I may be nuts, but sometimes I almost wish I could "try" some of the things my patients go through. It's almost like I wish I knew what they were feeling (without actually needing to go through it). I wish I could better describe what a bone marrow bx, spinal tap, foley insertion, or central line placement feels like to them. I'd never volunteer for any of these procedures, and hope I never need them, but at the same time, I feel a sense of curiosity about it. Almost like I could possibly talked into trying it.
I dunno. It's hard to describe. And you all probably think I'm nuts now.
Any things you're curious about? What procedures have you had? Were they better or worse than you expected given your nursing career experiences?
Only thing I've ever had was an NG tube, which was about what I expected.
I had a right bimalleolar break and a broken right arm last year. They couldn't start an IV on me (anesthesia had to place it, after 6 failed attempts), and the ER doc yanked on my dislocated fracture with NO pain meds.
I had to have emergency surgery and ORIF..got 7 screws and a plate. I woke up in the worst pain of my life! I knew orthopedic surgery was traumatic, and you feel every bit of the pain afterwards. It was awful. Plus, I was 10/10 and all they gave me was 2 regular strength vicodin.
I refused a foley in the ER..I'm such a wuss. Later on, I wished I had it, considering I couldn't use the right side of my body!
I'm only a nursing student, but I learned alot about empathizing with and never discounting my patient's pain.
After getting 2.4million u Bicillin in my butt for strep, that was enough. I feel for my poor patients though....there are some pretty horrific things they go through.
I am fairly curious about some of the procedures my patients have done, however I am a big baby when it comes to pain, and couldn't imagine having to experience something I didn't need. After almost fainting in school during a chest tube insertion, and almost fainting again while watching my first wound vac change as an RN, I can rest assured that I would never want to experience either of those things. I'm a big advocate for proper pain control.
Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.
I work in Cath Lab (and previously, in IR [interventional Radiology]), and make it my practice to review with pt while I'm setting up:
what will happen
what they *may* feel (or not)
let us know if they feel pain or discomfort
This is also a chance to dispel any mistruths the pt may have about the procedure, e.g.: My aunt's second cousin's father's friend had this and it was HORRIBLE!!
Faced with this story before, say, a Cardiac Cath, I can then review what we do and why (numbing the groin, sedation will be given, let us know if you feel any pain and we'll give more numbing medicine, you may feel pressure but should feel no pain at the groin, you won't feel the tubes [don't call 'em 'catheters,' or pt immediately thinks of Foley! ] when they're up near the heart, you will need to take in a slow deep breath when we take some of the pictures, etc), and reassure the pt we will listen and respond to him.
Pts, though getting 'conscious [moderate] sedation,' are well able to converse with us during the procedure.
After the procedure I will often question what were their perceptions of it, compared to their expectations and what we discussed before it.
I learn a lot that I may pass on to other pts, without having to go through the procedure myself, and the pts get a chance to decompress, ventilate and process the experience.
I wouldn't want to experience any procedures I didn't have to. I do sometimes wish I could observe some things I haven't seen. That way when patients ask questions about what to expect, I could give them better explanations. I have never had the chance to observe a cardiac cath for example.
The only thing I was really interested in was what it is about Dilaudid that makes so many people want it. Here's my impression of me in the PACU:
Nurse: Are you hurting?
Me: Are you kidding?
Nurse: I can give you some Dilaudid.
Me: I'll take anything!
Nurse: We'll start out with half a mil and see how that does, we can give you the other half in a little bit if it's not helping enough. (Pushes med.) Is that better?
Me: Whoa, that.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. (instant coma...I didn't even remember being transferred to my room later)
The only thing I was really interested in was what it is about Dilaudid that makes so many people want it. Here's my impression of me in the PACU:
Nurse: Are you hurting?
Me: Are you kidding?
Nurse: I can give you some Dilaudid.
Me: I'll take anything!
Nurse: We'll start out with half a mil and see how that does, we can give you the other half in a little bit if it's not helping enough. (Pushes med.) Is that better?
Me: Whoa, that.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. (instant coma...I didn't even remember being transferred to my room later)
My health class instructor made the comment that he could see how people could get addicted to narcotics. My father, on the other hand, hates them.
] when they're up near the heart, you will need to take in a slow deep breath when we take some of the pictures, etc), and reassure the pt we will listen and respond to him.
gibson0726
160 Posts
I had a right bimalleolar break and a broken right arm last year. They couldn't start an IV on me (anesthesia had to place it, after 6 failed attempts), and the ER doc yanked on my dislocated fracture with NO pain meds.
I had to have emergency surgery and ORIF..got 7 screws and a plate. I woke up in the worst pain of my life! I knew orthopedic surgery was traumatic, and you feel every bit of the pain afterwards. It was awful. Plus, I was 10/10 and all they gave me was 2 regular strength vicodin.
I refused a foley in the ER..I'm such a wuss.
Later on, I wished I had it, considering I couldn't use the right side of my body!
I'm only a nursing student, but I learned alot about empathizing with and never discounting my patient's pain.