What Diagnosis Did your First Patient in Clinicals Have?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Mine was a woman with a severe case of cellulitis in her good leg. It was ulcerated, and wet to dry dressings were applied. The reason I say; "Her good leg," is because her bad leg was one with skin stretched over bone. I asked her how it got that way, and she said when she was an 11 yo, she was hit by a car, and her mom pulled her free before it ran over her entire body, removing the skin from the bone. The skin and the fatty tissue never grew back.

Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

MS exacerbation. I remember being surprised at the extent to which this can affect so many different systems of the body.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

was it hard for anyone not to cry when dealing with patients and these horrible things they had?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DOU.
was it hard for anyone not to cry when dealing with patients and these horrible things they had?

It was harder not to faint, and I cried when I went home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

When I went to nursing school the first time around (moved after the first year, and now I'm heading back) my first patient was a 90 year old semi comatose male with MRSA. All I remember is that he was extremely incontinent (bladder and bowels) and that literally every time he coughed, I had to go change him...I remember so well because I had to put some kind of ointment on his member and scrotum, and I had never even SEEN a member before, let alone touch one. I was mortified. It's funny to think of that now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.
was it hard for anyone not to cry when dealing with patients and these horrible things they had?

Nope. I was just half scared to touch the lady. I was afraid I would do something to cause her more pain. She was very sweet though, and enjoyed having the one-on-one attention. I was proud (at the end of the day) to have been able to help her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i had a lady with an L4-L5 laminectomy. she was VERY patient with me even though she was in A LOT of pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've spent all of my working life in the medical profession in one aspect or the other. so, seeing my pt really didn't bother me. I shouldn't say bother, it did bother me that being his age is was in the condition he was.

there are some even 20+ yrs into health care, that still bring a tear to my eye.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Goodness, I can't remember that far back lol.

I think it was the guy who had been run over (and backed up on) while riding his motorcycle. He had fractures in all extremities, several in his spine, pelvis, ribs, you name it. He was in multiple traction and had ropes and pulleys everywhere. Two students were assigned to him, because it was too much for one. We spent our day listening to him curse women drivers :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

A 40-something man with a tumor on his spine (benign, thankfully) that needed excision. He walked with a cane at that point because the tumor impinged on his sciatic nerve & made weight-bearing painful. I was so nervous, but glad to have a walkie-talkie for the first go!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Anal Abcess. I was worried about having to the wound care. When I got to clinical I found out the abcess was healed and the patient was in for colostomy take down. Whew! What a relief.
:lol2:I bet you were really relieved. It's funny just thinking about that one.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Goodness, I can't remember that far back lol.

I think it was the guy who had been run over (and backed up on) while riding his motorcycle. He had fractures in all extremities, several in his spine, pelvis, ribs, you name it. He was in multiple traction and had ropes and pulleys everywhere. Two students were assigned to him, because it was too much for one. We spent our day listening to him curse women drivers :lol2:

:rotfl::roll:rotfl::yeah:Do you know if he survived? If he did, I wonder if he still rides motorcycles.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
When I went to nursing school the first time around (moved after the first year, and now I'm heading back) my first patient was a 90 year old semi comatose male with MRSA. All I remember is that he was extremely incontinent (bladder and bowels) and that literally every time he coughed, I had to go change him...I remember so well because I had to put some kind of ointment on his member and scrotum, and I had never even SEEN a member before, let alone touch one. I was mortified. It's funny to think of that now.
:rotfl:Did you want to run and hide? This reminds me of something my youngest sister told me not so long ago. She's now in her 30s, and has been a CNA a few years, but she said; "You know, I'm still a virgin, and I shouldn't have to have those men patients. I have to wash a lot of them even in that area.":roll:yeah::lol2: I lost it then and there. It was just sooo funny.:chuckle
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment