Fall Risk

My second day of clinical at the Woman's care unit.....

I was assigned to a nurse who I couldn't find half the time. It's like she disappeared on me. So along with my patient assignments, I helped out another nurse with her patients. I was everywhere; answering call lights, checking vitals, teaching, providing snacks, blankets, and assessing the patients. It was a busy busy day. I'm just glad I was able to help out.

My nurse handed me a bowl of soup and asked me to deliver it to a patient. So I did, and I met the most incredible woman of God. She told me about her surgery, her family, church, and her cooking! She was a talker and I loved it. I hope that I will get to have time with my patients to hear more about their life stories. Then I helped her take a shower and clean up for bed. And she talked and talked and talked. Loved it!

So my patient was recovering from a Hysterectomy (removal of uterus). She was on Post Op day #2. Then the scary thing happened....She asked to use the bathroom. So I helped her out of bed. She usually ambulates on her own in her room without assistance. As she was standing up, she started balancing on one foot, and I told her not to do that. I had one arm and she was stable....until.....she decided to reach for the shower curtain. She started to fall. Without injuring myself (Thank God!) I helped ease the fall by lowering her in the shower. She was okay!!! I reported it to the nurse and I had to file an incident report. I nearly had a heart attack. My second day in this unit and a patient falls. Let me tell ya....it sure was a learning experience. It wasn't my fault, but I have my eyes wide open now.

I spent over an hour in her room just listening to her life story and making sure that she was okay, especially emotionally. My nurse came in and and posted "fall risk" signs on the door and bathroom. My patient just looked at me and started laughing, "Oh no....I'm a fall risk....I can't go anywhere by myself now." I told her that she was right. I will be with her the whole time. And she just laughed at me, "That won't be so bad." :) What a cute pie!

Thank God for saving my patient!! The thought of a patient falling and hurting herself during her recovery freaks me out! I would have cried...well I did a little. I'm such a softy. That's probably why God put me there.....to care and cry.....and prevent falls :)