My experience as an employee did not prepare me for becoming a nurse
My experience as a nurse did not prepare me for becoming a patient
I choose the role of me
I am consistent
I am real
I have thoughts, feelings
I am unique
~ I am an Employee ~
I have walked these halls many years
Smiled and greeted you
Assisted visitors, given directions
Developed friendships with coworkers
Amicable and tolerant of others Numerous Managers and management style
Purchased many of my meals in the cafeteria
Visited the gift shop
Utilized the concierge for discount tickets to movies, circus and amusement parks
Prayed in the chapel
Research in the library
Enjoyed employee recognition picnics, ice cream socials and The Christmas Banquet
Spent the night in severe weather
Worked over-time, weekends and Holidays
Job description has changed from Unit Clerk, Unit Secretary, unit assistant then Registered Nurse
Worked full-time while in Nursing school
Received tuition Reimbursement and scholarships to attend Nursing School
Nursing Clinicals in this hospital
Education, conferences
Committees, Mentoring, Preceptor
Manager, Conflict resolution
Certifications
~ I am a Nurse ~
Insert IV's, gastric, urinary tubes
Manage your body fluids, surgical drains
Bathe, turn and transfer your heavy body (3 pounds to 700 pound bodies)
Medications, wound care
Pain management
Falls and pressure Ulcer prevention
I am your personal
waitress, housekeeper, handyman,
babysitter, therapist
Patient advocate, teacher, encourager
Emotional Support when you received life-altering news
Rejoiced when you achieved small goals
Dealt with your family and visitors
Presented a calm front while being criticized, verbally abused by your family or you
Held your hand in the wee hours of the night
End of life and palliative care
I put your needs first
I have missed meals
I have a bladder the size of Texas
Lifting, turning, bending
Nonstop activity for 12 hours straight
Foot, leg and back pain
Laughter, Joy, Euphoria
Frustration, Anger, Disappointment
~ I am the Patient ~
Stripped of clothes, privacy, intimacy
Forced to repeat my history to each person who walks through my door
I can't remember the name of my medications
No, I did not bring the bottles with me
Medication substitutions and revisions
That pill doesn't look like the one I take from home
I take this pill at night
Answer questions
Appear pleasant when you wake me
Request items for personal needs
You turn your back or avoid eye contact while we communicate
What is your pain level on a scale 0-10?
Describe your pain
My Call light is answered but you never receive my request
I am fussed at for walking to nurse station instead of using the call light
You still do not receive my request
My trash is not emptied, there is no toilet paper
Today the housekeeper arrives before breakfast
The odor of the cleaning solutions cause nausea and a headache
How much did you drink?
The frequency, color and consistency of my bathroom encounters
Do you really have to stay with me while I pee
I don't want to leave my body fluids for you to measure and describe
I'm going to be sick
I say, I need my basin and a cool cloth as you run out the door to get my nausea medicine
Poked, prodded, examined, exposed
Take this medicine
Another test
Let's try...
Digging for answers
Separated from my normal routine, my family
Missing the pets, my bed
The TV screen is green
Can't find my favorite channel
Internet is slow or does not respond
Blah food
All 3 meals served within 10 hours
I am hungry between 5 pm - 8 am
Crackers and juice are not satisfying
Oh well, food is not tempting anyway
Or I can't have anything to eat because of a test
I hear the confused patient yelling in the middle of the night and all day long
The ambulances and helicopters outside
Who are all these people that come into my room
Please introduce yourself and tell me your purpose
Nurse, new nurse orienting, nursing student
Nursing assistant to take my vital signs every four hours
Dietary, housekeeper
Respiratory therapist
Rehab- speech, occupational, physical therapist
Case Manager
Charge nurse
Unit Manager, assistant Unit manager, Clinical Specialist, Clinical
Educator
Can any patient know their doctor when there is so many specialities?
Attending Physician, physicians assistant, nurse practitioner
Consulting Physicians: cardiology, nephrology, infectious disease
hematology, oncology, hepatology, gastrology, neurology, urology, pulmonology, rheumatology, allergy, dermatology, ENT, podiatry
OB-GYN, neonatology, pediatrician
Surgeon: general, vascular, cardiothoracic, orthopedic, urology, gynecology
Anesthesia
Radiology department
Cardiology department
Laboratory Department
So many departments, Physician specialties
I will not think of the billing statements, insurance and copays.
November 2013
