Into the grey area

Not really crossing lines, more of like sticking my head out and risk facing possible disciplinary actions.

I am currently posted to an orthopaedic ward. It is just Day 2 and I feel like I have started this clinical posting walking along the grey.

One of the patients was just wheeled into the ward upon having undergone a shoulder surgery. Surprisingly he was awake and walking about as soon we got him changed and checked up. Another student nurse gave him his painkillers via injection, and he was advised to rest in bed as the medication might cause drowsiness. However the man insisted on walking albeit being warned not to. The staff were busy, everyone was doing their own thing and the nurse responsible for the patient who was just wheeled in instructed me to stay close to the man lest he suffered from a fall. And I did so, but he started walking towards the elevator! My patient wanted to go out for a walk. We even met his doctor on the way out. At that point of time I knew it was impossible to consult the staff nurse because her patient would have gone down and out by the time I ran back into the ward, even if I were to beg him to wait. I did not really bother asking the doctor as he would not wish to bear the responsibility had he agreed to let the patient get out of the ward this soon after surgery.

What were my choices, standing along 6 working elevators with a patient who was adamant on taking a walk outside? I decided to follow the man out despite knowing the fact that his intentions were probably for a cigarette break. So, there I was, walking a patient out of hospital grounds, to smoke, though the only smoke I inhaled was secondhand. He even took out his cigarette before stepping out of the hospital gates. Great, now I even got caught on security camera footage.

I do not regret doing what I did. What else could I have done? A fellow student nurse got the rest of my patients in the ward covered. The best chance I had of making sure the smoker patient did not fall, was to follow and stay close to him even though he was stepping out of the hospital for a cigarette. Today, the patient is alert and walking well. He took his cigarette breaks without needing anyone to accompany him anymore. And I am getting to know him better through our conversations and my reading of his case file.

Today, a different patient asked me for a favour- to buy him lottery! He gave me a bunch of numbers and some cash. And I went to buy the 4D tickets as instructed(correctly, I hope!) after the end of my shift.


Clinical postings. New experiences, new challenges, some of them weird at times.