Compassion is a Commodity

This is really good writing. I often feel the same way after coming in from a long weekend or even just a particularly good "day" (I work nights). Sometimes I try even harder to be positive and compassionate when I'm having a difficult shift, almost as a compensatory mechanism. Keep up the compassion!

I'm not sure I'd force him to get cleaned up. If he's "with it" enough to notice and show respect to males, he's able to control his mouth and his behavior toward females. You are not required to endanger yourself by forcing him to receive care that he seems to not want and definitely does not appreciate.Stop being a doormat so that he and others like him will stop walking on you.There need be no arguing, no loud, angry discussions. Just do "no". As for the doctor not ordering withdrawal meds, what is up with that? Your Manager/director needs to address that with the doctor who is neglecting to order appropriate meds. And if the doctor is not open to cleaning up his act, it's time to go to the Chief of the service.

And you and your colleagues and your bosses need to set that doctor straight about yelling at you, especially when he is the one who failed to write proper orders (apparently, based on what you wrote here).As for the security guard - the pt probably has been arrested in the past and fears/respects the uniform and badge and the authority behind them.

OP, I've been there. Even if you handle it perfectly (and I've never been perfect) that kind of patient is a trial for everyone involved.

Oh wow, I do this too! Or at least try very hard to. I'm glad to hear I'm not so strange after all.

I do appreciate the advice and agree completely that nurses are not doormats. It seems I may have failed to state what I thought was implied, so here goes:I will never share a play-by-play of any specific nurse-patient or nurse-doctor interaction on this board or any other like it. I am far too nervous to do that, thanks to all the horror stories about innocent sharing that turned into nightmares for the nurses involved. I may very well draw inspiration from my reality and experiences, but the narratives, though written in first person, are fictional. They are likely amalgamations of different aspects of events that I deem relevant to the emotions or issues I want to address - the "demons" I need to exorcise for the sake of my sanity. That being said, I disagree that it would have been okay to allow a patient like this to be without care because he was "with it enough". I don't know how familiar you are with DTs, but patients in this dangerous phase of withdrawal are not in control of anything. All they have are basic instincts and they often hallucinate intensely. Knowledge of the pathology behind the withdrawing patient's mental state may assist healthcare professionals in simply brushing off the horror that may leave a patient's mouth at this stage. Unfortunately, our humanity can sometimes betray our logical understanding of altered brain chemistry. We can be worn down. Feelings, personal and deep, can seep through the cracks in our carefully-woven armor.Offense, hurt, frustration--I sought to capture these forbidden emotions in this narrative, coupled with the common circumstances we often face: the inappropriate doctor, the difficult patient, the filth, the verbal abuse.. These are the bedside nurse's constant burdens, and they are the greatest challenges to compassion. In the end, that is the purpose of this article. I wanted to underscore the fact that sometimes, compassion - the core value of our profession - can be incredibly difficult to manufacture in the face of all the negative chaos so rampant in our chosen world.

Interesting read. I do take pause with an actively withdrawing ETOH patient not being medicated. That is wrong on a number of levels. ETOH withdrawal is multi-faceted, should not be personalized, (ie: female dogs, prostitutes) and perhaps the reason that any sort of behavior change is evident is due to a "male" is ususally a "doctor" and can get this man medicated--or at least in a patient's eyes. Compassion for a patient--and yes, there are those who are in active withdrawal who soil a bed--is far different than internalizing and personalizing interactions with same. It is of interest that when women are in the same situation, there's a tremendous amount of compassion shown. It is further interesting that if it is a demented or brain injured patient, more compassion applies.Personal and deep feelings are for one's own life. In nursing, neither one should apply.

You still care enough to try. That says a lot considering how frustrating caring for this type of patient can be. It's so tough to keep things like the pt being in withdrawal, in mind when they are talking down to you. Keep fighting the good fight and know you're making a difference.

Quote from jadelpnInteresting read. I do take pause with an actively withdrawing ETOH patient not being medicated. That is wrong on a number of levels. ETOH withdrawal is multi-faceted, should not be personalized, (ie: female dogs, prostitutes) and perhaps the reason that any sort of behavior change is evident is due to a "male" is ususally a "doctor" and can get this man medicated--or at least in a patient's eyes. Compassion for a patient--and yes, there are those who are in active withdrawal who soil a bed--is far different than internalizing and personalizing interactions with same. It is of interest that when women are in the same situation, there's a tremendous amount of compassion shown. It is further interesting that if it is a demented or brain injured patient, more compassion applies.Personal and deep feelings are for one's own life. In nursing, neither one should apply.

Quote from xoemmylouoxYou still care enough to try. That says a lot considering how frustrating caring for this type of patient can be. It's so tough to keep things like the pt being in withdrawal, in mind when they are talking down to you. Keep fighting the good fight and know you're making a difference.

interesting, yet very sad because I deeply empathize.... i think what you described is the in the core of nursing burn out... the core i tell you. Yes, THEY make it hard to care.

OMG!!!, please don’t perceive what I’m about to say as a personal attack or judgment. It’s only an observation based on the small amount of information I’ve choose to take from this discussion and not knowing you personally or professionally could very well make it altogether erroneous. Plus, I’m a little confused on how you changed directions in the middle of this stating you needed to clarify your intent, that being that this is all fictional “amalgamations” (that’s one of the words I’ll have to look up later J). So your true intent in all this is a bit foggy, but since you did state these are “events that I deem relevant to the emotions or issues I want to address - the "demons" I need to exorcise for the sake of my sanity”, I will go ahead with what I call a “gut feeling"I consider myself to possess an above average intelligence (although I’m sure you could find some that might debate that). Having been first a paramedic for 14 years, then transitioning to RN 6 years ago, I would characterize this intelligence as more of street smarts than say a book smart. With that said, yes as Dolcebellaluna points out, you have a talent for writing, but to be honest, some of the adjectives you utilize (at least I think they’re adjectives) are words I never even heard of. You can tell that you are very meticulous and passionate when it comes to writing, one might even call it bordering on unwavering perfectionism. Again I could be totally off the mark, but if you hold yourself to these same expectations when trying to deliver the multitude of patient care that we face today, then you’re not going to ever be content in your Nursing ability. There are definitely times and situations where these traits will make you an exceptional RN, but more so than not, these same traits will backfire on you. You need to find a good median and check your unrealistic expectations for mutual gratification and anticipated pats on the back at the door. A Nurse is doomed the minute they start needing a Doctor, patient, and/or co-worker to respond to them in nothing but a reassuring, compassionate, and affirmative manner in order to define them and their perception of the care they are providing. I say doomed because this same Nurse when faced with the antagonistic, ungrateful, and disrespectful individual(s), will usually choose to take it personal and demeaning. Heck we all want people to recognize and respond to our deeply seeded compassion and desire to provide an unsurpassed level of care that I believe is ingrained in most of us, but to expect or desire this is not only unrealistic, but should also never be anticipated. It should never be viewed as a burden or “challenge”, but as a reality of the situation and encompassing environment we must constantly adapt to. So, to bring home my point, go ahead and provide the passionate and quality patient care you so desire and seem more than capable in achieving, but do it consistently and without expectations. For one to continue to love this insane profession, they must learn to never take the reactions of others personally, especially when it involves a patient. And when you’re wearing the RN hat, never let anyone or anything negatively influence who you are, or what you strive to be. Heck, I’ve had many of Doctors yell at me for calling them for a medication they should have already addressed or status change that they need to be aware of, but their reaction is their problem and I could care less if they’re upset, it’s not about me or them, it’s about assuring that the patient who we have made an oath to advocate for and do everything in our power to make sure their needs are met. If a patient disrespects or belittles me, many times it is due to their situation or cognitive abilities at the time. I do not hold them responsible or ever take it as a personal attack. At the same time, if the cognitive patient does decided to make it personal and begin to consistently berate me and the CNA’s, I will call them out on their behavior and in some instances would have no problem letting them sit in their own feces until they agreed to talk to us in a respectful manner. I don’t want my you know what consistently kissed or even desire that the patient or Doctor always likes me, but I do demand a certain level of mutual respect from them. I can honestly say that it is a rarity that I don’t get along really good with everyone, most can sense or see that I really do aspire and consistently take actions to try and always provide excellent patient care to all, but in those few times where no matter what I did to resolve someone’s hostility or displeasure, only to prove futile, then I shrug my shoulders and tell myself “oh well…I tried…”. It’s been my experience and probably yours as well, that no matter what, some people you just can’t do enough to ever make them happy. Again, no longer my problem, but I’m still going to ensure their safety and provide them with the best possible care that they will allow.