I DID TONIGHT! I work at an inpatient hospice facility. Had a new patient with a hx of breast ca with brain mets. She had been restless at home for 3 days. The oncall nurse didn't make a visit, but called the sister at work and asked her if she could send her to us. What the sister HEARD was that she would come for 2 or 3 days and get her pain under control, although having just dealt with her I doubt that was what was SAID. What has happened is the woman came in with horrible terminal restlessness and is now comatous. The sister shows up after work, HYSTERICAL because she won't answer her. I spent about 4 hours of a twelve hour shift explaining the disease process, the terminal restlessness, the s/s she had been showing over the last couple of days that indicate this was coming (as per her discription.) She didn't believe me and said, I know whatever it is your doing to my sister is killing her. You can't fool me. Then acutally asked the aide if I hit her sister on the head:uhoh3: Now, I know what your all thinking, psych right? Nope, this woman is a TEACHER for crying out loud. She just kept saying, my sister isn't dying, she is getting better. I don't know who your talking about, but I know my sister is going to wake up. Ummmm, HELLO, HOSPICE!!!! Her mother was sitting in a chair the whole time saying, now come on. Listen to the nurse, she is trying to tell you what is going to happen next. At one point she even said, I just don't understand all this, I am not a medical person. I said, Well, I am, please let me guide you through the process, so that you can make it easier for BOTH you and your sister. Her mother said, my baby is dying, nothing you can do will change that, then the sister looked at me AGAIN and said, I know that the medicine your giving her is killing her. I even offered to shut the morphine off, thinking that if she SAW how terminal restlessness affects people she would understand. It is AWFUL to watch a loved one strip and flash their bare bodies to all those around. All the while crawling out of bed and hollaring in pain, YIKES! The mother asked me not to turn it off, because she completely understands what is happening. I just feel like this:banghead: :banghead:
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