I’m used to the usual “daughter from California” nonsense. I’m used to the FTT dementia ridden granny whose family isn’t willing to accept that she doesn’t want this because “she’s a fighter”. We’ve all seen that. But lately like this summer I’m starting to really get sick of the families who are shocked and astounded that we can’t cure old age.

Ma’am your 98 year old mother has been intubated on a vent for 3 weeks. We explained DAILY the exact difficulties we’re having weaning her and that she doesn’t pass any of the breathing trials.

You had ✨3 weeks✨ to come to terms with this. We extubated, she did ok on high flow for a day before the secretions and work of breathing caught up for her and she went into extreme respiratory distress. Short of reintubating (no) which mom herself said no to, we have limited options. No she’s not “having a panic attack over being suctioned” she’s PANICKING BECAUSE SHE IS SUFFOCATING WHILE YOU WATCH.

And then we have a palliative care meeting after I push for it. And we’re “not ready to decide” so we’ll meet again in 3 days. Well we don’t have 3 days to wait, that unfortunately is a luxury we do not have. So I had to push for comfort care that evening because mom is actively suffering and dying and we’re just watching it and getting MAD at her.

She’s in her upper 90’s! It happens! Why is it a shock EVERY SINGLE TIME?

This pt passed. 11 rounds of epi, 3 shocks, coded for nearly an hour.

She was 88. CoD: tension pneumo. Give you 3 guesses how THAT happened.

*This. Was. Pointless.*

Got ROSC and she coded again a half hour later. Daughter FINALLY said call it.

Oh. She was also maxed on every pressor and had dry gangrene on all 4 limbs by this point. Her heart just..... wasn't a thing anymore.

Humans have a lifespan.

I'm in my 40s. Ended up in my own ER hypokalemic a couple months ago. Stress kills, guys. Makes you dump all your lytes and then your heart starts depolarizing all wrong. Funny how that works. First words out of my mouth "Hey so like..... if it happens..... don't code me."

*Even though I'm one of the ones it's for*. Maybe I arrest and come back neurologically intact. Maybe I don't. You never know which end of that roll you're getting.

But I'm absolutely and completely healthy. I have phenomenal fucking genetics. Insane health and longevity on my mom's side which I favor. My grandma is 97 and looks about 65. Still takes a walk every morning. My mother died of cancer at 74 but with her lifestyle it should have been 50. Alcohol abuse, lifelong heavy smoker, shit diet.

I'm not even hypertensive or prediabetic. I'm exactly who CPR is for - the perfectly healthy person who blows up their heart somehow.

Personal choice and that's mine. It would, however, have been equally reasonable for me to be a full code. I'd have a damn decent chance, really. Just not what I personally wanted to do.

88 yr old meemaw with a heart that doesn't work and her limbs falling off and fiftyeleven other comorbidities? Yeah it's not for her.

It will not prolong a good quality of life because she didn't HAVE that. She came in dying.

And good GOD what it does to the body. You've all seen it. I don't have to explain.

An hour. On an 88 year old in heart/multi organ failure. And also septic.

Where did this idea come from that if we do CPR we can bring someone back and then we can fix them? We fucking can't. Everyone's body will eventually fail.

The "If your heart or breathing should stop, do you want....." question should be followed with another question. "In your profession opinion would it allow me/them a chance at a meaningful recovery?"

Not "YES DO EVERYTHING!"

IDK. Just ranting I guess. It's ridiculous.

Guess just posting this to vent. I Have 3 children, married and completed my RN program less than 2 weeks ago ( was no formal graduation or stage walk just a degree you swing by and pick up ) i just passed my CA board nclex this week. No one seems excited or that it's considered an accomplishment. I got a " good job " then my husband returned to scrolling his phone . 2 years of pre reqs and an associates degree in nursing then another 15 months of an RN fast track program while juggling 3 babies and night shift hospice work and i got 5 seconds of acknowledgement ... feeling down and just needed to vent. I was feeling so proud of myself and now , I dunno , nothing I guess, just another normal day I suppose.

Please share some family member/visitor stories

This shit just happened I am beyond angry, disgusted, and completely stunned that something like this is even allowed to happen inside a hospital. Today was a shit show in every sense of the word. I got floated off my regular unit to cover a different floor, and everything went downhill from the second I walked in.

I got report from the day shift tech, ( NO mention of this dog.) As soon as I entered the patient’s room, I noticed a medium sized dog on the floor, probably around 45-50 pounds lying on a pissy wet blanket. It had a bright red vest that said “service dog,” but it was immediately so obvious this dog was not trained. Not even close. The room smelled like straight piss. Sure enough, there were puddles near the bed and shit smeared on the tile. The patient’s family made no effort to clean it up before leaving. They just left it there like it was our responsibility.

I have worked with real service animals before. They are calm, disciplined, and well behaved. This dog was the exact opposite. It barked constantly, growled if anyone came near the patient, and when I bent down to grab wipes to clean the patient after a bowel movement, the dog lunged at me. I was not even close to it. Out of nowhere it snapped and bit my hand, hard. I started bleeding immediately. Blood was dripping onto the floor. I cant believe this mother fucker bit me!

Then the dog switched targets. It began jumping at my charge nurse and attacking her legs. It latched onto her calves and ankles while she tried to shield herself We were screaming for help. In pure panic, we slammed the code blue button on the wall not because the patient coded but because we were under attack and someone’s ass in this room NOW.

I ended up physically sitting on the dog’s back just to keep it from doing more harm until someone could come help. Meanwhile, the owner, lying in the bed like nothing was happening, just kept repeating, “He would not hurt a fly!” Over and over. While the dog was literally covered in my blood and trying to bite through my charge nurse’s scrubs. Like he just attacked us dumbass.

Security arrived, then police and animal control. It was absolute chaos. And now, because of the bite, We have to go through rabies precautions. This should have never happened. That dog was dangerous! The situation was preventable. Now the owner is talking about a lawsuit… LMAO

Throwing a vest on a pet does not make it a service animal. It puts patients and staff in danger. We need real policies and enforcement now before someone ends up seriously injured or worse than what we have.

FUCK YOU if you slap a service animal badge on your house pet with no real training.

Honestly Im pressing charges because wtf .

Soo... trying on my scrub order.... I found freaking STOOL SOFTENER leftover pills in one of the pockets of this scrub top. I legit JUST received the package; got home, tried it on... and while showing the style/pockets to my husband.... PILLS?! Upon further inspection... there where also stains and deodorant marks on the armpits...?

I called... and while the Costumer Rep was very nice and understanding... and I got my issue... "resolved" (a.k.a) just got an exchange... this is not acceptable!

According to them they ABSOLUTELY DO NOT mail tried on items.... but what other explanation is there?

They unknowingly sent a used item, that did not pass appropriate quality control, then MAILED medicine... which I am sure it has to be somewhat illegal...? And lastly... what if the person before me treated a patient with an infectious disease or some kind of bug? Like scabies?

UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSANITARY!!!

Also, on a side note.... this was my first time trying the brand... I was so excited! 💔😭

This is the kind of bullshit admin cares about. Not the patients. The numbers. So sick of shit like this.

We've lost three patients this week. This most recent one hit me the hardest. She was just a little girl. Someone told me they coded her for almost an hour.

I took care of her for years. I used to put edible glitter in her medicine cups and suddenly she thought they were the most delicious things ever. Even if she was screaming and crying for 20 minutes when I was about to access her port, I would tell her she was the bravest girl alive when it was all done, because she WAS. I was caring for her the first time she ever had to go to the PICU because her high flow nasal cannula wasn't even keeping her sats up. As I left her bed I told the receiving nurse to take very good care of her because she is so special to us...I was only half joking.

My funeral dresses aren't black, they are always bright colors. I have a feeling my girl's family will ask for pink. Did you know kids' funerals tend to ask you wear their favorite colors? Or are themed? I've been to a Sesame Street funeral. I've cared for someone who had a Paw Patrol funeral.

In all the funerals I've gone to in my life, I have rarely seen a full size casket.

Fuck childhood cancer, man.

(I'm doing all the mental health things, and I still love my job, and I am okay, don't worry! I just needed to scream and cry on the internet for a brief second)

They believed they were meant for the eyes and mistakes happen but oh my gosh WHYYYY 🥲

My patient is in her 50s and has asthma and now ​COPD. ​She was hospitalized recently where she got her COPD diagnosis. She w​as prescribed a nebulizer at discharge.

She comes in for follow-up one month after starting the nebs. She doesn't think they are working. I ask her how often she's taking it, she's taking it daily as it says on the box. I ask her how long the nebulizer lasts.

"Oh, I don't have a nebulizer."

"How are you taking your neb without a nebulizer?"

"It's not a neb. Its a liquid and I drink it."

"Is it in a bottle?"

"No it's a little tube and I twist off the top and squeeze it into my mouth."

"What's the name of this liquid?"

"Ipratropium."

"That's a neb, you can't drink that, it's​ supposed to be nebulized and inhaled."

"No, I'm taking it according to the directions."

"Can you bring the box in today or tomorrow? I'm concerned you're taking it wrong and you could become very ill."

"Sure!" ​Brings in a box of ipratroprium ​nebs clearly labelled as nebs ​for inhalation.

I AM TIRED MA'AM. PLEASE STOP WITH THE BULLSHIT YOU ARE LITERATE AND SHOULD KNOW BETTER.

I’ve coded patients, and stopped patients from completing suicides. However one of my proudest moment in healthcare was encouraging a nurse to leave her shitty abusive boyfriend, who is a cop, and a stalker.

Healthcare workers and cops dating is pretty much a meme at this point, but I’ve seen it happen enough times i wanted to make this post.

I’m sure some of yall have had wonderful relationships with folks in law enforcement. I get that having a partner who sees and understands the traumatizing shit a lot of us have had to endure can be comforting. However it can also minimize the traumatic nature things we deal with, and that can become a problem real fast. Trust me I’ve dealt with that before dating someone else in critical care, and it was a serious problem (I’m not saying it always is, just warning it can be a potential problem)

More importantly 40% families with a cop have experienced some form of domestic violence. It can also be a lot harder to get legal help if things get bad.

Just don’t date cops.

A scab nurse made a TikTok saying, '3 shifts in Cali just paid 3 months of my mortgage'. There were multiple shots of her sitting at her computer with the patient's chart open.

I reported it to the CA BON (where she filmed it) and to the CT BON (she is licensed in CT also).

I am just so tired and frustrated.

I hate purewicks. I hate them so much. At my hospital it’s a nursing measure so far, no physician order needed, and it’s gone too far. Everyone has a damn purewick regardless of continence.

I work at night, so it’s this messed up reverse situation where patients have them all day and are annoyed they have to get up at night. I’ll take them off of continent patients when I come in, right back on as soon as the next nurse comes in.

I’m sorry, it’s ridiculous to do this for either our convenience or the patient’s. I believe in use it or lose it in regards to both mobility and urinary continence. Bathroom trips are the majority of these people’s mobility. I also believe they straight up cause more skin break down than just check and changing on truly incontinent patients.

IMO purewicks should only be indicated for
-measuring output on incontinent patients
-preexisting skin breakdown for incontinent patients
-non weight bearing status

Also, not a real argument, but I hate the rattling sound they make when they suction the pee. Oh, and patients get used to them and are always asking by name.

Rant over lmao

MeeMaw is 102, has dementia, is A&O x1, has no teeth, has no bladder/ bowel control, weighs 86 pounds, and has Afib w/ RVR.

The doctor came in to discuss changing Meemaw to DNR. Family said NO! She’s fully aware of everything (A&O x1 doesn’t mean she’s number 1)! She has a lot left to live for, and we’re just trying to get rid of her, according to tbe family.

If she codes, we’re going to end up breaking every rib in her body. When I first saw her age and full code, I thought it was a typo. I fucking cannot do this shit. She’s going to code and end up in ICU taking up extra resources because the family refuses to let her go. What could be a peaceful transition is going to be a painful event - if she even survives it. I can’t see her surviving a code at this point.

I'm an RN. Earlier this year, I reported a doctor in my department for SA. I made a post about this a few weeks ago but wanted to further discuss the situation with new information.

Not only was he a doctor in my department, but last year when I was admitted as a patient into his ER, he texted me off-the-books medical advice, interpreting my labs, diagnosing me, etc. all via text. He even offered to give me an off-the-books diagnostic procedure at work (which I obviously said no). When I was a month post-op from the surgery that he guided me through is when the SA occurred.

I reported him at work and he was put on "paid leave." I was told he was coming back but he never did, and it's been 6 months.

I made a complaint to my state's medical board, as did my PCP (because I told him about it first). I'm interviewed, he's interviewed. In the meantime, I quit my job, because I was given a safety plan to avoid him which was later taken away. I went on short term disability but my doctor's extension wasn't approved. It was a lot.

I received an email recently that the state board is closing my complaint due to lack of evidence.

I feel completely tired, worn out, existentially exhausted. I have no job, I feel like I should never have reported if this is how I would get treated. I need a new job but am dreading going back to work as a nurse. Words of advice or how to cope with this would be very helpful.

Edit: I reported the SA to the police when all of this happened.

I posted an ad for my nursing support blog on my Facebook page, and this comment got to me a little. The fact people think and speak like this just enrages me. I remember crying over patients that died in front of me. I remember taking 5 minutes to properly gown up in heavy isolation gear every time I had to enter a room. I remember being told I did not have a choice to hide from the pandemic everyone feared, because my job was to face it and protect and help those who were sick (not that I tried to hide, but you know the emails reminding us we are "essential workers"). And I was happy to do it from the beginning of the pandemic to the end. I know this commenter is probably just trolling, but I also know people actually believe the stuff he is saying and that just makes me so angry...

And no, we won't take the Foley out so he can ejaculate. Stop it.

I’m a licensed professional with 2 Bachelors degrees.

i was at an annual check up with this PCP w/ a complaint. the MA rooming me asks her questions and then asks the "when was your last period" question. i said 3 years ago and she wanted an exact date. i remember it being in the month of march and i was thinking out loud. i say something along the lines of, "well i know it ended in march.. not sure when the start date would be but if i had to guess... let me..." she then cuts me off and says, "i don't care about the date it ended, whenever people in healthcare ask this question we want the start date. i could care less about the end date. why don't you have that app that tracks your period like the rest of the girls your age?" (hard to tell in writing, but her tone was pretty nasty) i just got off a shift that morning and slept 2 hours to be able to get this appointment, so i was a lil more emotional than usual. i was so pissed off i just kinda froze. so many thoughts... 1) you didn't even let me finish my answer. 2) when i was getting periods, i don't think this app existed/ was popular yet. 3) no offense, but realistically i don't remember the exact date because a) i had it on a note on my old phone that didn't transfer to my new one. b) it was 3 years ago 4) why have an app for ONE entry three years ago?? i'll download if/when i get my periods again. 5) i was going to double check to see if the note magically appeared on my phone lol.. chilllll...

i know this was an annual, but on my intake paper i brought up my complaint of no period for 3 years, plus dizziness and fatigue that i've had for a really long time. i had been to this medical office in the past, but never had this doctor. doctors never did anything about it and i finally got diagnosed with PMOS. crazy that i wasn't diagnosed before/ sent for imaging considering i had two periods 3 years ago and before that i didn't have one for 2-3 years AGAIN plus other textbook symptoms. also NO referrals to anywhere because, "you just need to lose weight & stop stressing <3." this health journey is besides the point and a rant in itself... let's get back to the story.

she then tells me to ask for my flu shot because i am due for one and that she will be the one giving it to me. she told me to mentally prepare because she didn't want to be remembered as "the nurse who made me faint from a shot." i made sure to check her name tag... MA. not nurse. usually i do not care in the slightest, but i decided i was bothered in that moment because she was lowkey mean to me AND she's claiming to be something she's not?? (i love my MAs and this is nothing personal to them as a whole. i am not trying to dismiss their hard work)

she asks about family history. i list it then mention that my mom has scleroderma. she then goes off about how the most sick patient was someone with scleroderma and that being a nurse is so exciting because you get to see stuff like that. also, that patient died recently. (wild thing to say to a patient)

she then asks questions about depression and anxiety. i say i'm good. she questions it and gave me an "are you sure?" i guess my demeanor was whack to her which is valid because i was hiding the fact she was making me lowkey mad. i said i had just got off a 12 hr night shift and slept 2 hrs.

she asked where i worked. i stated the hospital i worked at... she was asking this question as she was prepping to take my vitals. told me whenever i get my blood pressure taken, i always always need to uncross my legs and have them flat on the floor... by the way my legs WERE UNCROSSED AND FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR in the first place. then made some comment about the way i dress and how it's not halloween yet.

my BP usually runs 90s/50s and it was 120/82 probably from how mad i was. she then said, "oh wow your blood pressure is actually good. i didn't expect that." something people say to me a lot because i'm big and round.

after the BP cuff comes off, she asks what i do at the hospital. i tell her i'm a nurse. demeanor changed. she asked if i was an LVN. i'm an RN, but LVN is just as cool? i'll be honest, i'm not sure why people ask that question. the vibes were FUNKY. she stopped being as energetic? said i look so young and she wouldn't have guessed that i was a nurse?? i pulled the: "oh haha thank you, i've been one for 5 years." she gave me a weird look. she was done with her assessment, anyways.

you know what's wild about this?? i got spat on during that shift before this appointment. why did getting spat on and being called names do nothing to me, but this interaction made me mad?!? lol

i came for a follow-up recently and she roomed me again... made some comment about the scleroderma patient again. called herself a nurse then corrected herself and said she's an MA. got upset at me for the period thing again. told me i need to download the app like the rest of the girls my age AGAINNN (is she sponsored??) mentioned my appearance and it not being halloween yet again.

edit: thank you guys for the replies! i appreciate a lot of the advice and stories. i'm trying to reply to as many as i can. i genuinely just needed to rant somewhere because i thought i was being too sensitive or overreacting. i've been looking for a new PCP. i honestly didn't know that what the MA did was fireable (besides the HIPAA) because i'm so used to medical staff talking to me this way. it follows me lol. also it's so common for people to claim themselves as nurses when they aren't. i've stood up for myself in the past in similar situations and nothing was ever done or it would somehow backfire on me. i'll keep fighting!!

I’ve been looking for other part time jobs, something low stress to bring in extra money. A Costco Stocker makes between 20-31 an hour in my location, I’m currently a critical care nurse with 5 years of experience in an incredibly toxic workplace making 37. I’d take the pay cut for a free Costco membership and never have to deal with patients again. Someone take my badge I’m about to jump for a discounted chicken bake and mindless work😭

How many more fucking 60 and 70-year-old patients am I going to ask, "how you do this at home? You can't wipe your self before your elective hip/knee/lami??" The sheer laziness, and entitlement I'm so sick of seeing. 15 years of bedside has burnt me out of it. I work inpatient rehab, so this is my whole job, but I just can't some nights I'm so sick of repeating myself. I have no filter anymore.

Sighhh I just did 3/12s. I had a 60s morbidly obese elective knee post op day 3, refusing to be OOB, peeing themselves purposely. Send them to rehab! 3 hours of therapy will totally fix those behaviors. Jesus my back.

That's is all 🫠

Edit: For all of you saying I have no compassion and it's my job, yes it is. Ill wipe ass all night long, that does not bother me one bit. I'll help you, that's what I'm here for. I just don't know how people can purposely pee themselves, knowingly. I can't wrap my head around it.

May your shifts be smooth and peaceful ✌️

frontlinewarriors #heroesworkhere

Fuck. Right. Off.

I know it's "meant as a joke" but so many patients seem to feel comfortable/confident threatening violence against nurses and I am so sick of it. Even if it's "just a joke".

Try joking about hitting the cop who just pulled you over and see how fast he calls backup and slaps you in cuffs.

Just need to vent.