Sometimes, even though the shift hasn't gone horrifically by the end of it, you just feel like crying anyways, I had 6 patients last night, 1 person who was very unwell, put a nasogastric tube in and he vomited 850mls while we were doing it, then another litre over night (his tummy wasn't workin after him having some bowel surgery). It just took up all the night and I wasn't happy as I was leaving that I had given him the best care I could. I came home, and stressed... I stressed for the next 2 hrs after I had gone to bed. I had horrible thoughts about putting his drugs in with the potassium fluids he had going. Realised, once I had got into bed, that valium isn't compatible with pretty much anything and that it may create problems. So I was pretty much expecting to go back this morning and hear that he had been sent to ICU or something similar. So after my about 4hrs sleep I got up and went back to work, and.... he was fine.
I allocated my 6 patients, they were a nice bunch, and I allocated the other staff member who was turning up late the other 5 patients, unfortunately I didn't split it well, and her half were much heavier than my half. So I had to spend most of my morning helping her. My throat is sore, I am tired out and I have to do half of her work too. So I was feeling lousy. Then she said, "Thankyou very much for helping me today, you have been a real gem."
And everything was okay again. It took only one person, telling me I did a good job to make my day okay. So if she ever happens to read this, thankyou, cause it all sucks and you made my day that little bit better!
Big storm raging here, so I better go.
Laters

posted by BJ @   0 Comments