That was my last exchange with this resident for the entire day. So, with this unresolved mess in my head, I went home, ate and tried to get some sleep.
Right.
I woke up at 4:00 trying to think of what to say to the resident. I fell back to sleep about 6:30 and had the dogs waking me up at 8:00 and found myself thinking about it all morning. To the detriment of my workout and chores, because one didn't get done at all and the other was done poorly at best.
When I got to work, the aide handing off the cart to me told me that the resident had given her a hard time that morning, too, and that she had finally gotten out of the resident that their stomach was bothering them. So, when it was my turn to talk to them, I asked how their stomach was, did they want their meds now and if not, can I check in with them later.
Not so good, no and yes.
So, I let this rent space in my head for nearly 20 hours, stressing out over what to do and all I really needed to do was relax and wait for the answer to present itself.
Lesson learned. Now I hope I remember it the next time I find myself in that space.
3 comments:
hope you are able also to find support with other nurses and aides around this. it feels eeky when that happens:( i m sorry! you seem to be really compassionate and level headed about it.
I try not to look for sympathy when stuff like this happens. All it does is fuel the complaint fire. I just take a deep breath and go on.
Residents have the right to be free of abuse, but so is staff. When a resident yells to or acts inappropriately with staff, DON and social worker should talk with the resident and remind the resident that that's not the way staff should be treated. I think you shouldn't keep that issue to yourself. You are not alone.
Doris
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