The downside of palliative care is that sometimes all you do is check and administer important medications. This procedure is carefully managed and two trained nurses have to prepare the drugs and administer them to maintain safety. When your patients have complex pain issues this process can be repeated hourly, and so you can be on catch up for most of the shift.
I’ve had such a shift
It reminded me of some of the overly technical shifts I used to have on intensive care.
After one of those I used to drive to the beach and just sit in the car in silence with the windows wide open, desperately trying to remove the yakuda monitor bleeps and calls and warnings from my brain
Tonight I parked on North Shore in Llandudno and did the same
I found a half eaten packet of cheese and onion crisps behind the visor and ate them joyously
Sucking the salt from my fingers
As the cold sea air flushed through Bluebell’s windows like a cold flannel on a hot brow
I’m meeting Patrick tomorrow, for brunch
"The downside of palliative care is that sometimes all you do is check and administer important medications."... Really? For the me the downside would be spending every day with people in desperate straits who are dying. Just visiting a ward once full of people, including a relative, dying with leukaemia broke me for a while. How do you cope? (please forgive my being anon this time)
ReplyDeleteAnd the bottom line is: someone has to do it. My son in law is a trauma surgeon, and sometimes comes home unable to speak and is found sitting hanging on to the edge of the dining room table with his knuckles turned white. We push forward a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich and leave him alone for a while.
DeleteWhat john forgets to add is that medicine in hospice care is often used in massive dosages. That’s why things have to be carried out carefully. Syringe drivers are not filled with just one drug, sometimes many , and some patients have more than one of these running at any one time.
DeletePalliative care pain relief is often balanced with medications for terminal agitation and delirium and I’ve seen nurses run ragged literally running from one patient to another.
My husband was under hospice care and we used to keep the nurses going by offering “ pit stops” of chocolate bits by his bedside
My husband died aged 44
I disagree strongly with the first "anon" reply. My mom was in and out of hospice for 2 1/2 years before dying at 102, so I had lots of up close and personal experiences there. While definitely sad, it was a privilege to be there for her, and I am forever grateful to the hospice workers who took such good care of her. It is the most meaningful work one can do.
DeleteNina
I found that standing at the shore's edge, just being, helped me when my Dad was very poorly. Somehow it reminded me how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Nature has healing powers. I hope your brunch date is enjoyable for both of you and leads to many more dates. From what you've said, Patrick sounds like he's on your wavelength, which has got to be good. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a day, can thoroughly understand your unwind response, have a good nights sleep and enjoy your time with Patrick tomorrow. Jan in Castle Gresley
ReplyDeleteSleep well tonight, John dear. Enjoy brunch with Patrick tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteSitting at the beach with a packet of crips, followed by brunch tomorrow sounds like a good way to follow such an exhausting shift. I don't think I could do what you do. Maybe I'd surprise myself, but I have my doubts on this one.
ReplyDeletePirate loves going to the beach too..it helps when you are on the receiving end as well
ReplyDeleteA half-eaten packet of cheese and onion crisps would not exist with me. Hadn't they gone soft?
ReplyDeleteYour shift sounds like a difficult one today. Meeting up with Patrick for brunch sounds excellent. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine is currently under Hospice care in his home, with two carers doing 12-hour shifts. He is in the final stages of Parkinsons, and morphine is being administered more and more as he slides down. His wife is so very grateful for the tender care of the women who are caring for her husband as she is 84 and physically unable to care for him herself and she didn't want him in a care facility. She shares with me daily how wonderful the two women are as they do all the things needed. So, to you and to them and to all the other people who fill such a need, I express my unending gratitude. That there are people like you and those two women is a blessing to all of us. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Ceci
Deletefrom Gemma's Person , B.
ReplyDeleteYour job impacts not only your patients, but their families as well, and I commend you for the work that you do. I have to say that I really am holding my breath for tomorrow. Patrick sounds like a keeper. A good friend to buoy your spirits at the very least.
ReplyDeleteThat shift sounds exhausting. I get sitting by the beach listening to the waves and opening the window to let the cold air in to refresh you; I don't get eating the remainder of an opened packed of crisps unless they were still very crispy. I hope your brunch with Patrick tomorrow is much fun and warms the cockles of your heart.
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
Can't log into google acc for some reason
I well remember having to check insulin doses with a 2nd nurse, both type of insulin and dose amount.
ReplyDeleteSafe journey home, and good sleep should have you ready for lunch. Have fun!
Hugs!
I used to rake live Cockles from beneath the sand on the other side of the Orme. I'd get a bucket-full in no time, leave them overnight in fresh water, then boil them in the morning. Free food at its best.
ReplyDeleteI can feel how healing that beautiful scene and the cooling breeze felt.
ReplyDeleteA good way to unwind. The sea is quite soothing at times. Happy Brunch Day!
ReplyDeleteEvery day I visit my relative in a home, I cry when I get back to the car. When I get home I have calls from the home saying my relative is missing me and so we talk on the phone, sometimes up to an hour. This is draining and I cry again. Calls can be at any time of the day or night. At least you can leave work and go home and your life is yours.
ReplyDeleteI'll be anon this time.
Yes I’m very lucky, I do go home
DeleteThis sounds like a very healing practice, more of us need to learn to do that.
ReplyDeleteI have much respect and love for all health care workers. I have needed ya'll but a few times, and have watched you work yourselves to death, some literally running their entire shifts. Self-care for you is essential. You can't pour from an empty cup. I hope you are filled up from time with your friend.
ReplyDeleteI was so inspired by this post, That I dragged my miserable sulky arse off the sofa, saddled up the dogs and went for a walk. No sea views but plenty of gorgeous autumn colours and a clear head. Thank you x
ReplyDeleteAt least mot all of your hospice shifts are like that one. Earl Gray lives to fight another day.
ReplyDeleteAll you nurses deserve medals for the work you do. I could not do the job. Although I am compassionate it just doesn’t come across that way. Nurses in Toronto are so overworked they are finding other ways to make a living. When my husband was dying he mostly saw nursing students. Have fun tomorrow, you deserve it. Gigi
ReplyDeleteYour work is so important and appreciated, John. Thank you. Enjoy your day tomorrow. :)
ReplyDeleteThat park at the beach sounds good after any kind of day at work, be it a hospital, the assembly line, or McDonald's.
ReplyDeleteCor, as usual l am humbled by the thought of my own shallowness, l stand in awe of what you do John. Running a mile from other peoples bodily functions, not able to get a grip when faced with overwhelming sadness, let alone death as you spoke of the other day. l feel ashamed when l look back at my working life, problem solving in a call centre environment. Yeah, it was really tough, well l told everyone it was anyway, doesn't seem so bad now, thinking of your working day/night/shift. Take care dear friend .Tess
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