help this lpn

BradleyRN · Jul 12, 2008

You are doing a beautiful job! Of course the nurses that dont go the extra mile will say "then they will be expected to do the same", but they should be anyway. You will be the one that makes the patients feel secure while sick and far away from home. We arent just medicine dispensing machines. Those nurses that are i surely wouldnt want. Addressing the psychosocial needs of the patient is a very big part of our job. Get out a little late. Your patients will be grateful, and that makes it all worth it!

becembrie · Jul 12, 2008

I think anyone would prefer to have a nurse like you. It only takes a few seconds to touch someone on the arm and ask if they need anything. You are a nurse because you care. I think you should keep doing what you are and not worry about those that are just trying to get the job done. You probably feel so much better when you do leave at the end of the day.:wink2:

kstec, LPN · Jul 13, 2008

I'm quilty of spending way to much time with my patients. Why, because I went into nursing to take care of people and I feel paperwork is something that can be done in my little bit of spare time or at the end of my shift. My paperwork is always done correctily to all the BS standards, but my patients are happy,content, have had their pain controlled, their dignity respected, and most importantly an ear that listen and really cares. I think all the rest (paperwork) is a necessity, but for me not a priority. The more you know about your patients, the easier the paperwork is, because you know all there is to know about them with little guess work, or getting up repeatedly to check on things that should of been done already. A perfect example, my grandmother is in a hospital dying of lung cancer, most nurses in hospitals have appx. 5 patients on a medical floor with CNA's. Well my grandma was having labored breathing but more than usual. I went out to the nurses station and requested a pulse-ox. The nurse came in and my grandma was at 63% at 5L per n/c. I immediately grabbed the mask that should of been on her since she is a mouth breather hooked it up to wallk O2 and with the permission of the nurse cranked it up to 10L, she finally came up to 94% after 15 minutes. I know some nurses are busier than others and until I've walked in their shoes, I don't know what their day has been like, but I do know empathy, compassion, quality time, and a thorough assessment will make a patient and their families day, even in the worst of situations, because as a nurse you are "it" in eyes of the family. Supposedly the doctors know all, but the nurses have the power to make or break a family when the patient is in dyer (sp) need. All the books in the world cannot teach compassion or empathy and boy have I learned that from other nurses. We are a jack of all trades whether we except that or not,and if a patient needs anything (within a respectable reason) I'm going to do it, because that's what makes my patients happy and/or comfortable and that is what makes me feel like I'm making a difference. Sorry so long, but after seeing what goes on in this particular hospital and the quality of care of a DNR to be possible discharged under Hospice care, I'm not impressed. DNR does mean you don't have to give a crap.