scmrn

I'm sorry if I've upset you, bandit, and clearly I have, it's just that I find it alarming that you're even considering giving a dulcolax to an elderly patient who's already had "3 BMs in the past 24 hours." The serious cardiac problems you're concerned about would be far more likely to arise from that intervention (dehyration and electrolyte imbalance) than from a single non-poking-around digit into the rectum. (Maybe you could even throw in a "Nope! Nobody home!" lol ) Just a thought and good luck.

Yes, yes, we all know (or I hope we all know) about vagal nerve stimulation, which is why I mentioned syncope. I'm not talking about stabbing around in the colon for God's sake, I'm talking about using a little common sense.

"It can cause major cardiac problems." Really? Like what? Syncope? Come on. What about our duty to remove, digitally, fecal impaction? Are you not going to do that because of the "major cardiac problems" you might cause? Please. If the patient is in genuine distress over the matter and has no PRNs and is not open to reason (or who may be incapable of being open to reason) I'm with the nurse who suggested a rubber glove and a little surgi-lube for a brief pretend survery. It will give her the relief she seeks at small expense to yourself. I would also speak with the nursing supervisor about a psych consult. Giving dulcolax to a patient who is not constipated borders on abuse.

I think I know where you work. Cari___n?

"I really do feel for you. I worked 3 months in a position very much like you are dealing with now. I'd be in the midst of a complicated dressing change and the phone would ring - two looong hallways away - and guess who would have to drop everything to answer it? I'd hide in my car in an attempt to get a five minute break - only to have staff banging on the car window with some 'emergency' in need of immediate nursing assessment. Like a splinter!" LOL--I actually found myself hiding in the bathroom yesterday just trying to get a three-minute break. The down side of that was that I forgot to bring the disinfectant wipes with me, so there was nowhere to sit!

I just wanted to thank everyone who replied to my post. What a great site this is! Motorcycle Mama you made me laugh out loud, DallasRN, you made me take stock of my own part in this situation that I'm in, and what I need to do to either get out or to make myself stronger so that I can press on. Looking forward to contributing what I can by way of thanks in the furture-- scm R.N.

Thanks, Cardinal RN. Good advice. On the brink, scm

Me again--as I said, one nurse (me) and 4 CNAs almost all of whom I love, but for 40 patients?? I love the residents, and it would break my heart to leave them, but I have less and less to give them every day. The work load for me is just too heavy. Did I mention 40 patients? 2 med passes (average 2-5 meds per pt. twice in a shift? Treatments? G-tubes? Injections? Charting? I&O's? Written change-of-shift report? Frequently picking up med orders? Updating coumadin per protocol with M.A.R. update? Falls and the ensuing Incident Reports, staff statements, etc. etc.? Is this normal? I'm estimating that I pass an absolute minimum of 90 meds per shift, maximum 300. So it's somewhere in between. The middle joint of my right thumb is therefore so swollen as to be unrecognizable (from the osteoarthritis and the blister packs). I know I'm babbling, but I need help and soon. Thanks to anyone who cares to respond.

I'm new here, and I'm sorry to start my member ship by complaining, but I swear to God if I don't talk to someone soon, I'm going to lose my mind. I work in a nursing home on the dementia unit. I work the 3-11 shift, and am therefore charge nurse, which means the ONLY nurse. I have 40 patients, two med passes, treatments, g-tubes, diabetes patients, you name it. To say nothing of sun-downing, fighting, psych issues, etc. I've been working in this nursing home since last July because I let 5 years elapse before I graduated from nursing school, and this was pretty much my only choice. I was (and am) also deeply in debt, because during my 5 years off I decided to lose all of my money daytrading. Yes, I can be quite an idiot at times. I feel like I have no options at all. The dementia unit is locked, so it's about 1,000 degrees at all times, I'm not young and am in fact going through menopause so throw hot flashed into that mix, and now with my OA (erosive, with cervical disc disease and degeneration, spinal arthritis, etc.), I'm in constant, constant, pain. Not only that, but the management of this place is simply not to be believed. More about that later. Here's my question: I think I have to quit. Now. Tomorrow. I can't take it anymore, but I will lose my benefits, and will possibly have nowhere to go. Someone help me please. I don't know what to do.