Taking it easy at work, the best therapy.

Nursing is fun, relaxing and peaceful. What a load of rubbish you must be saying, but it's true.

Let me explain:

Mr Davidson had been with us for ten days now and we'd gotten to know him pretty well. He was waiting for a bed. Not any old hospital bed, but a bed in the rehabilatation unit. Mr Davidson was recovering from a stroke.

The effects on his body were not unusual. If you leaned forward you could decipher his mumbling, he could walk with one nurse, but couldn't feed himself as his right hand lay at his side, his fingers curled like claws, and when he tried to use his left arm, well, it's pretty hard to cut your food with one arm.

"Evening Jack" I said as I walked in the room. He raised his head from his chest, and waved his good arm in my direction and mumbled a reply. "Back in a tick with your pills" I said, picking up his drug chart and heading back out the door.

By the time I got back his dinner had arrived and I began our routine.

1. Turn on the bedside radio to the 'Golden Oldies' station, just loud enough to provide a nice bit of background noise.

2. Sit back, put my feet up, open the dinner tray and commence cutting up the food and delivering it to his mouth.

3. Talk about sport, women, politics, or whatever seems to make Jack laugh.
(note to self, do not make him laugh while eating, may choke, swallowing is ok, but not great)

4. Enjoy time with patient.

5. Realize I've spent 15 minutes with patient and hastily leave room after making sure he's had something to drink and his call bell is within reach of his left hand.

Conclusion:
1. It doesn't take a RN to feed a patient, but I'm sick of seeing patients with food trays left out of reach, left to get cold or not used at all.

2. It's a nice part of the job and it's a chance to assess your patient eg Swallowing worse or better, movement of limbs, cognitive function etc.

3. These jobs should only be delegated to assistants if they are skilled. I don't like giving away these jobs, but realize sometimes I must.

4. I'm a pretty disorganized nurse at times as I always make time to spend with a patient, even if it's only an extra five minutes.

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