I am nurse and caretaker to a partially mute male, 14 years old. He has failure throughout his body, including problems with digestive and nervous and vital systems, and I must tend to him.
He has good skills and intelligent and mentally independent. He can do and enjoys doing puzzles or hand activities, but can only do so much due to low coordination. He understands language and he can make noises that resemble words, however does not speak much. He prefers to make sounds or be silent.
I massage his belly to bring about eructation (burps) and flatulence and to improve digestion. I also massage him daily to help with digestion and circulation and to soothe him.
I handle hygiene and intimacy. I give him physicals or check ups once a week. I bathe and groom him regularly and take good care of his skin. I diaper him since he dislikes bed pans or catheters. Not to mention he does have sexual insecurity, even with puberty, so it is even worse on that part. I occasionally administer enemas or laxatives also.
We've agreed that it is acceptable for me to spoonfeed him, since he has poor coordination. Often he can feed himself but requires assistanxe. Although I do respect him and I assure meals are satisfying.
I do talk to him kindly and considerably. I communicate with him and make sure I know what he needs or what he wants me to know, even though he has difficulty replying or talking. He cannot communicate easily but he is very intelligent and he has a very active mind. Even though his body cannot function correctly, his mind and feelings are still working fully. So I am concerned. He does enjoy the care. He likes massages and such. He knows he can trust me and that I can help and comfort him. He knows I will respect him and do what he needs.
However, things can be too overwhelming, like my "full control" or his overdependence. I feel as if I invade or put too much pressure on his will.
Please help me. How can I keep his dignity intact? How can I help him yet allow him to not feel like he nothing?
Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.
Sorry, but I'm STILL hung up and oh-so-curious about this mysterious country that Americans are forbidden to know about. Since America is the "land of the free", I find it almost unfathomable that there's a nation out there of which we have no knowledge! I'm thinking North Korea, Burma (Myanmar), or Cuba.
Katiebug, are you an island nation in the Pacific? Or maybe are you associated with a larger nation? Maybe you are a state or territory of a larger country? Help me understand. What is your first language? What are the closest countries to your nation? What is your capital city?
JustBeachyNurse, you seem to be helping quite a bit.
Thank you. Even though that is description for adult and elderly caretaking, it is very good in helping me care for my patient! It helped me understand a few things.
However one thing I still possess a problem with- glasses. He wears glasses.
I am persistent. He knows it's best to not handle his glasses, to prevent injury, due to his poor coordination. am persistent on tending to him. I remove his glasses at bath time or reading time and and times he must lay on his belly and at nighttime because I know it would be risky as well as simply uncomfortable for him to try to relax or to fall asleep with glasses. I place his glasses on him in the morning and for during the day, at his opinion. He is nearsighted, by the way.
I take care of them. I clean and inspect them every few days routinely.
However sometimes he fiddles with his glasses and smudges the lens with fingerprints. I've only witnessed it a couple times. Most of the time I notice when i walk in and see marks all over his glasses.
Just clean them! You're really over thinking a lot of these situations you're posing. Just stop, use some common sense and think "if it were me lying there, how would I want to be treated".
He does not have impulsive gestures (besides reflexes). Usually he knows what he is moving his hands to do and he can fully understand. There's just poor coordination.
Any help on that? It is hard to communicate with him.
The only things I know, like his favorite meals and activities and books and movies, was from either experiencing his reactions or from 48 hours for orientation when we got to know one another.
Do you wear glasses? They just get smudged! It has nothing to do with impulsive gesture control or being able to follow instructions. You need to let some of this stuff go.
KateyBug
41 Posts
I've done string nursing before this.
Do you know of the term string nursing? Do you haveb this?