I'll start with people who say "I went to nursing school" Okay, but are you a nurse?
I need my meds today. Also I can't pay for them.
Moms who let their kids run wild and scream. I get that stuff hurts, go ahead and cry. No need to run like a wile monkey or screech like you're dying, I assure you that if you were dying you'd have no time to yell like that.
Dialysis patients who come in, sit in a chair and stick their arm out.
In our unit it's expected of patients to do their own BP, wash their arm and hands and collect their blankets before sitting down, and there are signs all over the unit saying the same thing.
I have a hard time with anyone presenting with vague pain. I feel helpless as it is and if there is indeed something psychosomatic going on, I feel even more at a loss.
Dyalisis. period. Watching the blood circulate through those tubes is bad enough. Add the smells go the cleaning solution on top of the fact that I can smell the blood and I want to hurl.
Ok, I will start by saying that in general, I really enjoy interactions with patients on a human level (when I have the time to actually listen to them). But, there are certain diagnosis that after my years of nursing I have identified as "oh, no, not another ....":
1. GI bleeds - the smell of blood exiting the body from the top or the bottom is something I cannot get used to plus the busywork of resuscitating an active GI bleed is just overwhelming when you have a second critical patient to take are of.
2. Spine surgery patients - very hard to control pain.
3. Contact precautions -- time just magically disappears each time you enter that room...
I used to be intimidated by trachs, but now that I have enough experience managing vents and trachs, I kind of enjoy suctioning (is that really coming out of my brain!?).
I have always LOVED wounds, of any type and still do.
I have worked with trachs off and on for over 2 years. They still scare the dickens out of me. I always think worse case scenario. I don't know why.. I know it isn't rational, but yep the fear is still there. I try to make the best out of all patients.. Some are better than others, but I try to take family situations into account. We all have our dysfunctions.
amoLucia
7,736 Posts
esophopgeal varices that bleed out