Help me make it through the weekend with this in and out cath patient.

Published

I was sent out to do an in and out cath on a 94 y/o male patient today and have instructions to drain his bladder every day for two weeks (what happened to weekends off?) because he had been having a lot of trouble voiding and was scheduled for a TURP in a couple of weeks.

So, the HH agency has approval for all these skilled visits and I'm sure they want all they can get. But when I get out there the grand daughter is telling me he has voided over 1000 ml's today and she doesn't really think he will need to be cath'ed every day like that (doesn't want to "put him through that again if not absolutely necessary") Well, since the doctor ordered it I am guessing it is necessary...she is his medical POA and has every right to refuse but what do I do? I had him urniate right before I cath'ed him and I didn't get a thing out. The doctor wanted us to do this to see if he was emptying his bladder completely.I did meet some resistance but the catheter went in far enough where there should have been some urine return. His GD seemed concerned no urine came out and thought maybe his prostate kept the catherter from going into the bladder. His I&O measurements for today seemed to be going really well. But now I am afraid I am incompetent because I did not get a urine return (except for a teeny drop at the end of the catheter that I noticed when I pulled it out.) I don't feel like she wants me back.

Maybe I am paranoid, but I always get the feeling patient's families don't like me. I'm extremely nice, but I guess they don't like my looks? I don't know, maybe if I came out in Italian shoes and driving a BMW it would look better? Maybe they want to see Nurse Goodbody instead of Aunt Beulah or Ma Kettle? I actually had a complaint about me once because the patient thought I did not dress and look nice enough. At the same time she said I was the most attentive nurse she had come out, but maybe she was just trying not to seem like a complaining hag? I refused to go back out to that house, but no doubt I will face more discrimination of the same kind? I'll admit, I'm fat and sloppy and dumpy looking and I've got a face that would stop the space shuttle, but if my looks really offend people that bad I may as well put a bullet to my head, because as much as I would like to be a hermit and never have to be around people I have three kids to support.

Back to the grandaughter of the little man...

when I mentioned the other nurse she acted like she would rather have him come out. This really bothers me because I always try to do a good job and it's bad when you can't come home at night and relax because you have this doubt in your mind.

Maybe I should go be a truck driver (if I could find a seat that would fit me with the hump on my back....):lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
I was sent out to do an in and out cath on a 94 y/o male patient today and have instructions to drain his bladder every day for two weeks (what happened to weekends off?) because he had been having a lot of trouble voiding and was scheduled for a TURP in a couple of weeks.

So, the HH agency has approval for all these skilled visits and I'm sure they want all they can get. But when I get out there the grand daughter is telling me he has voided over 1000 ml's today and she doesn't really think he will need to be cath'ed every day like that (doesn't want to "put him through that again if not absolutely necessary") Well, since the doctor ordered it I am guessing it is necessary...she is his medical POA and has every right to refuse but what do I do? I had him urniate right before I cath'ed him and I didn't get a thing out. I did meet some resistance but the catheter went in far enough where there should have been some urine return. His I&O measurements for today seemed to be going really well.

Maybe I am paranoid, but I always get the feeling patient's families don't like me. I'm extremely nice, but I guess they don't like my looks? I don't know, maybe if I came out in Italian shoes and driving a BMW it would look better? Maybe they want to see Nurse Goodbody instead of Aunt Beulah? When I mentioned the other nurse she acted like she would rather have him come out.

Maybe I should go be a truck driver (if I could find a seat that would fit me with the hump on my back....):lol2:

You need to stop being so hard on yourself. I have read many of your posts before and I think many times you beat yourself up over what you think other people think.

Perhaps they acted like they'd rather have the other nurse because it would be a male to male situation.

Take pride in yourself and the work you do and don't worry about what others think. You are in this profession to help others, not to make friends or impress anyone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You need to stop being so hard on yourself. I have read many of your posts before and I think many times you beat yourself up over what you think other people think.

Perhaps they acted like they'd rather have the other nurse because it would be a male to male situation.

Take pride in yourself and the work you do and don't worry about what others think. You are in this profession to help others, not to make friends or impress anyone.

That's true but if you constantly turn off patients the agency will get rid of you after awhile.

I'm from Conway, Arkansas, BTW.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
That's true but if you constantly turn off patients the agency will get rid of you after awhile.

I'm from Conway, Arkansas, BTW.

Small world, huh? I live in Bryant. I have a friend who lives in Conway who does HH nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion