Very hard day...pt today was a young mother with ALS

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

What a rough weekend! I'm really sorry. Gotta hand it to you - don't think I could work in an LTAC.

HARRN2b · Jul 23, 2006

Lisky,

That is so sad. I am just a student but it would be so hard to be her nurse. I just hope that you can help make her find a little peace. I cannot imagine. I also have 3 beautiful children. This makes me sad.

Blessings,

Holly

RNToobee · Jul 23, 2006

Well, as nurses we can be healers in so many ways. I would pray for her, and her family, and for yourself. I truly believe in the power of prayer. I am not saying that she will be miraculously healed, but praying for her to find peace right now would be the goal in mind. Prayers for yourself as well to be what she needs you to be...as a nurse/caregiver/healer. These are the types of patients that will challenge us, make us question ourselves, examine our own lives and make us to be better nurses in the end. Pray for guidance and strength while you care for this pt. As hard as it might be it is an honor to be with a young person being called home and facilitate there transition how soon or later that may be. Hang in there....you will probably never forget this...I will pray for her also. :sniff: :heartbeat

indigo girl · Jul 23, 2006

v

Well, as nurses we can be healers in so many ways. I would pray for her, and her family, and for yourself. I truly believe in the power of prayer. I am not saying that she will be miraculously healed, but praying for her to find peace right now would be the goal in mind. Prayers for yourself as well to be what she needs you to be...as a nurse/caregiver/healer. These are the types of patients that will challenge us, make us question ourselves, examine our own lives and make us to be better nurses in the end. Pray for guidance and strength while you care for this pt. As hard as it might be it is an honor to be with a young person being called home and facilitate there transition how soon or later that may be. Hang in there....you will probably never forget this...I will pray for her also. :heartbeat

Good post, and good advice, you are very wise, RNToobee. People with this cruel disease are amongst the saddest, most emotionally difficult patients for many of us. They often end up in nursing homes (prior to going on to places that will take vents if they choose this option), where staffing is not adequate for the amount of care they really need, and their emotional needs frequently ignored because the staff can't deal with it. Your very real involvement, Lisky90, is a gift to this woman. You are there for her in the most personal way: you see her as a person, not just a patient with a disease.

Is she a full code at this point? It sounds that way. Too soon for her or her family to accept what will happen, I'm guessing. They will all need whatever professional support the facility can provide in the days ahead.

I hope for them, that they can allow themselves to consider hospice. Does the facility allow hospice to be involved while she remains there?

Remember to take care of you, Lisky90. It can be very difficult to take care of someone who will die in this way. You will need to renew yourself

in whatever way works for you, but don't forget to do it. Bless you for being the caring person that you are.

SilentfadesRPA · Jul 23, 2006

i love my new job and already feel like i'm learning so much.

i am very happy you are not only employed but love your position.

i posted last night about my uncle dying - that was horrible.

my condolences to you

it just completely broke my heart to think about how she must feel. i think of myself in her shoes.

do you not see the empathy you allow yourself to have for this patient? many would distance themselves to the piont of only preforming prefunctionary (sp?) care and not even allow themselves to feel when caring for such a complicated case.

i made it my goal for the day to somehow make her comfortable - rubbing her shoulders, wiping her tears...

you not only allowed yourself to feel then you made a plan to offer comfort and to be present with her in a very intimate way probably such that some would not even acknowledge her legacy.

i just feel that i am completely at a loss for words.

when my best friend died - in my very jewish need to talk talk talk ..........

i said to him -- rob i dont know what to say to you. i hate we are going through this- i dont know what to do. he responded " marc shut up and just sit with me will you" .sometimes our presence is just enough.

as a collegue i am proud that your a fellow nurse.

this is just the worst fate i think anyone could ever face...just looking for any words of wisdom that anyone can offer...i will have her again tomorrow. right now i am just sitting here, feeling as if i am decompressing counting all of my blessings pts such as this reeeeally put life into perspective.

depsite this day of emotions and grief you are not complaining but there at home "counting your blessings" gee i do not think i have such strength and fortitude to actively look for the positive when i have have been emotionally traumatized. i admire your inner faith and actions on that.

your child was sleeping on your lap --

do you see that despite this horrible day you still allowed yourself to be there for your child and again provide a place of safety for another vulneralbe soul.

i saluted you as a nurse and even more so as a person with a soul and heart that is quite something to be proud of.

you have also allowed yourself to purposely give your healing touch and yet comtemplate the tomorrow as you approach this poor woman.

i do not mean to sound sappy -- and i am starting to feel like i am but this is coming from a very real place inside of me.

the only words that i have to offer you is for you to take care of you. find some time even ten minutes or so to mediatate or reach inside in prayer if that is your way. take an extra long shower. read anything you like non medical. call or visit with someone who can be and is good to you.

in otherwords find someway to love and take care of you and think what a great honorable caregiver you are. think of the profound effect you have on your patient even if it was for a short time. it was a short time where she glowed and your responsible for that.

you can take care of my family or my friends anytime.

you, the pt, her family are in my thoughts + already in my prayers

marc

"i look unto the hills where cometh my help"

wooh, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

You did good today. And you're actually really blessed to have had today. I have so many days that are just days. I do a good job, I help people, blahblah. But it sounds kind of sadistic, but the days I'm proudest of are the gutwrenching ones like you had. Because you truly made a huge difference in this woman's time here. And that's a gift. You did good.