I have a patient

Published on March 31, 2006 By dharmagrl In Misc

I went to see the hospice coordinator this afternoon.

I've been assigned a patient. I've been given her admission paperwork and the psycho-social reports to go over, and I can start visiting her as soon as I want. I'm going on Monday, and I'm taking with me some things that I think she'll like.

This is really happening. All the things that I learned, all the theories, all the ideas...they're all going to be put into practice. I have a patient. The concepts that have been floating around my head are going to become concrete. I will be with her until she either passes away or is discharged (some people actually recover enough to not need hospice care and are discharged from the service).

I have a patient. I'm excited - so much so that I locked my keys in my truck this afternoon! That'll be something to tell her; a story to perhaps cheer her - that someone got so excited about seeing her that they momentarily forgot what they were doing!

I have a patient, and that's all I can tell you. Confidentiality prevents me from saying anything else - I can tell you that I visited her, but I cannot tell you what she said or how the visit went. In fact, the next time I tell you anything about her it will be to tell you that she passed away (or got well enough to be discharged - and I honestly don't think that's going to happen).

I have a patient, and I am happy.

Comments

Trudygolightly

on Mar 31, 2006

and so dharma, your life is on a new path

I wish you well, and I'm sure you'll be a warm comfort to this patient and the others that follow.

Sometimes it's ok to just sit, and not even talk.

Moderateman

on Mar 31, 2006

Glad to "see" you all excited and filled with joy!!

Just remember to have patience with your patient.

JillUser

on Apr 01, 2006

Sounds like you will both benefit from having the chance to get to know each other. I bet she'll enjoy the story about you locking your keys in the car too

dharmagrl

on Apr 01, 2006

Sounds like you will both benefit from having the chance to get to know each other. I bet she'll enjoy the story about you locking your keys in the car too

You know, I just wrote an article about that. I think that her dying is going to teach me how to live.

Glad to "see" you all excited and filled with joy!!

Thanks! I am pretty happy!

Sometimes it's ok to just sit, and not even talk

That's why I was assigned to this patient - because I'm comfortable with just sitting in silence. I'm also a 'vigilance' volunteer - I got and sit with people who are close to death so that they won't be alone when they die. I'm on call for that service - I get a phone call and I have to be at the patient's location within 2 hours.

I'm used to the idea now, and I'm humbled that someone would invite me to share their last days.

Dr Guy

on Apr 02, 2006

Locked your keys in the car? Are you my wife?

best of luck, and best of experiences! We are here for the moral support, but you are on the front lines.

MasonM

on Apr 02, 2006

Cool

dharmagrl

on Apr 02, 2006

Cool

Yeah, it IS cool.

Locked your keys in the car? Are you my wife

That's the FIRST time I've EVER done that. EVER. In 12 years of marriage and 20 years of driving (my own vehicle and patrol vehicles), I've never locked my keys in my car until last Friday. I think that's pretty good, don't you?

MasonM

on Apr 02, 2006

I locked my key in my truck a couple of weeks ago, not for the first time so you're doing far better than I am.

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