What things give you energy?.#Dailywritingprompt.#Challenge

Delivery of quality care and making my patients happy and satisfied was utmost importance to me.I remembered it as if it was yesterday. I came to work one night. I was the charge nurse from 11PM to 07:30AM.I received report from the outgoing charge nurse. We did rounds going from room to room while getting the report. We got to a patient’s room the kardex showed that patient has overhead trapeze but patient did not have overhead trapeze. He was paraplegic due to history of gunshots. So, I questioned it and she said that the physical therapist was supposed to fix the overhead trapeze for the patient but the physical therapist didn’t show up. Then I checked to see the name of the nurse that will take care of this patient. She is a nurse from the Registry Agency, I screamed.The other nurse replied she comes from Registry but we know her.She is very good. She comes here all the time.

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The report was completed and I started my work as the charge nurse. At 11:30PM the nurse from the Registry has not arrived. I called the supervisor and she said that she has not seen her.I have started to have the fight and flight response my adrenaline was pumping up and my heart beat fast.I called the supervisor again she replied let me call her she must be running late.I replied okay thank you very much for your help.

At 11:35PM I don’t need a Seer,a Psychiatric doctor or medical doctor or herbalist to give the diagnosis to this situation. I went and rounded on the patients that the Registry Agency nurse is supposed to have.I gave them their midnight medications including the intravenous antibiotics. While I was giving the midnight medications to patient that should be on overhead trapeze, I noticed that he had a bowel moment. The stools were dark brown and in form of pallets. I cleaned him up changed his wound dressing and his sheet.I do not have the time to look for the nursing assistant.I realized that he must have the overhead trapeze. I called the supervisor again she told that she is looking for another RN because the nurse coming from the Registry never showed up.I quickly told her about the overhead trapeze. She said that it has to wait till the morning. I said to myself it shouldn’t wait until morning. It must be done tonight. My 12:30PM the nursing assistant finished passing water and taking vital signs. I told her that I need her help. She asked me what is it.I told her that I want to fix the overhead trapeze for my paraplegic patient. She said we don’t have the supplies on this floor but I know where they keep the supplies on the fourth floor. I was very pleased with her.I needed that information very badly.

Then she asked but Philo can you do it?.It is usually done by the physical therapist and not all physical therapist knows how to do it.I looked at her and smiled never altered a word full of determination that it must be accomplished tonight. I don’t want to go home in the morning knowing fully that this patient is suffering and feeling uncomfortable because of what I should have accomplished. No I rather die than to let it happen.My conscience will not allow be to rest or sleep. It must be done I said to myself.

By 02AM Mr Xyz is still awake. I asked him if I can fix his overhead trapeze. He told me yes he doesn’t mind at all.He said that they( physical therapist and the nurse )promised to do it for the past three days but never did.I went back to the nursing station and reviewed the policy and procedures. I opened a page in my textbook and read about overhead trapeze. I went to another room with overhead trapeze and looked thoroughly on how it was made.Now I am ready to go to work. I called Mrs M the nursing assistant to help me.She agreed to assist me.Then my inner mind started to fight me.Do not do it because you might not be able to do it. I replied to my inner mind. I told my negative mind to shut up.The more I got the negative Whisper not to do it the stronger I wanted to do it.

We went to work myself and the CNA.I brought a bed that has the features for you to fix overhead trapeze, got the Special matress that helps wound healing and turning the patient while in bed. I completed the overhead trapeze with the help of Mrs M, and it was great. We transferred the patient to the new bed with overhead trapeze. Nobody believed that we did it . But we surely did it.

Nursing job can be challenging and difficult atimes.But be strong ,determined and take care of yourself. Mrs M kept telling everyone that Philo did it.I don’t care what they wanted to hear.For me the most important thing is that I satisfied my patient. The doctor later came to me in the morning and said thank you for the overhead trapeze. I ordered it a week ago. I nodded my head with a smile on my face and replied thank you doctor. The patient with the face of a police officer became friendly with me and excited whenever he sees me.May God bless Mrs M wherever she is.Everyday that I came to work I went to see the overhead trapeze that I fixed for my patient.

One day I came to work went to the room it was empty but the overhead trapeze is still there.I asked about the patient and was told that he was transfered to skilled nursing facility. We have treated him with antibiotics. He is now freed from infection but he still has some health challenges specifically his wounds. He was a former gang member that got shot and became paralyzed from waist down with wounds all over his buttocks. He definitely needs overhead trapeze to reposition himself frequently and to help the nurses to reposition him.When challenge challenged me I challenged myself. With time I became expert on overhead trapeze, woundcare and wound vacuum. But when I moved to another hospital ,nurses do not fix overhead trapeze or change the wound vacuum machine that hurts me so bad. I knew that I will lose the experience with time and I definitely did.I believe that practice makes perfect you got the education, knowledge, experience and the application. So you are good to go.