WinterLilac

It would be great if you could sort out your days off so you have at least a couple days to spend together. We sacrifice so much for work and at the end of the day, we are just a number which can be replaced swiftly. I'd recommend trying to change shifts simply for your own happiness and connection with your family. Have you spoken to colleagues to see if they are also trying to find a work/life balance and who may be keen to swap days etc? On a music note, have you heard of Flume? Look him up on Google music, iTunes whatever. He has some awesome chill-out tunes :)

Appreciate your input. It is clearly understood the points about seizures, I will be providing education regarding this.

That's just it, you know what shift you work well in. Which shift you can provide the best care for your patients as well as keeping a balance in your personal life. I agree with the above poster; pay for childcare, get the evening shifts and damn well enjoy listening to smooth tunes with your wife at 1am. Life is too short. Ask and you shall receive.

So everyone, I've come to you before to get your advice and it's been incredible. You all have different opinions but back them up with rationale, true nurses! I would like your advice/opinion once again. Here goes: Background: I am one of 3 clinical staff working at a non-government mental health service. Just recently, I was asked to create a new activity group which has happened and is going well. At our first group activity, a client who I have worked closely with, exhibited a non-epileptic seizure. Historically, I organised clinical testing for her, received the results and recommendations from the neurologist and treated this client accordingly. She went well and responded to the treatment. She was not epileptic, her 'seizures' were purely psychosomatic. When she has a 'seizure' the recommendation is to pay her little attention when she places herself on the floor and begins the 'seizure'. She has deep-rooted issues which I am closely working with her on. During the 'seizure' I stood near her to ensure her safety but didn't give her the attention she was after. It sounds callous however due to it being behavioural, it works well to remind her it is not appropriate to affect other clients enjoyment of the activity to focus on her. Two colleagues, one who was not even there when she had the 'seizure' attempted to make a complaint against me for reasons they couldn't really specify. My actions were backed up my senior clinical colleagues and it is clear they acted out of jealousy. My question: I will be addressing this issue directly with the two staff members concerned. How would you address it with them? What would you say? I look forward ward to your responses. Again, this client is receiving comprehensive treatment for her non-epileptic seizures and I have a good rapport with her. My actions were not of malice nor disregard.

Thanks for your POV. I see the thread has branched off into languages rather than the initial intent of identifying the way we communicate rather than who speaks what. Accents, particularly strong accents, can make some people initially assume little English is known. I worked at a place where the the two managers spoke Turkish in front of me sometimes dropping my name in the conversation, it is a form of workplace bullying. In australia, it is taboo to speak in another language in front of customer's and you can lodge a complaint with the business. It once happened to me in a shop where two employees were speaking to each other in Tagalog. I asked what they were talking about which surprised them; they answered 'school' then proceeded to speak in English. When in Rome...

Yeah I hate it called a Nappy (what you guys call diapers). We call them pull-up pads or wrap-around pads. Some residents refer to them as a nappy but we don't.

My sister-in-law who works as an RN in the emergency department of the local hospital was pulled over for speeding. The police officer who pulled her over had brought a lot of drunken degenerates to the ED the previous weekend so my sister-in-law said "You owe me a favour!" So he let her off.

I carry good quality roll-on deodorant in my bag and apply on breaks. If you need, also carry some wet wipes to freshen your pits then apply a fresh smear of deodorant. It takes minutes in the bathroom for you to feel a lot more confident on the floor. If it's more than you can handle, see your GP; there are options to reduce your sweat secretions.

I like Alex's response. When in an emergency situation and you feel like panicking, just remember First Aid. In Australia it is DRSABCD: Danger (remove) Response (prompt responses from casualties) Send for help (000 / 911) THEN Airway: maintain or obtain an airway, head back or on the side - get air. Breathing: maintain the airway. CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation): get a pulse by mouth to mouth and chest compressions. Defibrillation: unconscious and not breathing, use an automated external defibrillator which will shock an irregular heartbeat into beating normally. Dont panic. If anything just do basic first aid.

So we know of the 'Restraining factors' (keeping the problem status quo), what would you suggest as 'Driving factors' (changing the status quo)? Im thinking patience, don't assume (assume makes an ass out of u and me!) and speak normally - not too fast and not too slow. In my experience, people are more than happy to let you know how much they understand (if English is a second language) or how we can communicate the best. Thoughts?

Your post is very much appreciated. I will use some of these thoughts. Thank you so much.

15 years in health care and I STILL hate faeces! I agree with other posters about getting used to it. Not so much getting used to the smell and general disgustingness (word?) but being able to suppress the urge to gag and vomit and think of things like a field of daisies, rainbow unicorns or fairies dancing; anything to distract slightly! I put a small dab of tea-tree oil onto my mask which helped A LOT! Also, as I'm sure you already do, keep focussed that the person you are helping clean up is most probably mortified and so embarrassed so their dignity comes before everything else. If you are making loud gagging noises or can't control your expression, leave the room for a moment.

Thank you so much for your comment, I've taken notes because it resonates so much with what I'm talking about.

Impaired vision, another notable disability which is often overlooked in adequate communication. Have noted to include in my speech. You guys are freaking awesome í ½í± Oh and yes, I agree to use interpreters as a tool not as the patient. Sometimes when using an interpreter, they are spoken to as if they are the recipient while the recipient is left out of the loop. This occurs a LOT doesn't it!

I hadn't thought of hearing issues. Something else I will include. How often this occurs, someone is asked something, the person doesn't hear correctly and instead of ensuring they understand what was said, the consent is assumed implied. Gahhh, that used to make me mad!

This is not a co-worker but someone I used to follow on Instagram. All last year she posted photos of her holidaying twice to Hawaii and one to Las Vegas (we live in Australia so the flights alone are huge and she took THREE holidays in 1 year) THEN she posts a gofundme request for $20'000 for skin removal surgery because she's lost a lot of weight. I couldn't help myself and asked 'Perhaps the 3 holidays to Hawaii and Las Vegas may have covered the cost?'. She's raised $60 in 18 months... I did donate to a GFM where an archeology student with a severe physical disability needed to raise funds to go on an archeological dig with all her equipment (wheelchair, oxygen, support staff). I was so impressed with her determination. She managed to go and had a fantastic time.

Hi Everyone, I have entered a National speaking competition and have chosen a subject that we nurses experience on a daily basis; people being spoken to or treated differently because of the way they talk. Im touching on a range of people; people with disabilities, aged, mental illness & English as a second language where, because of an accent or way of talking, are spoken to condescendingly, excluded from conversations, yelled to instead of spoken to and spoken about in front of them. For example, I know a man with cerebral palsy who uses a foot controlled wheelchair. He had recently written his memoirs and worked at the hospital. Acquaintances would sometimes approach him with sympathetic smiles and high pitched "Hiiii! How ARE you!? You look cute in that shirt! I hope you're not giving your carer a hard time!" (I am his friend, not carer). Or my colleague from Nigeria who has things read out to her like a story book "See here? This says 'No return policy applies after 60 days' so you can't return it after 60 days". What I would absolutely adore is input from you; your personal experiences, if colleagues, friends, family or patients are treated differently (and how) and what you did or would have liked to do in that situation. Particularly, what suggestions do you have to increase more dignified and respectful conversations? I understand that many people who speak differently to another person under the belief they may not understand is not always meant maleficently and often has good intentions but I want to highlight this issue. Look forward to reading your comments!

Being a Devil's Advocate here, it may be more of your time management issues than choosing to stay late to 'give them the best care possible'. Your colleagues most likely provided thorough care within their shift time and perhaps even picked up your slack. I don't always trust people who blame others without reflecting on their own practices. Maybe work on your time management skills at the amusement park before you venture back into care work.

We went camping in our camper trailer last week and I dreamt I was in my office at work and a client emergency alarm went off (usually means attempted suicide or self-harm) so I leapt up off the mattress in the pitch dark and couldn't find my way out! I was bellowing at my partner "Quick! I've gotta go! Where's the damn door!?!?". It was funny the next morning but terrifying at the time!!

Amen.

3 words: Keep getting educated. You will be amazed at the opportunities that become available to you when you get a tertiary education. Also, think about what you'd absolutely LOVE to do as a profession (whether it be in Nursing or not) then deconstruct the requirements so you can work on each part in stages to work towards it. As other people have said, nursing has SO many different specialties, explore lots of them! The world is your oyster, get educated (seriously, you'll find once you're an RN, you'll open up an amazing door).

Are (some) people staying on the inpatient unit able to leave accompanied by staff? Any activity which subjects them to our good friend Mr Sun is worthwhile. The vitamin D, as we all know, can benefit people hugely. 1. A walk around the park, allowing people to stop for a cigarette, watch the ducks/water/tree branches swinging, sit down and meditate, breathe in fresh air etc. If you have access to the ocean is even better. 2. People who can't leave the ward: Can you approach management for a raised garden bed in the courtyard? People can potter in the garden, plant, care for and harvest veges etc. 3. Education: The intelligence and ability of people on the inpatient unit is often overlooked. Some education sessions, particularly by guest speakers, can inspire and renew interest in pursuing career/educational goals. 4. Ownership. Often people who are on the inpatient unit have experienced a lot of losses (loss of friends/family/job/confidence/skills/children... the list goes on) and they often feel genuine despair and a feeling of 'What have I got to offer?'. Talk with the people on the unit and you may be surprised to find skills and talents they may be able to share with other people. Even if it's co-faciliatating with you so they don't feel overwhelmed. Find strengths from people staying on the unit and ask if they would be happy to share their knowledge about a particular skill or interest. They may be happy to give a talk to other people or they may just want to tell you to pass it on on their behalf. Give them feedback afterwards if this is the case. I know we all know this, but people staying on the inpatient unit have lives outside which include interests, passions, jobs, careers, education, knowledge... Let's not forget these just because they need acute care for a while.

My partner asks when he gets home and I say "It was alright, how was yours?" He says "It was alright" then settles to watch his favourite TV show. I don't know how his favourite TV show triggers me, but as soon as it starts I suddenly think of all the things that happened in my day that I want to talk about. So I'm in the kitchen prepping dinner and wander into lounge room waxing lyrical how irritating it was that so&so rang in sick AGAIN! And then so&so did or didn't do something, a client called me when psychotic and OH. MY. GOD. my boss told me . My partner pauses the TV and listens politely to all this extremely uninteresting information. Once I've purged, I trot back to the kitchen and I'm happy.

Eck, ganging up on you and insulting your appearance is verbal abuse, intimidation and bullying and should not be tolerated. I hope those patients were reprimanded firmly for that incident.

I too like the fact you were firm but also came to a compromise in regards to finding him some prune juice. You validated his frustrations about needing a laxative by offering an alternative that did not require other people being disturbed by his demand but also providing him with nursing support. You also covered yourself in case he really was constipated. Even though these people have a history and diagnosis, we can't assume everything they say is attention seeking behaviour, if we did we would soon be back treating people like in the early 1900's. I would also suggest you debrief with your colleagues. Ask what they would have done. You may find you'll get different answers but take from them what you feel is beneficent to your patient.