Monday, May 12, 2008

Amorous RN, or how not to be accused of same

During a brief moment of live TV, where as I'm usually watching something recorded by my Tivo, the weekend weather guy for the Houston CW affiliate was doing his thing. I was a bit dumbfounded by his name, Casanova Nurse. Really and truly, that's his name. Unfortunately his bio does not reveal the provenance of such a unique moniker. I like that he (most likely) does NOT live the life that his name could have dictated, skillfully wooing then abandoning patients in an endless string of medically-based conquests.

On that note, last week I was advised that I should make sure a female nurse or patient care tech was present whenever I examine female patients and to leave bed baths to the female staff as precautions against allegations of impropriety, which have ticked up recently. With the pain, lack of natural light (and therefore cues to the time of day), dearth of quality sleep, medications for pain and anxiety, or just idiosyncrasies, patients who've been in an ICU for days can become confused and somewhat paranoid. For instance, even in my short time working I've seen several patients who think that all staff discussions are about them, including gynecological surgeries for men and imminent childbirth for elderly women. Good thing I have a psych background, it's useful.

It's rather annoying that I have to be so cautious as I have no interest in molesting my clients and I can't really imagine a nurse getting in to this line of work with that intention. Still, better safe than sorry or as we often say, CYA.

3 comments:

  1. Casanova Nurse sounds like a My Little Pony.

    It sounds like things are going well for you, Mr. Murse!

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  2. dear DJ murrs,
    i done did thot uv yew when i readed a letter to the editur at work thee other day, frum a nerse at brackenridge complainin bowt teh rot rally. pleez post agin sewn. thnx.

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  3. Yeah I worked at Brack one summer in the ER and remember finding out that Austin and surrounding area averaged about 7 deaths every year around ROT. Not every case was helmet-less head injury, but most were.

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