"You have a way about you"

I worked 4 nights in a row.  I'm off tonight - going to a baseball game, then it's back to work for another 4 nights in a row....sigh! 

I had it pretty easy this week - three out of the four nights I had an orientee who basically did most of the work.  I had a few interesting patients, others I barely remember - can you tell I need some sleep?

The one that stands out the most is an older man who came in for a right knee replacement.  A couple of days after having the operation, he had a stroke and a heart attack.  He wasn't expected to survive at first, but he is making a pretty good comeback.  He was transferred to PCU (from ICU) Monday night and he was pretty much out of it.  By last night though...he was alert, oriented, had good hand grips...total improvement.  He does have some expressive aphasia which is when he speaks you can't always understand what he's saying.  I'm sure it has to be frustrating for him not to be able to express what he's thinking. 

I had another patient that was admitted 2 nights ago and he is scheduled to have a cholecystectomy this morning (gallbladder surgery).  He was very anxious through the night...which was very understandable to me.  I had the same type of surgery 11 years ago.  I tried to calm his fears the best I could, but it's totally normal to feel anxious the night before surgery.  He was very sweet...this morning he said "You have a way about you."  I'm glad I was able to make him feel ok just by talking. 

I had a very trying patient on Wednesday night.  He came into the hospital a couple of weeks ago & had to be transferred to one of the major hospitals in Orlando because he had a brain bleed & needed brain surgery.  He was transferred back to my hospital afterwards.  I tried to have compassion for him - I tried to understand how he must be feeling.  However, I did not like that he would flash me every chance he got.  It must be somewhat of a guy thing, because I have never encountered any female patients that aren't modest when it comes to their private area being exposed.  Men, on the other hand, are totally opposite.  This patient in particular wanted to show it all.  I thought maybe his thinking was a little off due to his diagnosis, but it didn't take long to see that he knew when to behave that way and when not to behave that way.  I don't think there was a single time that when he used his call bell to get me in there....that I walked in & his sheets were off & his gown pulled up.  It didn't matter that I was just in there 2 minutes earlier & had tucked him in to bed with the sheets up to his shoulders.  It got to the point that I refused to go into his room any more.  I don't need to deal with someone behaving that way.  Life is too short.  :)

Carlene - I'm glad your dogs are able to give you some comfort.  They really seem to know what we need exactly when we need it.  I do plan on getting another dog after my trip.  I miss Jagger a lot and I know another dog won't replace him, but it will at least let me get back to what feels somewhat like normalcy to me.  Thanks so much for your comments.  You are a sweetheart!

It's been a fun week, but a long one.  I'm gonna go get some sleep.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!