I went to the nursing home located just a short walk from the hospital I work in. The weather was great so I thought it would be a great way to enjoy a little break from the monotony while getting a little bit of sunshine!
The draw is for two patients. One is a new patient who I’m not very familiar with. Hence, the desk nurse came with me just in case.
This patient was the meanest grandma I’ve ever seen. She started cussin’ and screaming at us. I can’t even get near her, let alone draw blood from her. I told the nurse that if she doesn’t want to be drawn, I would have to consider it a refusal.
“Okay, but let me try talking to her.” said the desk nurse.
I went out of the room to find the next patient on my list. Before I was able to go far, the desk nurse caught up with me and said she’s okay to be drawn now.
‘What?? What did you tell her to make her change her mind?” I asked.
When she saw me the second time around, she became one of the sweetest old ladies I’ve ever seen. She looked at me like I’m her long lost grandson, and said in a really sweet voice, “Are you going to do this for me?”
Of course, I just have to play along amidst all the confusion I have in my head.
I’ve had patients with dementia before, but not to this extent. I literally left and came back a totally different person to her. I was a really strangely funny experience that got me scratching my head while walking all the way back to the lab.
Submitted by:
Rodney Lopez
Laboratory Technician
Florida, USA
