About 23 years ago I was in Duluth for the weekend and was interviewed by the news... Rock Hudson had just announced that he had Aids and the Duluth news wanted to know what I thought about it. I remember saying that I really didn't know too much other than you can get it from having sex and you can die from it. I remember saying that maybe this would scare everyone into taking precautions and that condom sales would skyrocket.
Today my patient at clinicals was a 46 year old male who was HIV+ and was suffering from end-stage Aids. After I learned who my patient was yesterday afternoon, I had to give myself a crash course on HIV and Aids and everything that goes along with it. Not to mention I had to make drug cards for all the drugs he was taking (25+). I felt sorry for myself the whole time because I was tired from staying up late the night before studying for my test and I was exhausted.
I now feel guilty for complaining and completely thankful that I have my health.
This kind, grateful, and well-mannered man would probably love to spend 10 minutes in my exhausted shoes. The sad thing about Aids is that you just don't suffer from the virus; the virus affects all of your systems. So anything with your body from head to toe that could go wrong, probably will. And what isn't affected by the virus, will most likely be affected by one of the tons of drugs that Aids patients are on. Even though he felt absolutely miserable, was paralyzed on one side, was in intense pain, and was in the process of going through kidney failure, he always thanked me for whatever it was I did for him. I felt privileged and honored to be his student nurse today.
On a lighter note, I was very excited today because my patient needed the flu vaccine and they were going to let me do it (I've never done this... or even have learned how to do it)! But sadly, his arms were so wasted away that his primary nurse felt that he better do it instead. Part of me was bummed... part of me was relieved!
And, before I go, one vent: I've noticed that there are quite a few doctors/surgeons from India. Now, I have nothing against people from other countries, however, if your accent is so thick that people can't understand you, and you want to work here in America in the medical field where English (for now) is the primary language, wouldn't you want to take classes that teach you to speak without the accent? In fact, shouldn't they require it? People are sick in the hospital, barely able to focus on what is being said, and then they get a doc who comes in speaking fast, low, and with a thick accent -- how are they going to possibly understand one word? My patient is a little hard of hearing (HIV even affected his hearing), it states this all over his chart. This Doc from India (not his normal doc) was making his rounds and didn't even take the time to notice that my pt was hard of hearing. So he is talking softly, fast, and with a thick accent. COME ON! Not to mention he did no assessing of any kind and never left the foot of the bed. I was PISSED OFF! That is so ridiculous! And it was one of the coldest interactions I had ever witnessed.
That's all the news from the nursing student in the north for today! Take care of yourselves!
1 comment:
I will never forget, years ago, I had to give a thin elderly woman a B12 shot. She was skeletal and I was at a loss looking for an area -- any area --in which there was some form muscle mass. When I finally pushed the needle in I swear I hit bone! To this day it freaks me out.
Today I had a B12 injection and I am sure the nurse certainly did not hit bone =)
I understand your frustration with how patients are treated. Although hospital life is hectic and everything is STAT, that still isn't reason to not treat people with respect. I remember this med student who very much had a God complex. I felt bad for his patients and myself whenever we crossed paths. He was a complete ass. I kept thinking, if you're already like this, what are you going to be like when you're on your own, making all that money with your own practice? I wish I could say at some point during his residency that he finally "got it", but he never did. He's still a jerk and now has a large practice. I don't care how smart or skilled he is I would never go to him or refer someone to him for any reason.
As for doctor's with accents, my new Dr is from Pakistan and speaks in a whisper. During our consultations I sit only inches from her and still cannot hear what she is saying to me. In the end I usually ask for a copy of my most recent results, go home, Google everything and figure out if her diagnosis/prognosis/plan is correct. So far it seems that she knows her stuff but I'll be in real trouble if ever I can't find something via Google.
In the hospital, as in life, it's always a good rule of thumb to treat people as you would like to be treated. My arm is aching today after my B12 shot and I'm wondering if that skinning old lady with no muscle tone is having a giant karmic laugh.
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