When The Patient Teaches You

Published

Specializes in ICU, MedSurg, Medical Telemetry.

Has anyone else had the experience where the patient literally walks you through the procedure?

I've been an RN since Oct, but have only been on my own since December. The last night I worked, I had a patient who had a central line (not a big deal), but who needed to have labs drawn (a big deal). Lab can't draw from central lines and, if they don't have too, they like to have us draw the labs for pts with central lines. I had only done the procedure once or twice and always with a fellow nurse talking me through it -- and far apart in time. So I was dreading the experience -- central lines freak me out. I'm always afraid I'll contaminate it and kill the patient (I was hanging blood that night and I was freaked out about drawing labs. Go figure).

Anyway, I decided that it was time to get my big girl panties on and do this myself, no help for once. I knew the procedure. I'd be fine. After a few false starts and many unnecessary motions later, the patient (who had been flat and a little uncommunicative throughout the night) looked at me with an amused expression and said: "You haven't done this before, have you?"

I'm like, "Sure I have." Just not much. Or by myself. So technically not lying. At this point, I'm beet red. I don't lie well to begin with, plus I'm really embarrassed.

His grin just gets wider and he walks me through the first part of the procedure -- the part I'm iffy with. He's like "I've seen this so often, I could do this myself." And I'm sure he could. He sure taught me something! :lol2:

I won't forget that experience soon and I'll definitely know how to draw labs next time! :lol2:

I can't imagine what he thought of me, but I no longer fear the horrible, evil central line any more. Thank God for small mercies. :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Onc/Med-Surg, ER, Nursing Supervisor.

People with PD can walk you through their procedures, too. Some of them are VERY particular about how you do it. Which is completely understandable. I'm still a student, but my instructor was helping another student with one while I observed. The hospital is using a new bag system and my instructor wasn't familiar with it. The patient had to tell us how to do it. It was no big deal. I guess the patient is use to it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

If you get a patient like that just go with it. It makes them feel better when someone actually listens, and you'll learn something. If they tell you to do something the wrong way, or dangerously, you can have a good conversation about the pros and cons. It gives a feeling of being on the same team with the patient, instead of us/them relationship.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg/tele/LTC/geriatrics.

I have had that happen a few times. I have care planned it so they can do the care themselves. I asked my manager and I had one of my patients reaccess her own portacath because she would be doing it at home and had been doing it at home. I had another lady with a urostomy and colostomy that I just handed the supplies to. It was great because you watch how they like and get some teaching done at the same time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school RN, CNA Instructor, M/S.

i had a 10 yr old with an insulin pump give me an entire inservice on his pump! I was so proud of him that he was well on his way to being an independant young man!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

The last time I went in for an upper endoscopy (a procedure I've had done countless times in the past 17 years), it was at an endoscopy center I'd never been to before. When the time came, I gave the RN the play-by-play of what was going to happen instead of her doing her spiel. She looked at me and said, "Wow, you did that better than I do, and I do it several times a day!" :D

I also had the experience of being the "first time on her own" esophageal manometry tracing patient for a nurse at a different facility about ten years ago. It was kind of like the OP's situation, with me talking her through it and giving her tips on the patient's perspective that she could incorporate into her future procedures (while manometry isn't the worst procedure I've ever had done, it really isn't "fun" either!). She was a real sweetie, and she appreciated my input from my various experiences (this was the third facility that I'd had a tracing done at, and each place did things differently).

I'm hoping that my own experiences as a patient will make me a better, more compassionate nurse in a couple of years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion