What a "rotten attitude" looks like

[Judy Hamilton]

I readily confess to a syndrome I identify is a "Dirty Rotten Attitude"


An unbalanced assignment in the small unit by the ICU charge nurse did nothing last night for my blood pressure, nor my attitude, which as you note, is less than agreeable. Three nurses split the care for four patients. A full time staff nurse took the patient in room five, a lady who required a bit of assistance and needed close monitoring; the charge nurse assigned herself to a ‘walkie-talkie’ ICU patient. After assessing him, giving him his medications, she closed the door to his cubicle saying, “rest well and I will see you in the morning.” True to her word she monitored his vital signs from afar (on the monitor at the desk) and did not enter his room until five AM. The remaining two patients became my friends for the night. One patient is a person who suffered a cardiac arrest some years ago and is total care. She has a feeding tube, and a tracheotomy attached to a ventilator. The other patient is a homeless person who is suffering from alcohol withdrawal. He is in full blown delirium tremors, with both legs and arms restrained to the bed. Even with these measures, at one point in the night he required all of us lady nurses to hold him in the bed. He is to be pitied. I so wanted to do more for him than just safety, medications and hygiene however I am impotent to help him.

I will not go into minute details about the task that occupy the next twelve hours except to say that the only time I sat down in at least eight hours of the twelve hour shift was to take a couple of quick pit stops. At one point the charge nurse, positioned in a comfy chair at the desk asked, “Why don’t you take a break Judy?”
I looked at her with an incredulous stare and mumbled, “I will not stop until I am caught up with my charting, as I have a dental appointment in the morning and have to leave on time.”

Leaving the hospital a good ten minutes before me, she turned her head as she was walking out the door, flashed a smile and said, “Thanks for coming tonight, come back anytime.”

I asked myself this question when walking out to my car this morning, “Will my awful attitude, this agitation and complete exhaustion I feel really matter a year from now?”


I am in need of a hot bath and a sincere prayer to change my attitude toward another nurse who has simply worked too many years to care. Now that I can draw social security, people ask me, when I plan on retiring. Last night offered an answer to this question.


I will stop working the day I stop caring.



Judy

[Grandma Carolyn]

If I'm ever sick and in the hospital I want a nurse like you. You are right. Don't waste your emotions on the other nurse. It will only drain you more emotionally. I'll say a prayer for you that Jesus will make a way of escape for you so you won't be suffer and use your emotional energy to be angry at that nurse.

Please take care of you.

gc

[David Parker]

I guess nursing has the same job frustrations as other professions.

All I can say is that after my recent surgery and hospitalization, I have nothing but respect and awe for you nurses and am so very glad that people like you are called into nursing. It's obviously not the money...it's a calling.

Can't say enough good things about the nurses that cared for me. And yes I was nervous about spending several days in the hospital, but the nurses made me laugh and feel comfortable and not self conscious. Nursing is a special vocation and those of you that nurse have all of my admiration.

[Jim Franklin]

Ditto, Ditto many times what David posted.

[Judy Hamilton]

I am beginning to note..that the younger nurses, those with but a few years or so nursing under their belt, and
life has not humbled them sufficiently, so they still consider themselves the cock-of-the-walk.......
mentally test me to see if this ole' gal do do the work.
And I have not disappointed them..I have pushed back my sleeves and jumped in the middle of making positive changes in the space of a twelve hour shift

I have gracefully side stepped proficiency on the Balloon Pump, Prismo CVCHD (cardiovascular hemodialysis) and have not had Neuro Intraventricularostomy procedural training. These are specialized procedures and even many ICU do not offer these interventions. with these deficits as an ICU nurse, there is always the need for an experienced ICU nurse to care for the "rest of the patients" which populate the greater percentage of the beds

I can adjust cardiac drips, work with Endo Tracheal tubes and ventilators and change pooey linens almost simultaneously
and (without apology) gladly leave the high tech interventions to other nurses

Still...I get the feeling that just because of my age..I am sometimes considered less capable

the incident with the nurse and the unbalanced assignment did not involve question of skills
she and I share the same generation..she is looking retirement in the face and seems to have plans to sit on her duff until her number rolls around

It is sometimes a jungle out here..

Judy

[Sheya Stephens]

My husband spent a week in the hospital a few months ago. We found ourselves attached and hoping to see certain nurses again, and prayed we wouldn't see other nurses. It was nice when the 'nice' nurses stopped in to check on Troy even when he wasn't their patient. Little gestures make such a stressful situation for the family a little more doable. Judy, you would have been a nurse that we wanted to see again. thank you for what you do!

[Paul Whitaker]

Judy,
I wish there was something I or anybody else could do to prevent episodes which you experience. We are praying for you.

I have often thought a book of stories about nurses who have gone above and beyond the call of duty would really speak to the hearts of many patients and medical persons - for all to read.

On occasion I looked forward to the next shift change. That meant that the nurse that cared for me earlier would be back - with her special words, special touch and love for her/his patients.

Just yesterday I was in out patient section. One nurse who provided her services was so kind - it brought tears to my eyes that she was so caring.

Hang in there Judy - those patients are waiting for you to return.

I haven't written well but I think you might understand what I have said.