Really, how can you remember?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This happens to me frequently in ICU. A patient and their family will come into the unit, sometimes bearing candy or cookies (yum!), and they come up to me and say, "Hi Sunny, I'm going home today and I wanted to thank you for your care".

I'm like . . . you're very welcome . . . . uh . . . . . who are you??? They're dressed in street clothes, clean-shaven, hair nicely combed . . . I've got no idea who they are!!! But, then, before he can respond, a colleague will run up to him and say, "Hi Mr. So-and-so".

I think I need to start taking Aricept!! Early Alzheimer's!!!

Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

duplicate..

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I get this frequently at WalMart. They are usually "dentally challenged" and scratching their privates when they come up and say "didn't yew take care a me in the ER last month"? I always reply "No sir, I didn't. I'm not a nurse but I get this question a lot so I must have a twin out there". That usually confuses them and I quietly make my escape. :-)

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Specializes in acute/critical care.
I get this frequently at WalMart. They are usually "dentally challenged" and scratching their privates when they come up and say "didn't yew take care a me in the ER last month"? I always reply "No sir, I didn't. I'm not a nurse but I get this question a lot so I must have a twin out there". That usually confuses them and I quietly make my escape. :-)

That's what you get for shopping at WalMart.

Funny Pictures at WalMart

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Lordy, lordy, I've been at my new job over 5 years and still can't remember some of my co-workers names!!!!! Double the dose of Aricept stat!!!!!

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It's part of having a Y chromosome dude. We're all terrible with names and faces.

Scott,

You're right! My wife reminds me of this daily. Case in point . . . we're at the mall and a co-worker from the hospital comes up to me, "Hi Sunny, blah, blah, blah, oh, this must be your wife . . . I say, "Yes, this is "wifey-poo" . . . *long pause* and my brain is spinning . . . what's her name? what IS her name? Oh geez, you just worked with her yesterday!!!??? . . . finally, she ends the torture . . . "Sunny!!! I'm "blah-blah", we worked together yesterday!!!"

Sigh . . . the joys of having a Y chromosome!!

p.s. - And, my wife will remember that co-worker's name F-O-R-E-V-E-R!! I've already forgotten!!

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Specializes in ER.

It's not the Y-chromosome. I can only remember you if I see you in the same context I saw you in before. If you return to the ER, I'll recognize you and remember what your last visit was for and your family members and how we treated you. If I see you out in public, I can't remember if you were a patient, a school teacher from my younger days, someone I worked with in a factory years ago, etc.. I just need people to stop moving around and stay in the place I first met them!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTAC, Critical Care.
I get this frequently at WalMart. They are usually "dentally challenged" and scratching their privates when they come up and say "didn't yew take care a me in the ER last month"? I always reply "No sir, I didn't. I'm not a nurse but I get this question a lot so I must have a twin out there". That usually confuses them and I quietly make my escape. :-)

I don't normally do this but.... LOL

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
That's what you get for shopping at WalMart.

Funny Pictures at WalMart

Yeah, but their prices are REALLY good!

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
That's what you get for shopping at WalMart.

Funny Pictures at WalMart

Oh, Lord, MY EYES!!! Aaaaggghhhh.

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Specializes in acute/critical care.
Yeah, but their prices are REALLY good!

They are, but it is worth having your retinas permanently scarred? :lol2:

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I'm the other way around. I never forgot a face, but names I have trouble with.

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