When we become the patient

Emergent, RN · Mar 10, 2015

I'm almost 3 weeks post op, with a lot of rehab and pain ahead of me. the relative who came to help me has gone home. i should be back to work before fmla is up. I'm on an emotional see saw, grieving the loss, and having a hard time sometimes. Thanks to good friends to lean on.

edmia, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2015

I'm almost 3 weeks post op, with a lot of rehab and pain ahead of me. the relative who came to help me has gone home. i should be back to work before fmla is up. I'm on an emotional see saw, grieving the loss, and having a hard time sometimes. Thanks to good friends to lean on.

That must have been a big accident. I'm glad you're here to talk about it. I wish you good healing.

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2015

Hope you feel better. After having to get a csection three months ago, I have a new found respect for my post partum moms. I'm definitely a better nurse since I've had my experience as the patient .

JMCP · Mar 10, 2015

Awesome post! Thanks for the insight!!!!

GucciBeaR143, BSN · Mar 10, 2015

I am currently a patient, recovering from a serious accident that required emergency surgery at our regional trauma center. I'm on leave, recovering at home now. This has been a life changing experience.
I have a new perspective on pain, and a new insight into how vulnerable our patients feel. I want to say, the nurses, techs, surgeons, paramedics were all so kind to me, I'm so grateful. I was treated with such tenderness, I'll never forget it.
Don't forget, keep instructions simple for patients on narcotics, and never assume that if your patient is a nurse that they know anything. And don't forget that catheter holder thing for foleys, without it that balloon is really irritating. Fortunately they got that dc'd quickly.
When I return to work I will be a better, more humble and compassionate nurse, for sure.

I hope you feel better soon. I've personally experienced being a patient in my own unit =( it's no fun and the aftermath of appointments, paperwork, missed work days, etc can be overwhelming and challenging.

Like you, it made me less judgmental and more understanding with pain management.

Quick question: are you still keeping tabs of what each HCP/RN/MD/tech do when taking care of you? Are there new phobias you've developed?

Emergent, RN · Mar 10, 2015

I never scrutinized my caregivers much, other than appreciating their care. I did, finally, quit writing down everything down at home as if I was charting about myself. I became rather OCD and neurotic, with anxiety levels through the roof.

New phobias? Scared of becoming dependent on pain pills, afraid of power saws.

Nurse_Lily, RN · Mar 10, 2015

I've had two inpatient experiences, one was labor and delivery, the other was an ER experience that turned into being admitted. My L&D experience was so amazing. They did not treat me like I knew everything because I was an RN. My night nurse did call the attending anesthesiologist for my epidural because she did not know the resident well. For my ER experience, I had a very ****** nurse who was told by the lab that I was an RN. She checked on me ONCE in 8+ hours, just to hang an IV abx. My mom helped me disconnect myself from the monitor to walk to the bathroom and everyone was looking at me walking. When I got out, she was rushing behind me to get me back on the monitor. I was sent home that time and then called back later that day due to contaminated a blood cx. All following RNs, doctors, techs, CNAs, were AMAZING. best experience ever. It all happened during my maternity leave and when I came back, I think I became a better, more compassionate nurse.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Alnitak7 · Mar 10, 2015

At present, I'm working on my advance directive and figure on being stuck in a hospital someday. I'm amazed at some of the details written in this that need editing and that could take away a patients dignity.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 10, 2015

Although I'm no longer working as a nurse, I gained a whole new perspective when I was inpatient on a psych unit last fall. The nurses knew I was an RN and gently reminded me (more than once) that I wasn't there to take care of other patients, but to be taken care of. That was hard, but I understood where they were coming from and I will always be grateful to them for being present for me.

Emergent, RN · Mar 10, 2015

I had that same issue, Viva. I tried to be too independent, get up to BR, accidentally pulled out IV, had emotional meltdown, sobbing uncontrollably. The nurse tech was so comforting.

I'm learning from this to accept help from others.

CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P · Mar 10, 2015

Good healing!

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2015

One thing about being a patient is that it's scary. I'm just getting back some of my psychological strength back a little, as long as I get a good nap. I'm a brave person, but this has reduced me to feeling like a helpless baby, easily upset. But I need my naps.

Hugs!! My only experiences as a patient have been postpartum, and as a child with a nasty pneumonia (which caused atelectasis of my LLL and required weeks of IV antibiotics). Postpartum wasn't particularly scary, although I remember feeling very vulnerable. But as an 8 yr old girl, I remember lying awake in my hospital bed and just crying while the staff was laughing and talking behind the nursing desk. I remember thinking, "I want my mom, my chest hurts, and I can't sleep...and they sound like they're having a party." It definitely helps me be mindful of my own behavior while outside rooms.

Thank you for sharing your experience, and I pray you're back to your strong self soon!