Your worst nightmare (Part deux)

bagladyrn, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Many years ago I dreamed one night that I was dead, but still had to go to work every day (and then come home and do the housework, etc). However, I got no recognition for this since I was dead and no one knew I was there. I woke up really pissed off that I was going to have to do this stuff for eternity!

Very shortly after that I switched specialties and moved across the country.

(No, my subconscious is not subtle!)

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

I had a pretty bad one recently. Not quite nursing related, but I have absolutely no doubt it has to do with me working so much lately and feeling helpless about some things in my life.

My boyfriend and I were at the mall, and somehow someone bumped him off the escalator and he landed on the floor. He had an obvious cracked skull and he was unconscious. For some reason, I didn't know where we were, and I was on the phone with emergency services but they couldn't get to us if they didn't know where to go. I was flipping out and asking everyone who walked by which mall this was, but they just laughed and made fun of me. I tried all kinds of creative ways to get the address or the mall name out of them, but nobody would help me, and my boyfriend died in a pool of blood on the floor.

I was going to sign up for a bunch of extra shifts this weekend, but I think my subconscious is making it pretty clear that I need a break.

canigraduate · Jul 11, 2015

I had a pretty bad one recently. Not quite nursing related, but I have absolutely no doubt it has to do with me working so much lately and feeling helpless about some things in my life.
My boyfriend and I were at the mall, and somehow someone bumped him off the escalator and he landed on the floor. He had an obvious cracked skull and he was unconscious. For some reason, I didn't know where we were, and I was on the phone with emergency services but they couldn't get to us if they didn't know where to go. I was flipping out and asking everyone who walked by which mall this was, but they just laughed and made fun of me. I tried all kinds of creative ways to get the address or the mall name out of them, but nobody would help me, and my boyfriend died in a pool of blood on the floor.

Oooh, that's awful. Double funny .gifs for you.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Being sure my baby is dead... then waking up 4.5 weeks later in ICU and finding out that she is already over a month old and doing as fine as a deep preemie might.

One time, I was given a combination of ketamine and a little Versed for anaphylaxis. The result was hallutinations of being group forcefully violated, which in reality were, of course, ETT, Foley, restrains, clothes off, pads on, etc., etc. Took me a few weeks to kind of force myself to sort reality from that nightmare.

nurse2211 · Jul 11, 2015

Nursingaround1's thread got me to thinking about the worst nursing related nightmares I've ever had.
I have a recurring one where I find out I've had a patient for several hours that I didn't know about. Nothing like discovering a patient to ruin your day. This one freaks me out every time.
I also had one about the incredible growing cafeteria. I was on lunch break and the cafeteria kept expanding and shifting, kind of like a kaleidoscope maze, or Hogwarts. I couldn't get to the food, and I was so hungry I was ready to gnaw off my hands. Then, lunch was over and I couldn't find the way back to the unit. I was doing Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones type stuff to try to get out of there and was totally trapped. I actually had a panic attack in my sleep during this one. I was so traumatized I had to miss my shift. I couldn't stop shaking long enough to drive.
My funniest one is the dream I had that I was naked. I had a really fiii-iiine patient. Think Jason Momoa or Matt Bomer if he was 6'2" and straight. Yumm. Unfortunately, the patient noticed I was naked and proceeded to laugh hysterically. Ouch.
What are your worst nightmares? You get bonus points and a PM'd funny nursing .gif if they are nursing related.

The dream where you find yourself at your college reunion -- in your underwear -- is as bad as it gets. Also, the one where you're standing in a sewer -- barefoot.

Of course, Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws is the ultimate nightmare. Unfortunately that really happens every November. Not a dream. I only wish.

None are nursing related but that's all I have.

canigraduate · Jul 11, 2015

Being sure my baby is dead... then waking up 4.5 weeks later in ICU and finding out that she is already over a month old and doing as fine as a deep preemie might.
One time, I was given a combination of ketamine and a little Versed for anaphylaxis. The result was hallutinations of being group forcefully violated, which in reality were, of course, ETT, Foley, restrains, clothes off, pads on, etc., etc. Took me a few weeks to kind of force myself to sort reality from that nightmare.

So sorry that happened to you!

Surprised1, MSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

I occasionally have the same one as you: I dream that I either didn't know about, or forgot about, one of my patients, and I get this panicked, sick feeling when I realize that I never even went in their room!

But my worse nursing nightmares are recurrent, and they occur whenever I have terminal patients. I usually have the patient for the last 2-3 months of life, and those 2-3 months are filled with dreadful nightmares on my part. Those poor children haunt my dreams. I often wake up crying. Ugh.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Being sure my baby is dead... then waking up 4.5 weeks later in ICU and finding out that she is already over a month old and doing as fine as a deep preemie might.
One time, I was given a combination of ketamine and a little Versed for anaphylaxis. The result was hallutinations of being group forcefully violated, which in reality were, of course, ETT, Foley, restrains, clothes off, pads on, etc., etc. Took me a few weeks to kind of force myself to sort reality from that nightmare.

When I worked in Day Hospital, we had pts. who came in for epidural steroid injections. One of the anesthesiologists was fond of using ketamine. These poor pts. were often so wacked out with hallucinations: screaming, babbling, crying, laughing hysterically, etc. One lady, in between hallucinations and hollering, serenaded us with Janis Joplin. At one point she got really quiet, then said, "Wow, this is better than mushrooms!"

One day I was with a pt. and an anesthesiologist getting the consent for anesthesia signed, when all of a sudden a pt. a few beds down let out this blood curdling scream that nearly shook the walls. My pt. looked at me all wide-eyed, and I said, "That guy didn't pay his co-pay." That broke the ice with my patient, I must say.

After that experience, I considered getting, "No Ketamine" tattooed on my chest.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Canigraduate,

Thank you, we're all ok!

NOADLS · Jul 11, 2015

Working in a setting where I couldn't delegate ADLS. I was playing candycrush in my sleep and when "sugarcrush" activated, I woke up in a world of relief.

Surprised1, MSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

forgot to quote NOADLS