Roni_xx

It was my first posting as a new grad. I was dispensing evening medications to my patient assignment when Margaret the charge RN came running down the hall to me. "Come quick" she said "I think one of your patients is dead." To which I replied, "Not on my shift too much damn paper work." Margaret gave me a scathing look as I followed her back down the hall to Flora's room. There were two patients to each room. Now Flora was an elderly lady of 87 years at that time and has by now passed on. She slept with her eyes and mouth open was extremely hard of hearing a shallow breather and not easy to palpate vitals. Margaret stood on one side of Flora's bed taking her pulse while I stood on the other side bent over calling Flora's name each time getting louder. Flora, FLORA, FLORA . The look on Margaret's face, she was aghast, her mouth hung open and when on the third time I called Flora's name practically yelling and Flora responded "WHAT??" I thought Margaret was going to hit the floor. A few months later I came on for a day shift and my patient assignment again included Flora. I learnt in report that Flora's roommate Mary had passed away in the night. The doctor had been called to pronounce Mary dead but as yet had not arrived. As it turned out night staff had not thought to remove Flora from the room so she was still in bed asleep. As I said before, she slept with her eyes and mouth open was extremely hard of hearing a shallow breather and not easy to palpate vitals. As I exited report the doctor came to find me saying he had just been in the room but he needed clarification as to "Which patient would I like him to pronounce dead?" Apparently he had been checking vitals on both patients for more than 5 minutes. I have since moved on to other hospitals but when I left Flora was still going strong. And before anyone asks yes these are true stories and in eleven years of nursing I still find them humorous.

Prayers going up. Good luck!!

Congratulations!! I am curious thou how long did it take you? I am considering doing the LPN-RN through EC.

I hope I am posting this reply in the right area. It is rather confusing just new and not sure if I have the hang of this. GN1974 how long did it take you to complete the ADN program through Excelsior College?