Nursing, what a hoot. Have any of you taken care of anyone that is confused, demented or drugged? OMG what a riot. Have you dealt with family that can't see what is in front of them? This is something we deal with ever day and laugh till the tears run down our legs(sorry had to steal this one).
Nurse come quickly, there is something wrong with my mom.... we run down the hall thinking there is a major problem. Coming around the corner of the room, we see something that at any other time than right now, would make us laugh hysterically. That is not something you can do when family is standing right there.... for some reason they do not find it funny when a drugged up family member is sitting there with their gown up over their head and they are talking to the IV pole like someone is standing there. You ask the patient in a caring manner who they are talking to..... "can't you see them, they are right beside you".... then they begin picking at the air.
The family is distraught. Mom has never been this way... sometimes she is a little confused, but this is really scaring us. The nurse tries hard to explain, that it is probably the medications either from surgery or the pain meds that they have been taking. Poor mom is picking at the air trying to grab things that are not there, she is talking to people that are not there, and she is taking her clothes off..... she never does things like that. You help her get her gown back on. Show her that no one is there but her family and try to calm her, only to have her do it again once her family goes home.
Throughout the night she is crawling out of bed, climbing over rails, pulling out IVs, walking down the hall naked. It is something we laugh about when we see it, but it is so unnerving to a family that does not want to believe that there is anything wrong.
As nurses and medical persons, we see some weird things, some funny things and some really alarming things. The most alarming thing that we see is when families cannot believe that there is anything wrong. You can explain until your voice is hoarse. If it is not something that they are willing to accept, you are not ever going to get them to believe what your are telling them, even when they see it with their own eyes. This is when our job gets really hard and sometimes sad. You have to explain that the family cannot take them home. They need to be somewhere where someone can watch them all the time. That is when the family becomes defensive and can attack. Be patient and understanding. In time they will see there is an issue.
The laughter will return and the smiling will begin again. Tomorrow there will be another drug induced delirium that will make us forget the day before. We will again laugh till the tears come. We will giggle at the person walking down the hall with their butt uncovered and try to nonchalantly go to cover them.... the whole time snickering. Our jobs hold so much sadness, but also so much joy. The craziness is part of what we do... so when we can we laugh trying to not hurt anyone's feelings. Making light of the sadness or laughing at silly things is just the way we cope.... So in my case, I prefer to laugh till I cry, it is my way of coping with the ugliness and lack of hope at times......
When you see me crying, a kind touch is appreciated. When you see me laughing, laugh with me... It makes it so we can continue what we do..... Many times we laugh until we cry.......I'm a Nurse and proud of what I do....
No comments:
Post a Comment