What's your favorite type of patient?

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On the more upbeat side of nursing, what's your favorite type of patient?

Mine is a cheerful, independent, and interesting old lady or old man, the older the better, who is sharp as a tack. I really like to find out more about them and their life experiences. I like the intelligent ones who have had interesting lives and careers, and who are well adjusted and personable.

DNR is always a plus, I agree.

I am a student trying to learn as much as I can;

why is a DNR (do not recusitate, I take it?) a plus?

matt

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I am a student trying to learn as much as I can;

why is a DNR (do not recusitate, I take it?) a plus?

matt[/quote

no mad race with crash cart to do compressions on little frail elderly person who probably won't make it, and if they do chances are they will wish they hadn't when they wake up with a tube rammed down their throat and 5 or 6 broken ribs.

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I agree , little old ladies or men who have life experience to shar. That is as long as they don't have to get up to the commode or do anything for that matter that takes up my time.

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Vented and sedated with lots of drips espe. in septic shock is always a challenge and one you can see if you made a difference in quickly...usually 72 hours.

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continent!!!!!!!!:barf02: :bowingpur

sorry but i have seen more poop and pee lately than i care to ever see!!!!!!!!!!!!! lots of nursing home residents being admitted.:angryfire

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Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

Paralyzed, sedated, and stable with no scans, taps, tests and/or any other scheduled procedure that would necessitate transport.

And no family members.

And there are any number of other open beds meaning my chance for an admission is no worse than 20%.

And I'm working next to nurses whose assignments are equally unchallenging.

And there's an inservice at which chocolate cookies will be served.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Paralyzed, sedated, and stable with no scans, taps, tests and/or any other scheduled procedure that would necessitate transport.

And no family members.

And there are any number of other open beds meaning my chance for an admission is no worse than 20%.

And I'm working next to nurses whose assignments are equally unchallenging.

And there's an inservice at which chocolate cookies will be served.

:chuckle Now theres thinking about the big picture! hahaha

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I really like all ages of my kids, but school-age kids in general are one of my favorite age. They are talkative, trust you to take good care of them, ask all kinds of cool questions, and are not trying to be "too cool" yet (usually). I really like "our" kids with CF too- they are just most all neat families and kids. I like (sometimes) parents who have a young baby that it's their first, and you can teach them soemthing simple about the kid and the ways you can empower them when they are nervous, make them feel like they ARE good parents, really and know a lot of what is good for their kid, and they take it to heart and become such advocates for their health.

I am rambling so I will stop. This is an interesting thread.

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Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

I'm with EMSBOSS -Ventilated and sedated (or vented and anoxic to the point that they are the same -whichever. They don't fight, they don't try to pull everything off (or out as the case may be), don't try to get out of the bed (ugh) and they certainly don't greet you by holding the business-end of their foley (recently pulled out without properly deflating it... hahaha. ) when you enter their room. I also like medically interesting ones (I mean those that have multi-system problems, so you kind of play a balancing act to keep 'em sorta stable. )

Nope. There are many nights when I just prefer mushrooms -turn, feed, do wound care (if required) and bathe. Makes for a much more relaxing night :)

The last two shifts I've had the antithesis of 'em tho. Vented head-bangers that kept me busy literally all night long -I charted in bits and pieces. Ugh. How can a guy absorb Ativan drip 1mg/hr, Fentanyl drip 150mcg/hr, and PRN (and believe me, I was giving it) Ativan 2mg/hr and PRN Haldol 5mg/4hr. All of those fine pharmaceuticals and this guy would bite, grab, kick. He was 4-point restraint with frequent obs (me -we had no ancillary help). Construction worker who fell off a scaffold (approx 15'). They had tried weaning him off the drugs the day before, and his pressure skyrocketed and (not sure how) he became more active yet. Sigh. I was so happy to see the night end... I'm no fan of active neuro patients. ;)

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Working LTC and rehab.I actually like the " vegetables" pardon the expression. They really " needed" someone to care for them and spend that extra minute that some don't, like a back rub or reading to.

Plus you can tell them anything and they don't complain.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac.

I like to have either the confused ones who don't ask you a million questions about what you're doing because they don't know any better (they also can say the funniest things some times...) or the alert, but nice, older patients who aren't demanding and actually appreciate what you do for them (which is rare to get)

And yes stacey...NO family members! They can drive you crazy!:banghead:

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Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

The 80 and 90 somethings (the older the better) even if they are pleasantly confused ....... I love hearing what occupation people had when they were younger. One of my most memorable patients was 90 something with a girlfriend 70 something. I asked him the secret off his long life and he said "I ate everything that didn't eat me first!" . He was actually a walkie talkie....used a walker..... :)

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