When your alert and oriented, walkie talkie, 25yo husband is in the hospital for observation and a little fluid resuscitation, be sure to come out of the room frequently, search out the nurse, and ask for things like a different gown, because the one he has on is too thick, or a robe so he can go for a walk, or fresh water because the ice in his water pitcher has melted. We love that. Especially when we have another patient who is a post CVA LOL on an insulin gtt and her CBG has just tanked, an older man with severe multivessel disease who needs a four vessel CABG and is hypotensive, and another patient whose sodium is 129 with a BP of 198/90, with anxiety issues who needs a breathing treatment right now.
Oh yes, we love it when you come out of the room and stand in the hallway, looking lost, until you spot us digging through a chart to find the insulin gtt protocol or frantically dialing the phone to page the doctor, and come up and ask for these Very Important Things.
In fact, I like it even more when you stand there, in the doorway, with your arms folded across your chest, watching me until I can't stand it anymore and finally ask you what it is you need. Yes, the fact that your husband's gown is chafing him is right up there on the top of my priority list. This is a hospital, after all. Can't have any chafing.
Please do not use the call light, or even worse, wait for me to come check on your loved one before you make your requests. After all, the CNA is incapable of bringing fresh ice water. The nurse is the only one qualified to do so, and this is a very good use of her time. :heartbeat
I love it when you call me in there to hand you your water that is at your bedside. Then after I ask if there's anything else I can do for you and you say no, please wait 5 minutes and call me again!!!*&%$#@! Then ask me to turn your pillow! Yep, you are my only patient. ( I found out later she was a retired RN ) The of course, call me back in a few later to change the tv channel ( with the remote in your hand ) and then wonder why I asked if there was a hand injury that we don't know about and procede to investigate the hands. ( she had had a fall , in with a fx ankle. No dementia. Her family said she is just like that ) Oh, and we love it when the same patient is doing all this and family just sits there and lets it continue.
Melinurse
2,040 Posts
I love it when you call me in there to hand you your water that is at your bedside. Then after I ask if there's anything else I can do for you and you say no, please wait 5 minutes and call me again!!!*&%$#@! Then ask me to turn your pillow! Yep, you are my only patient. ( I found out later she was a retired RN ) The of course, call me back in a few later to change the tv channel ( with the remote in your hand ) and then wonder why I asked if there was a hand injury that we don't know about and procede to investigate the hands. ( she had had a fall , in with a fx ankle. No dementia. Her family said she is just like that ) Oh, and we love it when the same patient is doing all this and family just sits there and lets it continue.