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shania@shanialynnvo.com

patient stories

The Corona Pool

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As cases continue to rise in the hospital, fatigue continues to settle into the organization. We have filled the ICU, expanded the ICU, and currently have nearly two full COVID floors apart from critical care.

There have been an increase in patients and a decrease in nursing staff due to also succumbing to the illness. In order to combat the increase in patient census, incentives have been put in place to encourage nurses to work overtime. Even with several nurses working five 12 hour shifts (the corona pool), we often still do not have enough staff to cater to our patients.

Caring exclusively for covid patients has brought many challenges, insights, and humbling to my practice. Patients are forced to be isolated in their dark hospital rooms for days. Staff is instructed to only go into the room when necessary, so we call them to see if they need anything. They are served meals on paper trays. They are forced to keep their doors closed. They are often transferred to a different room in the middle of the night to allow grouping of all covid cases. They are allowed absolutely no visitors, even at the end of life. One minute they can be communicating effectively on room air to the next minute on optiflow and unable to walk to the bathroom.. oxygen levels can change drastically. A multitude of patients have stated they want to die and give up fighting, then they do die. Patients have screamed and cried for nursing to help them as they are scared and can’t catch their breath even on the highest of oxygen settings, fearing an impending intubation.

Your nursing “heroes” are still here and very tired. Our own bodies are fatigued and overworked. I love my job, but never would I imagine to be in the horrific situation we are in currently. Never knowing what the next day will bring is scary. Fearing a continual expansion of critical care, caring for higher acuity patients, and watching management being forced into bedside nursing roles is scary.

But it’s all political, right?

Until next shift,

Shania

Masking is not political: Nursing in the age of COVID

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72 y/o female with h/o hypertension presents to the ED complaining of a sore throat and diarrhea. She has no known allergies, lives alone, and enjoys cooking for her family. She is diagnosed with COVID-19 (Day #1). She is asked to stay overnight in the hospital for observation and IV fluid replacement. Overnight, her O2 saturations drop and pt is placed on 2L BNC. The next day she is unable to walk to the bathroom and becomes extremely SOB on exertion. O2 is increased to 4L BNC and is placed on steroid therapy. The pt continues to decline and is now looking at rehab placement at discharge. The following night, the pt is placed on a nonrebreather plus Optiflow HFNC and is transferred to Critical Care where she will be intubated. The nurse arranges a FaceTime call with the family because they are unable to come see their grandmother/mother and the pt is declining quickly. The pt passes away that night.

Scenarios such as this happen every day in the hospital. As cases continue to rise, people continue to disregard the pandemic, refuse to wear a mask, and bet on the election to halt the so-called pandemic.

Previously healthy individuals are dying. Patients with comorbidities are dying. Elective procedures are being canceled. Jobs are being furloughed/eliminated. OB nurses and forced to work critical care. Healthcare workers are isolating from family and working overtime, while the community praises the “heroes” and can’t even wear a mask when in public.

COVID inpatients spend between 3-20+ days in the hospital. Disease progression has been seen to peak around day #7 in which the patient will make a turn for the better or a turn for the worse. Symptomatic treatment plus steroid therapy and Remdesivir has been shown to be effective for treatment. Isolation precautions are extended to 20-21 days for those being hospitalized.

Why is a pandemic and the importance of wearing a mask political? COVID continues to place a strain on the healthcare system as the frontline staff face burnout, hospitals are accepting higher acuity/patient loads, and the overall stress levels are not healthy to sustain.

The CDC explains how mask wearing helps with source control- You wear a mask to protect others and vice versa. Cloth and medical masks are not tight-fitting, therefore do little to protect the wearer. They are more effective in reducing transmission to others, expanding the importance of masking requirements for the public. N95 masks are the most effective to protect yourself and others as it filters 95% of small aerosolized particles and is fit-tested to the specific wearer.

The right to wear a mask is not a right to the individual. A majority of the people who do not wear a mask are not the people dying from the COVID-19. In order to protect the health of those around you, please wear a mask.. then everyone can be deemed a hero.

Until next shift,

Shania

If your leg hurts, don’t wish to cut it off

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A woman in her 50s was treated in a burn center and brought to our facility for continued medical treatment of her delayed healing leg. It looked like she got her lower leg stuck underneath a lawn mower, when it was actually due to a heating pad. Surgery was done to clean out the wound and remove dead tissue. External fixation was placed to ensure proper placement. After 3 months of hospitalization, the patient decided to get it amputated due to the severe pain. She was also aware that even if the leg healed, it would take extensive rehab to ever walk again.

This scenario justifies the importance of pain management and education. Pain is now seen as the 4th vital sign. We ask everyone if they are in pain and will medicate the said pain if present. Many patients immediately expect narcotics and opioids to be the only relief for their pain. Educating on nonopioid or no nonpharmacological pain management is crucial to effectively treat pain. These modalities include NSAIDS, ice/heat therapy, massage, imagery, and movement among others.

This patient had several moderate dose narcotics available as well as IV ketoralac/ Toradol. The only medication that was actually effectively for a long duration was the Toradol.

Toradol is classified as an NSAID and can only be given up to 5 days to prevent GI bleeding and kidney issues. However, with it being an anti inflammatory, this medication was greatly effective for a recently amputated leg. The patient was aware of that and only requested the Toradol for her pain. Education is key.

Aside from the pain management of this woman, her positive outlook on her situation is also what leads to positive healing. She repeatedly stated how God will bring her through any situation she faces. She was confident that this was in her plan and was determined to do anything it took to heal her body.

We actually developed a good rapport after realizing we both favor a particular pastor and both plan on attending his church after the pandemic.

It is important to not simply treat the patient, but to try and communicate with them as human beings. You never know who is in that bed.

When I was going off shift, she reminded me that if my leg was ever hurting, not to wish to cut it off.. I plan to take that advice to heart.

Until next shift,

Shania

If I could only have half of the faith… angels in disguise

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50 y/o female with multiple myeloma and leukemia presents to the ER for a fever… a medical emergency in one receiving chemotherapy due to myelosuppression.

She has been in and out of hospitals to receive chemo and then be readmitted for the side effects of cancer.

I walk into the room and she is diffusing essential oils, she is riding around the hall and her room in her wheelchair, she is cracking jokes, she is laughing, and has the biggest smile on her face, and she asks about everyone’s personal lives when they walk into the room. I have never met someone with as much hope, faith, joy, and someone who as closely resembles Jesus as this precious woman.

She told me that Jesus will put angels in your path and I was one of hers. I can say that Jesus put her as my angel during my past three, challenging shifts.

Covid has brought a much higher acuity census to the caseload and this week has been stressful, challenging, and draining.

Her joy and optimism brought the just needed light into my week. I fortunately was able to sit with her for quite some time as I administered blood transfusions.

The highlight of my entire nursing career thus far was when she asked to go to the main lobby to play the grand piano. I was able to wheel her down in her wheelchair with her IV pole, mask, and lots of hand sanitizer to go sit and play her joyful noise. I couldn’t help but become teary eyed.

Even through everything that she was facing, she continued to minister to others and bring such joy into their lives. If I have half of the faith of this Godly woman, I will be okay.

It is a reminder that even on the toughest days; take a deep breath and trust that God has your back.

Until next shift,

Shania

Things nursing school does not teach you

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Even after the 2-4 years of intense studying that is required to become a registered nurse, it takes about a year working full-time to feel comfortable in the new leadership position. There is anywhere between 6-12 weeks of orientation with an experienced preceptor, as well as facility-required courses and classes. Nursing school teaches the disease process and basic assessment techniques, but does not prepare the student for the actual nursing role. Below is a brief list of things nursing school does not teach…

  1. Nurses have autonomy. Nurses see the patients 12 hours/day while doctors view the patient for at most 30 minutes. Nurses are in charge of reporting assessment changes, communicating critical lab values, ordering interventions per nursing protocols, among many other things. Textbooks ensure a doctor’s order for everything, when in reality nurses often drive these orders.
  2. Nurses do not provide “total care.” In many clinical rotations that I have had, we were assigned one patient and required to complete the assessments, baths, vital signs, and administer all medications. These patient encounters were unrealistic compared with the actual routine of a bedside nurse. Yes, it is in the scope of practice to perform all of these things, however, there is not enough time in the shift to perform all of these interventions for all 5-6 patients. It is extremely important to delegate to nursing assistants and to assist them when able.
  3. The Davis Drug book is not your best friend. It is much easier and acceptable to use online drug resources such as Micromedex or Medscape. Many MARs actually have reference information for drug administration directly on the administration wizard.
  4. You will not chart in real time. It is okay to back-time assessments. It is impossible to chart as you complete nursing tasks while ensuring all patients are cared for in a timely manner.
  5. Over 50% of a shift is behind a computer. This was the biggest challenge for me when transitioning from a CNA to an RN. It is frustrating to have so little hands-on time with the patients, while spending a lot of time reviewing orders, charting, on the phone, etc.
  6. You do not always have to “call” the doctor. Many facilities have a direct messaging system to relay non-emergent information, rather than calling the doctor for every request.
  7. Find out what advancement opportunities a facility offers. Anything from tuition reimbursement, mentorship programs, and certification incentives…
  8. You have to be creative. This applies to many things such as finding new ways to use nursing supplies, working with only two hands, convincing the confused patient to stay in the bed, or communicating effectively with difficult families. One of the funnier moments of creativity was one a nurse used a syringe of normal saline to stop a “seizure” a patient was apparently having. She said this injection of “Normasaline” will stop the seizure, and miraculously it worked!
  9. The burden of health care is real. Every shift, there will be a patient who is medically cleared for discharge, however is waiting on insurance approval to go to rehab or a skilled nursing facility. A patient is noncompliant with medications because they cannot afford them.
  10. Use free time wisely. Any extra time should be spent helping out other nurses, researching disease processes, updating report cards, or studying for continuing education. That extra study time will be appreciated during the busy shifts when you are trying to find enough time to pee.
  11. Having a patient leave AMA (against medical advice) is probably for your benefit. Don’t take it to heart.
  12. Even the best, most experienced nurse will get yelled at by a patient, family member, or doctor. It is okay.
  13. Always remain humble and ask questions.. just because you learned how to do something one way, does not mean that it is the best way.

Until next shift,

Shania

Sample Patients in Medical-Surgical Nursing

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**Identifying patient information has been altered to protect patient confidentiality

Patient 1: 68 y/o male with spinal stenosis and resulting functional paraplegia presents to the ER with abdominal dissension, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pt was found to have a small bowel obstruction. GI order NGT to low-intermittent wall suction (LIWS) for decompression. The patient also has a history of vascular dementia and delusional disorder. He frequently asks for food, water, and repeatedly states that nursing is starving him. Fortunately, pt eventually had several BMs and will get an abdominal X-ray to assess for small bowel obstruction resolve and hopefully NGT removal.

Patient 2: 75 y/o female is brought in with family c/o AMS. Lab work reveals a UTI and acute renal failure. Both BUN and Cr are critical and does not decrease for several days. CT abdomen reveals possible myeloma. Family does not yet know this and nursing must not reveal these results until oncology confirms.

Patient 3: 50 y/o male comes to the ER with abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and failed paracentesis outpatient. GI attempts EGD and colonoscopy, however pt unable to tolerate Golytely and/or enemas. Imaging reveals a colonic volvulus (twisting of the intestine)- a medical emergency. NGT placed for decompression, as patient continues to vomit. Surgery consulted brings pt for immediate colectomy with ostomy placement. Unfortunately was this patient’s h/o CKD and CHF, pt will likely be transferred to CCU post surgery. Family care during this surgery is crucial as they wait to hear how the pt recovers.

Patient 4: 30 y/o female comes to ER with c/o uncontrollable abdominal pain and ascites. Pain management is the main goal for nursing. Balancing IV pain medication for breakthrough with PO medication along with treating the side effects of nausea and pruritus is the challenge. **Patients with liver failure/cirrhosis are difficult cases as all lab work is often abnormal.. critically low H/H, elevated clotting factors, and elevated LFTs must be monitored.

Patient 5: 75 y/o male presents with abdominal pain, N/V/D. Pt is diagnosed with diverticulitis and will be treated with IVF, bowel rest (NPO), and finally diet advancement as pt tolerates.

**All of these cases are in a single shift. Some days are much easier than others and vice versa. Prioritization is key in these situations.. “Who will die first?” Remember the ABCs and include pain as top priorities. Leave charting for later, and keep all patients informed of rounding times, to limit call lights.

Med-Surg is also funny in the sense that you haven’t performed a nursing skill in a while or a certain skill increases anxiety, and the next shift you will have to perform it. This shift was that for me. I was always nervous around NGTs because they are easy to come out, some are hooked up to suction and others are not, placement must be checked frequently (ph), and patients are always anxious to pull them out. After this recent shift, I am comfortable with them!

Until next shift,

Shania

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615-856-8181
shania@shanialynnvo.com