losing it

This week at work we've had some sweep of a cruise ship noro virus or something that has just gotten everyone, even the all powerful invincible doctors. So we've all been barfing and pooping and feverish and whatnot. I returned to work today all better and recovered (except for lack of important electrolytes probably) from my 24 hours of hell. However, it was now other nurses turn to be out for the day barfing and pooping and whatnot.

So, we're short staffed and double-booked on patients. I think through our little unit alone we saw 50-60 patients just in the morning. I was wanting to eat lunch, or at least drink some water or something, but stuff kept coming up and it kept getting pushed back and back. Then I was asked to do a patient education session last minute, and I can't say no because the people are from out of town, they need to catch a plane back to whatever island soon, they really need to learn to manage things on their own, yadda yadda congestive heart failure yadda yadda, so I'm like yay, no problem, patient education is my number one job I would love to. And I did. For like an hour. Answered every question under the sun even though I know they just spent two hours with the MD and the ARNP. But it's cool. 'Cause these things take time. It takes awhile for information to soak in.

So then I had another meeting with a patient because I missed my lunch, and this patient was quite difficult, actually their family was quite difficult. Not only that but there was one of those inter-cultural things going on that they always drone on and on about in nursing school where you are supposed to be sensitive, and embrace the culture, and understand how difficult it is with communication, etc. But my biggest problem with this patient (cough family cough) is that they have already been fired by other docs in the community because they are just so incredibly noncompliant and mean and rude, etc. etc.

So one of our docs has taken them on but it just isn't going well. And the whole visit continued to not go well, but it ended well, so we discharged them to home - and then I hear the family shouting out some receptionist in the hallway, which is where I came out and just about lost it. They were just like yelling at her for no apparent reason. And cussing, and being all weird. And I was like, what, why even talk to this person, just go home, what is the deal. I mean, I was really mad. And the patient saw that, and all of the receptionist, and the nurses, and I'm sure the doctors down the hall heard me. So I had to take a time out and cool it. I don't know if anyone came up to the family to talk them after me, or if they just left after I yelled or what, because I never came back to find out.

But I've never really lost it at work before, and I guess I didn't really "lose it" but I've never found myself treating people like they were a juvenile delinquent or something. It was just really ridiculous. Usually stuff rolls off my back but man, I am just still mad about the whole thing.