when the nurse becomes the patient ! ack!

Nurses General Nursing

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wondering what kind of patients you all think you make, having had more recent experience as a patient these days I have to say that I'm a great patient!!!!!!

although I do tend to ask more questions than most, I'm easygoing and have been told that I was a pleasure to nurse! (Ohmy!)

if any of you have been in hospital , or better yet had nurses or former nurses as patients what have you thought?

I had a former nurse as a patient not too long ago and she was hilarious, was addicted to percocet, 80 something years old, former psych nurse , told us many stories about her nursing, about how one day she got so pissed at her clinical teacher she went in and grabbed a porcelain bed pan (Porcelain!??!! yikes!) and the whole cart of em fell over and broke hahaha , mind you she could turn EVIL in a milisecond!

"I'm not taking this tylenol, for gods sake Wendy you know plain tylenol doesnt do anything for pain"

haha too true

cheers :)

I've been a patient a few times.

One of the most embarising moments, was after my appendectomie, where I couln't stop crying! I almost drowned in my own tears, gathering in the O2-Mask!

Same postop, yes, I had bm already (of course I didn't I was just so f------- hungry!), so I got FOOD! And I got the most terrible problems you can imagine!! Infusions with bepanthol and mestinon (probably called different in the USA). But I survived!

Take care, Renee

I came down with beta strep meningitis! I was hospitalized for 3 weeks. I was a pretty nice patient. I wasn't worried about nurses not doing what they are supposed to do because I am a nurse. I was patient and kind because I know what they have to deal with on a daily basis. I made an effort to do for myself. Although one nurse needed to take a class in pain management. My doctor ordered certain type of pain meds based on my level of pain. I told the nurse that my pain exceeded motrin at this point and I was due to have a stronger med. She gives me motrin anyway and sure enough I was on the call light very upset because she simply disregard my pain. Instead of giving me something stronger. I truly feel for the average patient. I was never a denier of giving pain meds. I hate being in pain and everyone knows pain delays healing and well being. I gave her the riot act and never had a problem again. No one likes to be ignored now I understand why patients lose it sometimes.

I have been told never to tell staff that I am a nurse.

tell them I am a paramedic, bus driver, funeral director anything but do not tell your nurse that ur a nurse. Which I can understand as I have been told that nurses make the worst patients and I have seen nurses providing very poor care to patient they know are nurses.

What a sad sad thing...

I remember a retired nurse I cared for when I worked as a CNA. She was in her mid 70's, and had periods of dementia. But while I was giving her a bath one night, she reached out and touched my face, and said "oh, you had chicken pox as a child". I have a small scar on the side of my face from having chicken pox as a baby, but to most people it isn't even noticable. It touched my heart to realize that she was still so observant of others, and still assessing as she looked at someone. She was the sweetest lady I ever had the pleasure to care for. When she was lucid, she told the most amazing stories of how nursing was many years ago, and when she was confused, it about broke my heart.

Another nurse that I remember was in her mid 40's, and had a total knee replacement. She was constantly on the call light for every little thing. She refused to participate with the physical therapist when she came. She refused to TC&DB. She knew exactly when her PRNs were due and would call to ask for them about 30 minutes in advance. One night she asked me to bring her pain medication. I explained to her again (I had worked with her the previous night) that as a CNA, I could not bring her medication, but I would let the nurse know. She then proceded to ball up her fists, and while pounding them on the bedside table, she screamed "pain med, pain med, pain med, NOW, NOW, NOW!" I stood there for a minute in complete shock at her temper tantrum, then I closed my mouth and went to tell the nurse she needed meds. She wasn't even due for them for another hour. And believe me, that was not a fun hour. :chuckle

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I had surgery a few months ago. I just tried so hard to not be a bother as I know how busy us nurses are. I always said please and thank you and despite being afraid and in pain, never said anything. I guess I didn't want to be a problem, and thinking back, I should have asked questions or for pain meds, as I think they just don't have the time to offer meds, and they just assumed I had no pain....

Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

Not inpatient. . .

but for some reason, whenever I go for blood work, I seem to always pick the clinical day for the phlebotomists. I always am nice & tell them where to stick me. . . I am such a HARD STICK, it isn't even funny, but I always let them try 'til they get it. How else would someone learn? Thank goodness for a high pain tolerance :) :)

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