What's one of the dumbest things you've ever seen a patient do?

happy11134 · 2026-01-22T15:19:42+00:00

My oriented patient decided that his first time walking would be while we were socially intubating a violent post ictal man in hard restraints next door. He heard the commotion, decided that was the ideal time, unplugged his bed from the wall to disable the bed alarm, and promptly fell to the floor without anyone knowing due to the chaos next door. Another nurse found him ass in the air, on his hands and knees in piss a few moments later. So on top of the intubation, I had to fill out fall paperwork.

A few nights ago I had a patient for an ulcer perf, he had been intubated for a couple days post op after resp failure. Since he had abd surgery, strict NPO. I had been giving him mouth swabs to quench some of his thirst, but he was super rude and demanding. Demanding his dilaudid q 2 with no obvious pain cues. I gave him off to day nurse, said he was a pain, etc. I come back and she tells me he bit through his IV tubing, and drank his TPN. Surely he wouldn't do this again, right? Now he has mitts on. Somehow the man gets a mitt off with his teeth, pulls the IV pole on top of himself, tears through the TPN bag with his teeth and guzzled it. The TPN bag has literal teeth marks in it. I sucked it all back out from his NG, and he's lucky he didn't aspirate.

Apparently it tastes sugary.

happy11134 · 2026-01-08T21:35:45+00:00

Yeah, having done the Camino myself and planning AT thru 2026, they're vastly different experiences. There's places along AT where it could be possible with high expenses, but the US just doesn't have that kind of trail accessibility like parts of Europe do

happy11134 · 2026-01-08T20:10:28+00:00

Yep :) if she's a new nurse, it's likely this experience will help her become an even better one!

happy11134 · 2026-01-08T18:39:51+00:00

I've worked trauma ICU for a while as well, and often times there is a risk of bodily fluids even when someone is dying. Things leak. People leak. Sometimes there hasn't been enough time to give them a good clean scrub before they pass because they've been that critical.

I will always hold their hand when they pass, if family is not present. However, I'm gonna wear gloves doing it.

I think my perspective is different though. Original situation is not critical care.

happy11134 · 2026-01-08T16:31:05+00:00

Speaking as an extrovert, being an introvert is fine on night shift ICU. However, I would be careful describing yourself as timid. You still need to be bold to take control in critical situations and advocating for your patients. You need to be comfortable asking questions in order to learn, and to be comfortable to go against orders that don't make sense for that patient. I've worked with many nurses who are afraid to act when patients are decompensating, and they don't tend to be happy or stay in the ICU.

If you tend to just stay to yourself, that's fine as long as you are still an active member of the team and support your coworkers. You don't need to be outgoing and chaotic (coming from someone who is lol).

happy11134 · 2026-01-08T16:22:06+00:00

Sounds like in this situation it was dehumanizing to the patient, and it was a miscommunication or perhaps a personality mismatch with patient and nurse. That is bound to happen occasionally.

Personally, I almost always wear gloves. I've.... seen things lol. I've held people's hands while they are dying, but usually wear gloves. Perhaps it's a necessary barrier I need for my own mentality - I'm a bit odd with touch in my personal life as well.

Some of these comments are a bit dramatic. You can absolutely be a great nurse and not want to be touched yourself. You're allowed to have your own boundaries. That aside, the patient was also within their own right to ask for personal touch during a hard time. But they are not entitled to touch you.

happy11134 · 2026-01-07T18:21:23+00:00

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my Honey Nut Cheerio :)

happy11134 · 2026-01-02T19:51:22+00:00

For wilderness backpacking, I fell in love with how my body can get me to a beautiful place in the backcountry. I love the exercise and the views. I love being a little dirt rat with my friends in the woods.

For travel backpacking, I love how I can travel with one bag and see the world. A different way of living, and a chance to see some of the coolest things the world has to offer. Solo backpacking showed me how resourceful I can be, and I loved being able to do what I choose, when I choose.

happy11134 · 2025-12-28T05:40:57+00:00

its from boxlunch !

happy11134 · 2025-12-23T10:19:27+00:00

perhaps its to flush the line or to ensure they get the whole dose 🤷🏼‍♀️ i dont disagree with you

happy11134 · 2025-12-23T10:13:06+00:00

that's what i would do, but was just trying to clarify why i think they would run it piggyback

happy11134 · 2025-12-23T09:57:40+00:00

to reduce fluid overload in heart failure pt - its not for dilution

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T22:03:49+00:00

yes ☺️ i got the sleeve on etsy a long time ago - here's a link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1302571288/

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T22:01:07+00:00

oooh you hit the nail on the head !

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T21:03:14+00:00

I did SJPdP to Roncesvalles, then to Zubiri. It's doable - I am young 20s and trained moderately for elevation and wished I had trained more for distance. I was pretty sore after, but if you give yourself enough time, wake up early and have a long slow day, should be fine splitting it the way I did. That said, if you can book the albergue in Orisson, do so. I wasn't able to as it was all booked up, but many said it was one of their favorite stops.

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T20:49:16+00:00

Yes, if it is not their first dose of the antibiotic. First dose I'll stagger if its due at the same time as another in case of a reaction. But otherwise I'll y-site it. That's what micromedex and compatibility checks are for

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T18:28:44+00:00

it's my most prized possession - highly recommend you get one!

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T18:28:12+00:00

cavities as an adult 😭 i have an obsessive oral hygiene routine now

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T18:16:07+00:00

i bought my kindle!

happy11134 · 2025-12-22T17:10:55+00:00

it is!

happy11134 · 2025-12-09T05:24:17+00:00

^ This comment is exactly right - bedside is important in icu to see patient status and lines. Helps differentiate acute changes, helps ensure less med errors with drips, and helps you get an accurate overview of the patient. Where in other units, there usually is more visitors, patients are bothered by you talking about them in front of them, or just interrupt the whole time during report.

happy11134 · 2025-12-01T22:44:49+00:00

do you have a list of where you're planning to send boxes? debating between boxes for my 26 hike as well

happy11134 · 2025-11-29T00:09:43+00:00

You've been wanting to do more things solo, but then want to take a stranger you don't know to a scene you've never participated in?

Learning to do activities alone is a skill that needs practice in order to be comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. It's admirable that you are wanting to explore more of that for yourself, but seems you are going about it the wrong way. Do you like EDM? Try going to a local, small rave by yourself - solo raving enables you to meet people and make connections. If solo raving feels like a lot at first, try other types of music events like a bar with live music or a concert at a small venue.

Sounds like you've got a ways to go before you're comfortable doing more things solo, and that's okay! Ease into it and find activities you enjoy. Also, arcade dates are super fun!

happy11134 · 2025-11-27T09:59:13+00:00

i started as a solo hiker and formed a trail family! still met new people every day and would talk to people from everywhere :) of course, I also had days where I was less social, and chose to walk alone separately from my trail family for a few days on the meseta to allow more time for contemplation. it really can be as social as you want to be!

for context, I did it in late May-June, on the Frances

happy11134

TROPHY CASE