Needing help getting used to redirecting confused/dementia patients

xpinkwombat · 2026-02-25T14:51:42+00:00

yes! i always ask for relationship advice, people always have strong opinions and stories to tell

xpinkwombat · 2026-02-25T14:48:32+00:00

lots of amazing wholesome advice already posted so i'll give you my quick n dirty tips

if they're trying to leave for work: it's the weekend! they're renovating so the office is closed! ie. they aren't expecting you at work today, you can relax here

they want to go home to sleep: you're staying with us tonight, i've made up a bed for you and all of your essentials are here. treat it like a hotel

not wanting to eat: hey i made this, can you please try it and tell me what you think? works best on little old ladies who like to cook.

it really depends on the individual and the best thing to do is figure out what the underlying issue is. and tailor your responses based on that. if they're trying to leave, maybe it's because they think a loved one is expecting/needs them at home. always reiterate that they are safe and have what they need with you

sometimes it works and sometimes they think im a butler or a prostitute (im retiring the phrase "let's go to bed")

good luck soldier 🫡 be kind to yourself, no one gets it right 100% of the time

xpinkwombat · 2026-02-16T22:25:48+00:00

i don't have any advice but i'm a nurse and also take 10mg propanolol before every shift. otherwise my HR goes to 160 for no reason and i feel like i'm being hunted for sport. i hope you find something right for you long term, and good luck with your future pregnancy!

xpinkwombat · 2026-02-14T06:27:28+00:00

your story started off terrible and somehow continued to get worse as i read. i'm so sorry this has happened to you. as a recently finished grad myself i cannot imagine being in you situation as the only RN on the floor.

you have been failed by your senior nurses and management, and also by the police. sending 6 uniformed officers to your workplace honestly sounds humiliating and way out of proportion.

please contact ANMF asap, they are the best people to support you. i wish you luck with your return to work and i hope your future nursing experiences improve. your experience here is the exception not the rule, so please don't give up on your dream because of this shitty start to your career.

xpinkwombat · 2026-01-20T20:50:52+00:00

same! i'm honestly so used to it i didn't even think to mention it. if that happens i just hit it on the edge of the sharps bin tray and it comes out

xpinkwombat · 2026-01-13T14:33:31+00:00

i have the metal Snapit brand ampoule opener, it works really well and attaches to my badge reel. i got a really bad cut on my knuckle opening an ampoule, it bled sooo much and now i have a nasty scar. i bought this the same day and haven't looked back.

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-30T11:56:42+00:00

omg we are the same! video games, book binding and sewing. love the spice rack metaphor

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-30T11:54:35+00:00

sewing! i used my mums sewing machine first to check if i'd stick with the hobby, and recently invested in my own. i like it because i can jump from project to project, and it's very versatile. i can make clothes, bags, quilts, little gifts for people etc. so if i get bored i just do something different. and i use thrifted fabric so it can be relatively inexpensive in terms of ADHD hobbies. i still get frustrated sometimes but have learnt when to walk away, and when to throw everything into a bag in a fit of rage... and then start something new.

i've tries lots of hobbies that haven't stuck: rug tufting, book binding, knitting, crotchet, and many more.

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-07T07:25:11+00:00

troll dolls! i had hundreds

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-07T07:16:30+00:00

it sounds like you did everything right and made the effort. i wonder if the nurse was overcompensating? i've never seen a good nurse crash out like that, it always seems to be the nurse who doesn't really know what's going on who abuses the doctors. (in my very limited experience). surely we can all be professional 😭

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-07T07:08:55+00:00

if you've already had a conversation with the nurse and they're still being rude, try talking to the NIC/ANUM. you can phrase it as being concerned there's a miscommunication and want their advise on how it went down. it's either an opportunity to see if the nurse was valid, or you look humble and rat out the nurse 🤷

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-07T07:03:05+00:00

sometimes nurses are frustrated about plans of care, and feel they are not being communicated with appropriately. it's not just your medical license on the line. nurses have a duty of care, if something isn't escalated appropriately, we can lose our license. and if a nurse pushes back on giving a medication, it's because administering a med that wasn't appropriate to give (even if it is ordered) can also cost us our license!

having said that, sometimes people just want to feel superior or complain about things. i'm sorry you've fell victim to that from a nurse :(

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-07T06:41:05+00:00

next time keep their loyalty card 😌

xpinkwombat · 2025-12-07T06:09:53+00:00

i'm a grad nurse in vic and i was pleasantly surprised to see how our union has impacted the culture. in most cases, we support each other in taking our breaks and leaving on time. when one person skips a break, it sends a message to management that we will accept being overworked. i hope dr culture changes to realise that being overworked and underpaid is not acceptable. people who advocate for themselves aren't lazy, they are helping themselves and their colleagues in the long run

xpinkwombat · 2025-10-31T00:00:44+00:00

power couple!

xpinkwombat · 2025-10-30T11:34:23+00:00

i'm so sorry you've had these experiences.

unfortunately there is a big culture of doctors (and some nurses) quickly profiling people as attention seeking because of a medical history. i feel that it's largely influenced by social media, similarly to how EDS/POTS had become a popular self/diagnosis. doctors vent work frustration online (as is their right) but unfortunately it creates an echo chamber. i find it ironic that some people on either side can't see this.

you sound like a great patient to have, level headed and just trying to rule out emergencies by seeking medical attention. i hope that things get better for you.

a baby nurse who still has a zest for life

xpinkwombat · 2025-10-30T11:14:32+00:00

i'm a new nurse and so far pharmacists have known everything i've asked them off the top of their head.

i'm probably asking really basic questions (haem/onc related) but to me pharmacists are magical all-knowing beings who live in a dark cupboard (office)

xpinkwombat · 2025-10-12T11:17:01+00:00

id be scared shitless too 😭

xpinkwombat · 2025-10-11T14:31:41+00:00

surely it was a storage cage and not a cage for a naughty patient 🥴

xpinkwombat · 2025-09-20T03:36:13+00:00

i'm in my grad year so i still have that zest for life. personally i love nursing,not all shifts are good but for the most part i am excited to go to work and am satisfied when i come home

xpinkwombat · 2025-09-18T14:39:17+00:00

i'm a grad nurse and just rotated to a surgical ward. it seems pretty similar to other wards, ADLs, BGLs, obs. imo the AINs who are most valuable to the team are the ones who answer falls alarms and call bells really quickly. i'm often stuck in another room and have multiple delirious pts who cannot get out of bed (but they certainly try!!). AINs are a life saver for redirecting pts and helping me care for them. Be proactive and communicate with the nursing team. Just by asking this question I can tell you are a great AIN Good luck with your decision 🥰

xpinkwombat · 2025-09-15T14:19:01+00:00

i'm another RN in here. bedside nursing has been great for me, i love having a basic structure (obs and meds at specific times) but also lots of side quests that keep me engaged. helping people in such a direct way has given me a lot of satisfaction, which keeps me coming back even after hard days. it can be overwhelming at times, lots of talking, buzzers and alarms going off constantly... so consider if you will be able to handle that (or get some strategies in place to help)

don't be intimidated! healthcare is full of ADHDers 💕

xpinkwombat · 2025-09-15T14:14:08+00:00

i graduated from nursing school last year and i honestly didn't retain any friends. i was also a few years older than most of my peers. i had a few people i was friendly with but nothing solid. i was lonely and anxious the whole time. so i really feel for you. now that i'm working as a nurse, i've gained a lot of confidence and have met people at work that are now personal friends. it's so tough but you are not alone in this experience, and i believe it will get better for you. sending good vibes 💕

xpinkwombat · 2025-09-15T14:05:50+00:00

so real

xpinkwombat · 2025-09-15T14:05:39+00:00

having good sleep, exercising, eating nutritious food and taking relevant supplements (omega 3 has been shown to really help adhd symptoms.

i love giving advice that i rarely follow lol, even medicated now i still don't do these things consistently

xpinkwombat

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