another night, another shift.

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:39:46 +0000

Sometimes its brutal trying to be nice.
Dealing with someone manipulative, who wants everything and then a little more. People forced to be within 4 feet of each other, yelling at each other. Making fun of one another.
Always the peacekeeper, I try to walk the fine line between supportive and firm.
Ship them out, treat and street. They leave to come back another day, with the same wants, the same needs, the same demands. “But they ALWAYS give me TWO sandwiches. But they ALWAYS give me three rolls of medical tape. But can’t you just give me a COUPLE ace bandages?” And why on earth do you need this stuff anyway? I want to scream it, but its that firm yet supportive smile, with a no and a shake of the head.
Yes, go ahead, take the leaflet from housekeeping. God knows what you need it for but go ahead and yes, two sandwiches if it makes you actually leave the room an hour after I discharged you.
And to turn around and find another person, a friend, being threatened by one of her patients. Security swarms and the police eventually show up a couple hours later. Meanwhile, the perp is gone, laughing all the way.
How do you maintain the professionalism when they just suck you dry?
There’s that phrase again…’compassion fatigue’.
Yet I go back, we go back, time and time again. Sure it pays the bills. But it’s more than that.
Maybe next time we are faced with the wants, the needs, the demands…maybe that will be the time we actually fix something for a change.

The D Spot » compassion fatigue

another night, another shift.