While making a routine visit at a convalescent facility upon entering, I began walking the halls, smelling, looking and simply observing ... Listening ... again listening. I heard a woman gently yelling from her room help me. I knocked on the door, walked into the room and said ma'am I will get someone to help you right away. She asked, Are you a nurse? I said, no I'm not but I will get someone for you. At that moment, I identified myself, showing her my badge and which program I was with and went on to get help. I found a nurse, identified myself and said a resident needs help, can you follow me? She proceeded. We entered the room and the nurse asked, How can I help you? The resident replied, I need help to the restroom. As the nurse began helping her, she looked at me and said, Thank you, can you wait here until I'm finished? I replied, No problem, which let me know that she had more to tell me.
After the nurse left, the resident informed me that although she needs help getting to the restroom, she IS capable of using it and would rather not lose her dignity using it in the diaper. She felt it was humiliating. She also informed me that once a staff member heard her calling for help, walked into her room, turned her call light off and walked out saying, She'll use it eventually, she's wearing a depend (diaper). Learning this news, I immediately visited the administrator's office to report the incident so the situation could be monitored and dealt with, reiterating that the goal is to help the resident regain independence. After several visits back to the facility, this was no longer an issue for the resident. :-)
copyright 2011 Krishtine Ross
Unfortunately this is something that I've experienced both times I've had a family member in the hospital. Some people are under the impression that being a nurse is just a job, when it is actually a health CARE profession. Spirits like yours are needed, I appreciate and honor you for the CARE that you give to the world. A Queen if there ever was one.....
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