I have patient gown dyslexia

1 Even after 14 years of nursing, I still get confused by patient gowns. What idiot came up with such a confusing design? I have to figure it out each time how to get the correct snaps to line up. The hardest part of nursing is patient gowns. Figuring out all the doodads on wheelchairs also makes me look like an idiot.
i've learned to step away from the stretcher when the transporter brings an admit--because i'll hit the wrong pedal and send the thing to the floor instead of putting the brakes on.i've decided that the gown is designed to humiliate the patient into staying in bed.what do you think, gd?

Hey, me, too, Garden Dove. Some days, when I'm tired or real busy, it seems to take me forever to get the thing snapped so the head's coming out the head hole and the arms through the arm holes.

I would agree. Any patient who gets out of bed with only a patient gown must not be of sound mind. It's actually a great assessment tool, don't you think?

Quote from GardenDoveI would agree. Any patient who gets out of bed with only a patient gown must not be of sound mind. It's actually a great assessment tool, don't you think?

Those are the little old ladies who present to the ER with a positive suitcase sign. They come prepared with spare panties and pantie pads, their make up, frilly gown and plush robe, plus, naturally their own meds.

The same ones who figure out the mysterious workings of the bedside table vanity. That always impresses me when they do that!

I agree that patient gowns should be part of a Mensa eligibility test. Along with newborn wrap-around T-shirts, the ones with ties instead of snaps.I started in the NICU as a new grad and had no trouble with vents, art lines, IV pumps, or any other high-tech item. It was the d**m T-shirts that got me every time. My hubby used to ask me if it worried parents that their baby's nurse couldn't figure out how to dress their child. I have to guess the answer was "Yes!"

Quote from gardendoveeven after 14 years of nursing, i still get confused by patient gowns. what idiot came up with such a confusing design? i have to figure it out each time how to get the correct snaps to line up. the hardest part of nursing is patient gowns. figuring out all the doodads on wheelchairs also makes me look like an idiot.

Along the same line, I have a new grandchild (my first). Those little sleepsuit thingies with all the snaps - there is always one left over! How does that happen???

OMG..I thought I was the only one! Hate those snaps. I work tele and then to bring more insult, I have to thread the heart monitor through the stupid hole in the front and then into the front pocket only to find either the hole or the pocket is somehow is too small for the monitor. :stone

I always ask my pt if they brought their own jammies to wear and that they don't have to wear ours if they don't want to. Many do wear thier own and I think it is beneficial to be more comfortable and for the nurse to see the pt as more of an individual than a 'pt'. Of course if they are going to a procedure or have messy wounds, etc then our gowns should be worn.

When I was working in the stepdown unit as a CNA I would jokingly state that it took a full semester of study and rehearsal before one would be good enough to work those gowns. Working all those lines..From EKG to peg tube to IV across the middle and trache with vent LOL my goodness it got really complicated. We have a little pocket on our gowns to place the remote Tele Box in and in order to work the wires through the hole at the front of the gown sometimes I have to tear it. Recently I tore it way too much and had to repair it with some tape. I wasn't about to try another gown, that's another 10 minutes.!!!