Bitching in Progress07:38 Nov 13 2009
Times Read: 922
Day started out fine and then something happened. I'm not even really sure what but, by 8o'clock my night at work was officially FUCKED. Yeah, not even gonna edit it.
Run down of the night....starting at or around 4pm....
Brought my cart down the hall to start my med pass. Looking through my supplies I realized I needed a few things to get started so I headed off to the clean utility room. I come back and the nursing director, (ie:big boss lady), is standing there. "Is this your water bottle? Your coffee? And your cart is not locked." (Insert my name here in a chastising voice.) Yeah, yeah, yeah, won't happen again. Then she asks, "How are things going down here?" I tell her, it's a heavy hall right now and I've got one patient that is completely non-compliant and totally demanding. It's hard to make everything run smoothly around all her demands. (I'll get to her later on.) Other than that, things are coming along.
I think maybe it's gotten back to her that I'm threatening to quit. Actually, it's not a threat, I just haven't found a new job yet. I'm a damn good nurse, I'm just not cut out for sub-acute/rehab. At least not this one.
Anyway...back to the rest of my night. I know I have an admit coming in so I'm trying to get my 4pm meds out before he arrives. Mission accomplished. YAY! That's about the time my night starts falling apart. I keep trying to get to his paperwork so I can fill out what I can gleam off his discharge summary from the hospital. I'm also trying to get some very basic charting done. All I wanted to do was write in how much my patients ate for dinner. How much fluid they consumed and they're vitals...maybe their adl's if I had time. Yeah. Um. That didn't happen. Every time I would sit down someone would interrupt me. The phone would ring. Someone in the bubble room needs to go pee. 27 Door wouldn't lay off her light...shall I continue?
As I mentioned one of those interruptions was a patient who had to go pee. She's on a water pill so when you gotta go, you gotta go. No problem, the aides have all vanished, I'll get her. I go to take her to the bathroom in the hallway and there's some sort of Harry Hudini trick to opening that fucking thing. I didn't get it and smashed my right index finger between the door (did I mention it was heavy) and the door jam. Can we say "MOTHER FUCKER THAT HURTS!"? No, because I have a patient 2 feet behind me. Anyway, got her to her room and in the bathroom and went back to do my paperwork.
I finally get my info together for the new guy, get in there, do his assessment, get out and file away all his paperwork. Now, time to contend with Miss 27 Door.
This woman has officially driven every single staff member that's had to deal with her to their wits end. She won't do a DAMN thing for herself. (Did I mention we're a rehab unit? Yeah? I thought so.) She's capable of getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom with her little walker and some minimal help from staff. She'd rather lie in bed and mess herself and then call for the staff to come clean her up. She's continent folks. She knows when she has to go.
She refuses to get out of bed for dinner. And I don't mean, "No I don't want to get out of bed." I mean, throwing a tantrum like a fucking 3 year old. "nonononono! Leave me alone. Go away." *pulls cover over her head* Did I mention she's also alert and orientated?
I told her last night I'm a very nice person but I'm a mean nurse. I'll make you do whatever it is you need to do to get better. It was her last warning.
She didn't get out of bed for my entire shift. I have no idea how long she'd been in bed before I got there. Yet, she's worried about skin break down. It wouldn't be a worry if she'd GET UP. She demands that we help her turn and position when she's capable. She sleeps most of the afternoon which means she'll be up ALL night...again. Last night I gave her a pain med, anti-anxiety, sleeping pill cocktail. It didn't touch her. She was awake all night and on the call bell every half hour. It's like she thinks she's in a 5 star hotel or something.
She told me tonight she didn't care if she got better. She was too far gone. I'm out of pity at this point. I have a lady across the hall who CAN'T take care of herself any longer. Who CAN'T walk. CAN'T feed herself. CAN'T express her needs half the time. You came her for rehab. You came here to get better. If you are no longer interested in getting better. If you think you've come to the Marriott and we're here to serve you hand and foot. Think again and get the FUCK off my unit.
I left a note to the Doctor, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Social Work and I talked with her family. Either she gets with the program or she goes home. I don't have time for the bullshit.
Oh and, my finger really does hurt...a lot.
/rant
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