We all have things we'd like to be able to do for patients when time allows. We get many many geriatric folks at my work (from home or nursing homes) who haven't had nail care in AGES. I love to get folks trimmed up (discreetly, of course - the policies are so funny about nail care.)
Another nurse I worked with felt like she wasn't doing her job if her bedbound patients didn't get a backrub at bedtime.
What do you like to do special for your patients "just because" (not because some made it a script or a customer satisfaction ploy.)
I'm flashing back to a scene in Life As A House (have you seen the movie?) where the Kevin Klein character in lying in a hospital bed and his nurse is washing his face. They are talking and she puts her hand on his face. The patient says "I can't remenber the last time someone touched me". She gets a misty look in her eyes, smiles and keeps her hand on his face. I got a little misty, myself.
i have a few favorites: i love to talk and listen to my patients, usually my coworkers will hunt me down to get me out of a room when i come up missing.
with my laboring patients i keep them clean and rub their backs and or feet,
i have even been none to wash a few feet every now and then.
Hair wash and set (removing snarls is always a nice thing to do too...nobody likes matted hair)
During quiet times back when I did some home health/private duty, i would even cut and perm the LOLs' hair for them...we had fun...'beauty parlor day'...LOL!
Also nail soaks, cleans and trims...sometimes a polish for the ladies...they love that!
Also been known to do a shave, and hair trim on the old gents too...makes 'em feel spiffy. I kept some cologne/aftershaves in my locker too for those who didn't have them...so they could primp up before visitors came. :)
I enjoyed my elderly patients...some of them were so sweet, and their families didn't seem to care much about them...it always hurt me to see that.
I'd write letters for my geri patients who had trouble with it too...they always appreciated that.
I try to take them out somewhere - especially the elderly who have no family nearby. If I obtain permission and If I can transfer them to my car - we are "Good to Go" - Last week I took a lady to Walmart - it was her first time out of the facility in 2 years - we had a blast!!! Mcdonalds, Dairy Queen, I treated her to new shoes and some lotion and socks/undies - Of course I told her it was from her account!
I know something personal about each of my 40 residents in the long term care facility. Most of the time just to sit and look at their photos, or read a card, find that flatttened round mouse that keeps "twirling around" at night (which turns out to be a sock), or find the missing earring back (I have a box of new ones and I say "here it is!-I found it!"
I have to be careful though - I get too involved and then I'm too slow on the med pass and I end up staying late to chart due to the extra attention the residents are used to. I've had to back off a little and give the extra time at the end of the shift or on my own time. They also end up waiting for "ME" to come on shift and then I end up with a list of complaints and PRN meds a mile long because I'm the nurse who listens. I see now why some of the nurses just go in and out -
Wow Colleen! I just love my little "orphans" at work with no family or none that cares. I too am known to come by with little anonymous presents. A comb for somebody who is without, hair barettes, lipstick etc. Makes them feel like a million bucks.
There is a scene from St. Elsewhere that I will never forget. Perhaps some of you remember it also. There was a very elderly white gentleman who was dying of cancer. He was on a morphine drip and had no family visiting him during his last days. He was lying in the bed alone and the orderly - a very big black guy, came in to help him with his bath or something. The man told him that more than anything, he missed his mother rocking him gently to sleep and how he wished he could die that way. The orderly picked the man up in his arms, IV's hanging and all, and stood there, rocking this man as he died.
I sobbed. That has always stuck with me. Loved that show.
bad tom bad!! 
adrienurse, LPN
1,275 Posts
I'm flashing back to a scene in Life As A House (have you seen the movie?) where the Kevin Klein character in lying in a hospital bed and his nurse is washing his face. They are talking and she puts her hand on his face. The patient says "I can't remenber the last time someone touched me". She gets a misty look in her eyes, smiles and keeps her hand on his face. I got a little misty, myself.