So, I work in an ICU that usually receives onco post-op pts, which entails taking care of pts for a few days while they are heavily monitored, sedated and intubated. Occasionally, we do get the walky-talkies who aren't use to be so constrained by all the tubing, wires, IV poles and whatever else, and will try to get up out of bed. Most often it's to use the toilet, which (surprise!) doesn't exist on our unit. We have little hide away toilets under the sink..
So anyways, my pt was a 40 year old male who was not really considered and ICU pt, but didn't have a bed available on the floor. He had had a bunch of family in the room, but they had left and I was busy with another patient for a while. When i went back to check on my dude, the room smelled like crap. i looked around, and saw my pt looking quite disheveled. Peering around the room I noted nothing had really changed (ie toilet still hidden under sink).
Skid marks on on the sheets. But heading where?? I look to my right and find the small toilet by my knees looking tousled. With a glove, I poke around hoping to not find what I suspected, but sure enough there was the turd.
"Did you poop in the trash can?"
"No."
"Oh.. well, it kind of looks like poo in there. I wonder what that is.."
"Okay.. I pooped in the trash can."
"Really? I mean, how did you get up? You're lucky you didn't fall. I mean, I'm not even mad. I'm impressed. Did you squat over it."
"I really had to go."
"I told you to use your call light! Seriously, you are lucky you didn't fall."
:::Awkward silence:::
"Did you clean yourself up?"
"I tried."
"Well I think you need some help. Let me find some help."
Of course, I promptly left the room and told as many people as I could. It was a hit during rounds, and I'm still asked to retell the tale during nightshift story hours.
In a way, I'm proud of him. He made good of a bad situation. I can smile thinking about that man, wiggling out of bed, squatting over this tiny trash can, and squeezing one out. And then denying it, when it is quite obvious what just took place.
No toilet? Trash can will do, thanks.
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May 13th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
I have a short story. I work at an in-patient hospice unit on the NOC shift. A 86F was brought to our unit from a nursing home where she found unresponsive. 2 days in our care and she was becoming responsive and by day 4 she was fully coherent, alert and oriented. At 4AM she called me to her bedside saying “come here honey, tell me, are there men on this floor?”, to which I responded, yes, at which point she asked “are we planning any activities?” When I reported that to the next shift she was transferred back to the nursing home (a little too frisky for hospice!)