So I get a call in the unit today, from our lobby phone, telling me that one of our patients in the lobby is falling out of his wheelchair. I rush out into the lobby and sure enough, a man with no legs is just about out of his wheelchair...he's literally hanging on by a thread. I'm embarrassed to say this but the first thing that rushed through my mind is "man, you had better not fall out of that wheelchair because I don't feel like paging the doctor and/or sending you to the hospital!" I tell the transportation driver to watch him while I go get the machine lift so that we can get him properly back into his chair...and without hurting our backs in the process.
I grab a few other employees on my return trip, along with the machine lift, and back into the lobby I run. We get the guy back up into his chair finally and all the while he is ranting and raving, in spanish no less, that we are doing it wrong, that he's not in his chair right, that we need to straighten him out more, etc., etc., etc. In the meantime, his voice is getting louder and louder and he is making more demands for us to reposition him again and again and again.
"NO" I finally said over his yelling. We are not positioning you again...you have strength in your arms...lift yourself up and move your butt back to the end of the seat...we're not doing it again.
Well...have you ever been cussed out in spanish and called really really bad names!?! Geez, what's up with that...you try and do something nice for someone!!
Evidently this guy doesn't know who he's dealing with...doesn't he know that "nurses call the SHOTS!" Oh boy I can't wait!!
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10 comments:
Oh my goodness Linda. What an ordeal. I can't even imagine what that must of looked like and felt like. Sorry that you were yelled at while you were attempting to be helpful and nice...
I guess its so true that sometimes we just can't win. Even nurses. And I bet you can't wait to give him the shot! ;0 Take care of yourself and don't let it get you down.
Don't they need to do a body cavity search on him just to make sure!!! And what about all that fun stuff you could have done..
What a Great women you are for doing your best & telling him he needs to do his best & stop blaming you guys..
Good luck! I hope you have a better day tomorrow
Hi Linda---
Thanks for stumbling upon my blog--and leaving a comment!
My daughter is an RN--however, since she works with preemies....she doesn't have to deal with obstinate patients! You are so right--"What's up with that!"
Hope you have a great day!
Again, thanks for visiting---stop by anytime!
Diane
What an exciting day you had! I don't know enough spanish to know if I'm being cursed out or not. What a strange situation! I'm glad you asserted your position on him. I bet he won't try that again (at least on you)
Hey there Linda! Thanks for visiting my little blog! Come back anytime. : )
Interesting that there's ANOTHER Jan at the top of your comments! LOL!
My sister is a nurse in Las Vegas and has told me many stories such as this one. She gets sworn at in Spanish on a daily basis! : )Hope today is a better day!
Jan
That is why I work with babies and young kiddos (speech therapist). I don't have trouble with kid obstinance but adult obstinance, that is a whole different matter. Hope everyone is full of happiness & gratitude tomorrow :)
Wow, you'd think someone so helpless would be more grateful! People are so interesting aren't they?
Crazy!
God bless,
Brenda
It's a lot easier to be nice in those situations as a patient then yelling - it gets you no where fast. Then you build this reputation as a pain in the (you know) and then that helps you even less.
Sorry you had such a touch time of it.
Love your spirit Linda. Geeezz, some people have no idea how to treat others who are helping them.
But, to get cussed out in Spanish? Hope you were smiling and letting him think you had no idea! I just give the total dumb blond look.
Although, nothing is uglier than to cuss someone out in Swiss-German. That much I know!
I'm sorry you had to go through with this situation. I have never been cussed out ever. I hope it never happens. I don't know how it would feel, and I think I'd get the needle ready...nite, Kathi
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