Nurse Days

Wednesday, November 24, 1999

Today the lady I took care of was discharged from the hospital to the nursing home. She was crabby and miserable at times--I just couldn't seem to do anything right! After a couple hours she warmed up a bit, and I realized she was just scared about transferring to a nursing home. I tried my best to comfort her, and she even called me "her nurse" at one point, but I soon understood it wasn't me she was lashing out at, but rather the situation.

Oh yeah! I got to give an intradermal injection today! Amazingly enough I was cool as a cucumber! I was no more concerned about this than I would have been to take a BP.

Her skin was very thin and fragile, and it offered the needle no resistance. The tuberculin started oozing out from under her crepe paper-like skin toward the end, but I think that's to be expected because of the drugs she's taking (diuretics and steroids, for instance).

I think I did well and am proud of myself for doing it professionally and without hesitation and doubt.