If I take care of that guy one more day, I'm going to seriously rethink my nursing career. He was an ETOHer who had a fall, with a bottle of whiskey in hand, broke his hip, lay on the floor for two days, while drinking alcohol the whole time. He subsequently had many complications including intubation and a trache, which he still has, along with G-tube, rectal tube, etc. He seems to have become a permanent resident of the hospital, with his only interest in life apparently being fondling himself. He closes his eyes and refuses to do anything with OT and PT.
I really feel soooo totally burnt out on that patient! It's very difficult to find placement for this type of patient, and they are exhausting to take care of! It's a real bummer to walk into the room and try to cover him up, he is constantly playing with himself, it's gross! No family in sight and patient is a full code naturally.
There is nothing inappropriate or unprofessional about requesting an occasional break from patients who are physically, mentally or emotionally demanding, and no decent charge nurse would begrudge the request.
When I worked in NICU, we were especially sensitive to the needs of nurses who spent days, if not weeks on end caring for the same critically-ill newborn. Even the primary nurse would occasionally need a "mental health" day caring for feeder-growers, or normal newborns. To ignore this aspect of nursing is to invite burn-out and turn-over.
Definitely share the assignments. We have had patients on my unit for 200+ days. When enough of us told the unit manager we were burning out, the patient was moved to another unit. Finally went home at day 349.
Perhaps you can make a mention to your charge nurse doing assignments that you are getting a little burned out with room 505 and would like to take a new block of patients for a little while. It's only fair that some other people get to experience a patient this charming.
This is precisely what I do when I just can't handle a certain patient (or few) anymore. I know we're supposed to be unbiased, but it's so hard not to be when you're immersed in this person's care for 12 hours a day for X amount of days. I'd rather give quality care than substandard care -- which is liable to jeopardize their safety and my license. I know patients (and our superiors!) think we can do ANYTHING. They seem to forget that we're actually human and have emotions...
If I take care of that guy one more day, I'm going to seriously rethink my nursing career. He was an ETOHer who had a fall, with a bottle of whiskey in hand, broke his hip, lay on the floor for two days, while drinking alcohol the whole time. He subsequently had many complications including intubation and a trache, which he still has, along with G-tube, rectal tube, etc. He seems to have become a permanent resident of the hospital, with his only interest in life apparently being fondling himself. He closes his eyes and refuses to do anything with OT and PT.
I really feel soooo totally burnt out on that patient! It's very difficult to find placement for this type of patient, and they are exhausting to take care of! It's a real bummer to walk into the room and try to cover him up, he is constantly playing with himself, it's gross! No family in sight and patient is a full code naturally.
Thanks for listening.
His behavior is the result of cognitive impairment due to alcoholism and related nutritional deficiency, don't you think? It's still gross, but I doubt that he can help it.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I would say that he needs to be allowed to spread his love around to the other nurses and give yourself a break. Ask the charge nurse to switch patients with someone else for a few days. Really, sometimes, enough is enough.
I had to do a double-take at the subject line. LOL For my clinical rotation last quarter (I'm a student, obviously), I kept getting room 505.. every week 505. LOL It got to be a running joke in my group!
I had to do a double-take at the subject line. LOL For my clinical rotation last quarter (I'm a student, obviously), I kept getting room 505.. every week 505. LOL It got to be a running joke in my group!
Actually, I made up a new room number to be more anonymous.
I hear they found a sub-acute facility to take this patient, he's too complex for most nursing homes, so hopefully I won't be stuck with him again.
Some cases are just too hopeless for words and exemplify human despair.
Jolie, BSN
6,375 Posts
There is nothing inappropriate or unprofessional about requesting an occasional break from patients who are physically, mentally or emotionally demanding, and no decent charge nurse would begrudge the request.
When I worked in NICU, we were especially sensitive to the needs of nurses who spent days, if not weeks on end caring for the same critically-ill newborn. Even the primary nurse would occasionally need a "mental health" day caring for feeder-growers, or normal newborns. To ignore this aspect of nursing is to invite burn-out and turn-over.
Take care of yourself!