Things Your Patients Would LIKE To Tell You
It feels so good to be loved. Ahhh yes. These kind people must have taken a liking to me, because I’m stillllllllll heeeeeeere … *rolls eyes*
Really hoping to get sprung today. As grateful I am to everyone - because this time I seriously did hit solid gold with each and every nurse and LNA … and hospitalist (and that one’s really saying something, coming from me!) … I still am yearning for a shower with soap that doesn’t make me look like I poured baby oil on my head, and FOOD that I can identify when my eyes are closed!
I’d also like to motivate around my environment without a little pole following me everyplace …
Anyway … I thought I would take the opportunity to share a few things that I would like to say to people - but am too chicken. I’m thankful that none of my own caregivers or hospitalists deserved to hear any of this, but there were so many people in and out of here who did need to hear it …
1) Do you have any idea what “Eau de Bête Puante” will do for a queasy stomach? What I wrote actually means: “Skunk Water” … believe me, that’s what even the most expensive perfume or after shave can smell like to someone who’s sick.
And don’t think you can “get away” with just a little dab … it’s like thinking you can be “just a little pregnant.”
I had people walk past my door who were so odorous that I could literally taste them long after they’d passed.
While I’m at it - those of you in food service should think about this advice too. If you have a habit of taking French Showers before work, or are a bit too fond of your current perfume, you could be causing your diners to wonder what the heck was put in the food … *cough*
2) Bursting into a room and shouting “Good morning!” before your patient is awake is not, I repeat: NOT, conducive to lowering blood pressures!
3) Long, loud cell phone conversations outside of patient’s rooms are not only TMI, they’re also unnecessarily disturbing if a patient is trying to rest.
4) Along the same lines … shouted socializations across a ward’s hallway are probably the biggest offenders when it comes to patients not being able to nap. When I was a student nurse, (many moons ago) we were taught silence in the hallways, and lowered voices at the nurse’s station. I don’t think they’re teaching people that anymore.
I’ve heard shouted “how are ya’s” as early as 5 AM, and as late as 11 PM, and I’ve heard dinner arrangements being made by people at opposite ends of the hallway. At this moment, I’m listening (unintentionally, but unavoidably) to a conversation about hospital policy just a few feet away from my door.
And so … that’s my contribution to the blogheap of posts across the medical blogosphere for today. Right from the horse’s mouth, if you will.
Hopefully, my next post will tie up my experiences here for this time around, and put the matter to rest permanently. Then I want to deal with the awards and meme’s I have lined up and waiting for me …
So … I’m going to stand beside my bed in my little skid-proof footies, and start clicking my heels together as I repeat: “There’s no place like home …”
It Only Hurts When I Laugh:
- Misadventures of a Moof
- Things Your Patients Would LIKE To Tell You
- Free At Last!
August 29th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Are they red ruby slippers, Moof? Probably won’t work if they aren’t.
And you are correct–noises and smells bother you more when you don’t feel well. We would (and families/visiters) would do well to remember that fact.
Hope you feel better soon.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
the only thing that ever worked to get me outta the hospital was to have the nurses call and harass my doctors partner (who was on call) every few hours… *blink*
but then I ended up right back in the hospital the very next day.. if they hadn’t had me loaded with manisum as much as they did i’d have been bouncing off the walls… seriously..
your right though the nurses make all the difference.
i’ll see if i can find you a pair of ruby red slippers
August 29th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I was wondering how you were feeling Moof. It is no fun being in the hospital. I hope you are out soon and in your nice, cozy Moofy surroundings. There is no place like home.
August 29th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Oh….I am dismayed to hear you are still there!
You know, when I was a nurse, I would sit in some of the kids rooms (feeding them, rocking, etc.) and was always surprised at the loud conversations I would overhear from my fellow professionals. Although, I am fairly certain I participated in a few of them myself at one time or another *LOL*
These are important reminders to pay a bit closer attention to those annoyances patients are sometimes subjected to.
I hope they spring you soon ;)
August 29th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Well Moof, I was hoping you would be home by now, but if they think you need to still be there, then i guess it is good you are still there. You didn’t tell us how you are feeling and that’s what i want to know about. I hope you are getting better and soon you will be back home, or at the lake relaxing.
I can relate to everyone of these things you talk about. I have one Doc. who does his rounds at 5:00 in the morning. He comes into the room, turns the light on and shouts “Good Morning, Cathy it’s Dr. M”…I always wonder when it is that he sleeps. 5:00AM is not the best time to have meaningful conversations which i can only guess that nothing I have to say is important anyway.
I had a really good nurse though the last time I was in. She knew I was beat so she closed my door and would let no one in my room for hours so I could sleep.
Well my friend, I am thinking about you, and hope you are well soon!