to have the sick and the needy patient together, say something before assignments are made. Usually, if you say "patient xyz and mno together are a handful. Can we divide them up?"

If the needy patient is A&O, you may have to resort to "I will be back in an hour" scenario. I am not a huge "script" fan, however, to prevent (hopefully) the call bell every 10 minutes thing, you may have to attempt limit setting.

Keep your charge nurse abreast of the situation, and ask for help if you need it before you get in too deep.

Good luck and tomorrow will be a better day if for nothing else, you are aware and mindful!!

martymoose, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2013

I have shifts like this probably 6 out of 8 times. It really sucks. Especially now since we have more geriatric confused undirectable dementia pts , and we cant do a darn thing to keep them in place( and also having to go to the commode every 20 minutes)

As for the aox3 needy pts, with the focus on CS, there is no limit setting. They will whine until they get what they want. They dont care if anyone else is in the hospital. me me me.

I feel your pain

Tobygo2 · Nov 1, 2013

My day today!! Felt HORRIBLE at the end of the day

R!XTER · Nov 1, 2013

Ugh I totally know this feeling, where you are constantly running from one task to the next without any time to process your thoughts so you constantly feel like you're forgetting something. By the end of these shifts I'm always just grateful that none of my patients died. Then when I finally leave, all I can think of while driving home is what did I forget to do, or what important piece of info did I forget to report? These situations feel so unsafe that despite doing my best and all my good intentions, I wind up fearing for my license.

Guests · Nov 1, 2013

Today was a nightmare. I work med-surg and had only 4 patients today. I don't want to go into too much detail but I was run off my feet. I had 9 million orders, needy patients, and one very very sick patient. I couldn't keep up with the chaos around me. I work 12 hour shifts and I didn't get a break until 1, and didn't chart a damn thing until 4. I feel exhausted and like I missed stuff. I feel like my patients didn't get the attention they needed because of all I had going on. When I gave report I felt sick, like knowing I missed something. Thank goodness I have excellent coworkers who helped me immensely. I just am sidelined with how bad my day was I won't sleep tonight and have to go back for another day tomorrow. Have you had days like this?! Where you take one step forward and 19 steps back? I was barely keeping my head above water today and feel like I messed something up, I just don't know what yet sorry for the vent but I had to let it off my chest. Do you guys have any advice about how to deal with those shifts that leave you flabbergasted? How do you deal with the days you just want to forget even happened?

I've had shifts like that.

I approach it like athletics: First I look back to see if there's anything to learn... then I put it out of my mind and look forward. There's nothing to be done about the past and the past can be the biggest impediment to future success.

Michael Jordan missed free throws, Jerry Rice dropped passes, Joe Montana threw picks, and Walter Payton fumbled... it happens... but what made each of these athletes special is that they were able to set aside their failures and focus on each new task as it was laid before them without dwelling on the past.