Odd interactions

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Oct 18, 2015

When I worked in Assisted Living I had 2 or 3 occasions when I knocked on a male resident's door, waited for permission to enter, walked in, and was greeted by Media on the computer. Really? At least minimize the screen.

Princess Bubblegum · Oct 19, 2015

I feel like most of my interactions at work fall under the "odd" category anymore, but they're becoming strangely repetitive. No, we aren't "starving" your dad by having him be NPO after midnight before open heart surgery. Here's the CEO's email address. Be sure and spell my name correctly. Yawn.

LadysSolo · Oct 19, 2015

One of my patient's daughters used to do a daily digital rectal exam on her mother (mother now deceased.) Was caught by several staff members at different times. Ewwwww ....We considered it elder abuse.

ActualNurse · Oct 19, 2015

Well when I took my nursing diploma course many years ago at a Catholic hospital, we were told that sexuality is one of the basic "needs" and we should respect and recognize that. So masturbating patients are not an issue for me. I just view it as the patient fulfilling a basic need. No big deal. It is their body not mine.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Oct 19, 2015

One of my patient's daughters used to do a daily digital rectal exam on her mother (mother now deceased.) Was caught by several staff members at different times. Ewwwww ....We considered it elder abuse.

While that seems odd, maybe she was taught by someone at one point that her mother needed to be checked for impactions?

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Oct 19, 2015

Well when I took my nursing diploma course many years ago at a Catholic hospital, we were told that sexuality is one of the basic "needs" and we should respect and recognize that. So masturbating patients are not an issue for me. I just view it as the patient fulfilling a basic need. No big deal. It is their body not mine.

But there is a time and place. But yeah.

One instructor had me read a book on my own time and I cannot remember the name of it (so long ago 1996 or so). This book was told from the perspective of one nurse but was actually a compilation of several stories. One included a burn patient who could not use his hands who rolled over and was thrusting into the bed to appease his erection. But it was creating problems because his leg dressing were getting dismantled and I am sure he was in severe pain. She ended up having to handle it for him because it was so distressing.

I was appalled to read that.

annie.rn · Oct 19, 2015

Well when I took my nursing diploma course many years ago at a Catholic hospital, we were told that sexuality is one of the basic "needs" and we should respect and recognize that. So masturbating patients are not an issue for me. I just view it as the patient fulfilling a basic need. No big deal. It is their body not mine.

I agree, when said masturbation is done discretely. Whipping the sheets back and trying to ejaculate on a staff member is totally disgusting. In my opinion, it borders on criminal.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

Ketamine is one hell of a drug!

It really is. CRPS is exactly what we use it for - we just admit ours and have them on a continuous infusion for four days. We require family to stay in the room because the patients get so out of it. I love taking care of ketamine patients. You never know what they are going to say, and they're usually the healthiest easy-breezy patients ever, so it's a double win. Except when they are obviously terrified out of their minds and they have me half-convinced that there really is a man in the corner and I spend the whole shift with the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention.

We had a patient a couple of days back who, upon extubation, immediately screamed for ice cream and his mother. Patient was NPO, and the mother was about 80 with bad kyphosis and gait so unsteady she required a cane to walk. Of course, she promptly did almost all of his ADLs for him. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with that man other than the alcohol/drug addictions he had! Perfectly healthy middle-aged guy requiring his elderly debilitated mother to take care of him.

The weirdest part of that scenario was that I got in report that he had a girlfriend. Really?! I guess there is someone for everyone, but still...

annabanana2 · Oct 19, 2015

The weirdest part of that scenario was that I got in report that he had a girlfriend. Really?! I guess there is someone for everyone, but still...

And somehow I (a person who can do all their own ADLs and everything) am still single. Sigh.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

Normal interactions I find are the odd ones out now.

This; although normal interactions are a breath of fresh air amongst the weird dynamic and downright entertaining population that keep us in business. :cool:

lavenderskies, BSN · Oct 19, 2015

WKSHADOWRN:

One included a burn patient who could not use his hands who rolled over and was thrusting into the bed to appease his erection. But it was creating problems because his leg dressing were getting dismantled and I am sure he was in severe pain. She ended up having to handle it for him because it was so distressing.

:eek:

I guess it could be considered progressive healthcare. Uh no.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

The hallucinating residents can be hilarious. One particular gal that comes to mind regularly has visits from "friends" and even helps herself to snacks to pass around to them. Kind of funny to see about 15 little ice creams scattered around her room all open with spoons in them for her friends. She will also occasionally insist her friend is sick and needs to go to the hospital. She gets very upset that we will not call the ambulance for "Dr Bob" after all, he's right there in that chair, "CAN"T YOU SEE HE NEEDS HELP!"...umm, no I can't see him. Gotta admit I've been kind of tempted to call the ambulance to pick up her imaginary friend just to see how they react.