Published
Didnt quite know where to put this, but thought it was worth reading, you will find its true. A nurse friend wrote this on a very long, difficult night shift one night.
ODE TO AN OLD LADY
Dear crabby old woman,
I do see you and you are all these things.
But now you are here with some gross disease.
You're bored and you're lonely,
and no-one has called,
but PLEASE, stop trying to get up, DADGUMMIT YOU"LL FALL.
I really dont care if you wont't take your pill,
the pain will get worse.....
Trust me,.. it will.
Then you'll be crying, and yelling, and making a squall.
And wonder why I don't come, the instant you call.
Now I want you to know,
I've been patient and kind,
I know you are old and losing your mind,
but the guy down the hall is sitting in poop,
and JAHCO is rounding with their circus troupe.
I've been here ten hours with no lunch and no break,
I've turned all my patients,
and my back really aches.
All my people are fed, and at least presentably clean.
Mose gripe as much you do, and say that "I'm mean".
To care for others is a CHOICE that I make,
you'll have to forgive me,
I'VE DONE WHAT IT TAKES...
I first read the original one when I was getting my CNA. It really had an impact on me and I like what the author had to say. However, I know that there is a flip side for SOME patients, not all. Thanks for posting both of them, I enjoyed rereading the original, and the first one gave me a little "guilty pleasures" sort of grin because there are some people who have been mean all of their lives.
momdebo, BSN, RN
97 Posts
Next time just tell him that the fire marshall has set the maximum capacity for people on your back at one time to no more than 4 persons and that he will have to take a number, sorry for the inconvenience.!