a question and just a bit of a teeny weeny whine

Published

first the teeny weeny whine.

My first patient was a new patient and I was to assess her to see if she really did need us to come in. I had to take blood, assess a wound, vitals, and general health. I screwed up the blood taking and I rarely do that. I was so mad at myself. I had to get six vials and only managed to get three. I blew two veins and one disappeared. I won't poke anyone more than that - two is most often my limit but she encouraged me to try once more. The saving grace was that the pt and her daughter were lovely, lovely people. I just felt so bad. That kind of threw me for my day and I felt stressed and rushed for the rest of my visits. Which all went very well. At least I find charting very soothing (I know, I'm odd), so I skipped lunch and went right to charting. It really worked to calm me down. Then the team leader spoke with me and she was very much "well, it happens, what can we do?" That helped a lot. I think my vent is more that I couldn't get the blood and then I was upset at myself for getting stressed over it.

Anyway, now my question. What do you do with your things (your bag with supplies, if you have one and your purse), if you go into a home that is obviously in bad, bad need of cleaning? That didn't happen today, but it did the other day when I went out with another nurse.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I leave my purse in the car. If the house is really icky, I either put my bag down on a plastic grocery bag,which I carry with me, or hang it on a door knob. The worst are the houses filled with dog hair. I hung my bag on a door knob, but it still got covered in fur as did I. Luckily it was my last visit of the day and I came home and threw my stuff in the wash.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Lie detection.

I never, ever bring my purse into someone's home, EVER. I keep it locked in my trunk at all times. I never have it visible. I keep my license and some $ in my pocket.

My nursing bag goes on a plastic bag barrier which I keep in one of the outer (dirty) pockets.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks. We take taxis so we can't leave anything in the vehicle though. I'll bring plastic bags with me though for the floor if needed and I never thought of using a door knob. Duh!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Thanks. We take taxis so we can't leave anything in the vehicle though.

You take taxi's? Isn't that awfully expensive? Does the taxi wait on you or do you have to keep calling one? This blows my mind! Is this common in Canada?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You take taxi's? Isn't that awfully expensive? Does the taxi wait on you or do you have to keep calling one? This blows my mind! Is this common in Canada?

No, it's not common but the centre where I work is the inner city. No parking to be had just about anywhere. So, we can take bus tickets, if our route is along a metro line and the homes are quickly accessed by public transport, or we can take taxi chits if the places are further away. One day, I used the bus tickets, took a metro and bus (one bus route only) to the furthest place, walked between the homes, and then hopped a bus back to the office. On Sat and Sun though, the buses are running on a w/e schedule so they're fewer and far between, plus I didn't quite know the area where I was doing my visits yesterdaty, so I took a taxi from the office to the first home, walked the next four, but then had to taxi it for the rest.

We just flag them down, pay them at our destination and they leave.

If you work at these centres outside of the central area, you usually use your car and get paid your mileage. Being downtown is different because of the parking issues, plus it costs 3.00 an hour to park.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

A plastic lined paper bed "underpad" or "chux" or "blue pad".. wahtever you want to call them.. works fine to lay you bag or supplies on. Keep a couple handy for these occasions, I know I do. :)

I found it interesting that you had to assess and draw blood before determining the patient's admission status.. ours are referred to us by their MD by MD order.

Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am! I do love HH nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion