I don't know why but that statement makes my jaw clench up everytime I hear it.
I had a patient the other day ask me how I was going to insert a foley since "the head is down there, wont that hurt the baby?" For the love god, people .... come on .. 2 HOLES! SERIOUSLY!
and my favorite of all time ...
"Does that machine beep everytime I dilate?" .. this one left me speechless
Please share your "omg, no she didn't say/ask that" quotes
I think you did a beautiful thing, royr. And I'm glad you did!
Thank you so much - it is so nice to feel appreciated! I just find sometimes that if my limited nursing skills can't fix the problem (I am a senior nursing student and not nearly as skilled as others in the field) it behoves me to seek assistance for my patients from any other means possible. I have found that prayer, humor, stuffed toys, fresh flowers, visitors or just sitting quietly and listening will sometimes be all the medicine a patient needs to turn the corner and get well. Not all cures are dispensed by the hospital pharmacy. We are each other's angels if we allow ourselves the humility to serve.
I think you did a beautiful thing, royr. And I'm glad you did!
I second that! You gave holistic care--providing for the whole patient--and helped to bless both her and her family. Imagine the grief all 'round if she had left this world feeling so unloved. Now her passing will be sad but not tragic.
You are the kind of person I would want caring for me and mine.
i hope you knew this patient's faith and beliefs before saying this. i'd never say anything like that to a patient if i didn't know-what if they were agnostic/muslim/some other faith?
Even in a case where you aren't certain of someone's beliefs, it is all right to offer some options. I'd hate to think we have become so paranoid about offending others that we have to pretend that matters of faith don't even exist. I find that idea offensive.
i was delivery nurse last night (catching for nursery). i got called to come - mom was pushing. this family - and i don't say this lightly - was what some would refer to as white trash. there were about 7 visitors loiterring outside the delivery room door (against policy). one young woman was pressing her ear to the door. i roll up with the scale and position myself to go in. she doesn't move - then, after hearing a high-pitched scream from the mom, says, "is that the baby crying?". she looks at me and repeats her question.
i couldn't help look a little miffed and said, "well, let me in so i can find out." in my mind i'm thinking - yea, and if it is the baby, then you really need to get out of my way, since i'm the one supposed to catch him! her family urged her to move out of my way at that point. luckily, the baby wasn't out yet. i mean - i know this woman didn't have a detailed copy of my job description, but you'd think she'd get the hint... nurse hurrying down the hall with baby scale, trying to get in door where mom is screaming in childbirth... helooooo! move outta her way!!!
once in the room...
i must say, the gr-mother did a great job coaching mom to push. we joked with her that she was hired. the dad was a bit slow, but appreciative of care. then the g-mom did something that surprised me - considering the way the entire family was on the whole. after that baby was out and they took a few photos, she kindly told the parents that, "i'm stepping out now so that you two can have some alone time with your baby." i was floored. i wish more visitors would think about the parents' feelings like that. sometimes in the midst of an epidemic of dumb, they surprise you.
I second that! You gave holistic care--providing for the whole patient--and helped to bless both her and her family. Imagine the grief all 'round if she had left this world feeling so unloved. Now her passing will be sad but not tragic.
You are the kind of person I would want caring for me and mine.
Thanks Miranda - and all this was made possible by my nursing instructor who decided to stand clear and just let me nurse that day to see what I would do with the situation. It gave me the golden oportunity to make a small difference in the lives of my patient and her family - and for this I will always be thankful.
Sorry if this one has already been covered-I didn't read all the posts in this thread. But.....What bugs me the most is when a patient is talking on their cell phone and they refuse to get off so you can do their admission, check them, reposition them, whatever!!! Classic example-I walked into the patients room, she was talking to her friend on her cell phone-the same friend that had left the room 15 min earlier. I had already told the patient when I would be back to check her, I walk in the room, get the sterile glove on, lube up and wait for her to get off the phone. She continues talking about nothing and doesn't show any signs of stopping. After 10 min, I took the glove off and told her to call me when she was off the phone!!!!
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
I
i hope you knew this patient's faith and beliefs before saying this. i'd never say anything like that to a patient if i didn't know-what if they were agnostic/muslim/some other faith?
totally! i would puke if someone asked me to pray with them, uhhh
*edit* and for those of you who want to jump all over me let me rephrase IF I WAS A PT and someone came into my room to pray for me....
totally! i would puke if someone asked me to pray with them, uhhh
I hope you don't mean to be offensive.
It would serve you and your future patients well if you could develop a good, matter-of-fact response to such a request. Whether your reluctance is based on lack of belief or something else, it can be just as inconsiderate to give a visibly bad reaction as it would be to "force" your beliefs on someone else. (For the record, the OP did no such thing. She knew this woman's background well enough to make her suggestions.)
You could simply say, "I'm sorry. I don't feel comfortable praying with you. But I'll gladly call the chaplain or your own clergy person."
Or, "I'm not much of a pray-er. But if you want to pray out loud, I'll be happy to stay and listen."
If you can think this through ahead of time, you stand a much better chance of being able to decline in a dignified way that doesn't embarrass you or your patient. Then, if the time comes, you don't have to look caught off guard and perhaps give the impression that the patient did something wrong to ask.
It might help to think of such a request as a mark of trust. When someone feels safe enough with you to ask for prayer, that's a real compliment. You can receive their affirmation while still letting them down gently.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I hope you don't mean to be offensive.
It would serve you and your future patients well if you could develop a good, matter-of-fact response to such a request. Whether your reluctance is based on lack of belief or something else, it can be just as inconsiderate to give a visibly bad reaction as it would be to "force" your beliefs on someone else. (For the record, the OP did no such thing. She knew this woman's background well enough to make her suggestions.)
You could simply say, "I'm sorry. I don't feel comfortable praying with you. But I'll gladly call the chaplain or your own clergy person."
Or, "I'm not much of a pray-er. But if you want to pray out loud, I'll be happy to stay and listen."
If you can think this through ahead of time, you stand a much better chance of being able to decline in a dignified way that doesn't embarrass you or your patient. Then, if the time comes, you don't have to look caught off guard and perhaps give the impression that the patient did something wrong to ask.
It might help to think of such a request as a mark of trust. When someone feels safe enough with you to ask for prayer, that's a real compliment. You can receive their affirmation while still letting them down gently.
:yeahthat:
Well said. Try to take it in a positive light and deal with as such. NO need to automatically become offended in such a situation.
I had a 94 year old pt starting my shift by signing papers with her Lawyer. She said to me "I am done - that is my will - I can die now - all they want is my money - so why keep going". This upset me so much that I placed my hands in hers and said "The only will you need now is the will to live - God loves you and so does your family" Then we prayed together for a while. I called some of her family that lived locally on my cell phone and told them to come down and bring the little ones (Her great grand children) I told them that Great Grams needed them this day. We then spent the morning brushing teeth (YES - she still has some of her own!) washing everything up and getting her up out of that bed and walking 15 feet (Dr's orders were to ambulate her if possible, but she had been bed bound for a week). Two hours later she had a room full of family to support her and they let her know that she was comming home with them and NOT being put into a LTC facility just because she signed those papers. Within the week this pt was discharged home to her family's care. I believe that life finds a way - and I can never stress this enough to my patients.
Well, there you have it. There's no way to trump this one.
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
I hope you don't mean to be offensive.
It would serve you and your future patients well if you could develop a good, matter-of-fact response to such a request. Whether your reluctance is based on lack of belief or something else, it can be just as inconsiderate to give a visibly bad reaction as it would be to "force" your beliefs on someone else. (For the record, the OP did no such thing. She knew this woman's background well enough to make her suggestions.)
You could simply say, "I'm sorry. I don't feel comfortable praying with you. But I'll gladly call the chaplain or your own clergy person."
Or, "I'm not much of a pray-er. But if you want to pray out loud, I'll be happy to stay and listen."
If you can think this through ahead of time, you stand a much better chance of being able to decline in a dignified way that doesn't embarrass you or your patient. Then, if the time comes, you don't have to look caught off guard and perhaps give the impression that the patient did something wrong to ask.
It might help to think of such a request as a mark of trust. When someone feels safe enough with you to ask for prayer, that's a real compliment. You can receive their affirmation while still letting them down gently.
boy sheeshh, let me rephrase before you jump all over me
IF I WAS A PT and someone wanted to come in my room to pray..... ( i was trying to get the point across that assuming someone is christian is a bad idea) but thanks for trying to teach when it wasnt needed and even if you know someones religion, they still may not want to pray with you uhhh why do people jump on other people on this board all the time
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royr
150 Posts
Thank you so much - it is so nice to feel appreciated! I just find sometimes that if my limited nursing skills can't fix the problem (I am a senior nursing student and not nearly as skilled as others in the field) it behoves me to seek assistance for my patients from any other means possible. I have found that prayer, humor, stuffed toys, fresh flowers, visitors or just sitting quietly and listening will sometimes be all the medicine a patient needs to turn the corner and get well. Not all cures are dispensed by the hospital pharmacy. We are each other's angels if we allow ourselves the humility to serve.