B---- A---- and the wound vac
I'd like to begin posting some of the things I see at work.
And some of the things I FEEL as a nurse. I want them recorded here, for me. So some might be gross or disturbing to you, or just incoherent with nursing jargon but there should always be a point to the telling of the interaction. Granted most of them will probably be my growth as a nurse and human being, but you can always just skip whatever you don't feel like reading. I will try to keep them short!
I'm probably going to tell them in a "today at work I saw..." kinda style. But no, these did not happen to me all in one day. LOL This first one will be a tad longer than most. Because it has to be, but as I always say, worth the read.
Today, I saw a giant man dying alone in the ICU hooked to huge tubes and machines. And that was before I saw his intestines come out of a gaping 12 inch by 12 inch by 12 inch hole in his belly.
I was following the 'Wound Care/Ostomy' team and we were there to remove a wound-vac from his dehisced abdominal incision. (The vaccuum is placed over packing in the wound to suck up bad stuff and encourage good blood flow and healthy tissue to regrow. It is changed every other day and is supposed to make the wound smaller.) He had hernia surgery and they nicked his bowel. But didn't know it. Here he lies, a week later. The large incision was from the bowel resection and repair. But it didn't shut or heal. The wound-vac should have helped the two sides of the incision grow close together so fresh skin could close. When she pulled the tape off, the hole blew open and intestines erupted instead. We soaked towels in saline and covered the pit; packing them down and around all the organs. "That's all we can do, until that doctor gets down here, I'll go call again."
Um...I guess I was supposed to leave with her after that.
But I couldn't. I just stared at this giant man, and all his tubes and indignities. I noticed that his swollen eyelids seemed to flutter along with a foot, during us tucking in his insides. I stepped over wires and cords and tubing to come quietly toward his puffed ashen face and swollen chalky tongue, trapped in place by ventilator tubing and tape. I put his edematous hand in mine and I began to pet it softly. I looked around and found his name, and I whispered it gently, calmingly telling him he would be more comfortable soon, we were done bothering him, try to rest now.
His glassy eyes opened and he nodded to me.
He was aware of what was going on to an extent that no one cared to imagine.
That should be the end of the story. But I keep thinking about when I left work, I rushed into a meditation with the other Pagans. It was a self-healing session and we were asked to rate our problem on a scale of 10. Ha! Do you think I was in the mood to complain about my annoying and mildly painful slipped disc in my neck after what I just saw??! I said a two, and the healer said, "Not a very big problem, huh?" I think this applies to many of us in daily situations. Just not that big of a problem. And we all could use some healing.
My wise
streamweaver says that it gives him hope for the human spirit that people who've lived through extreme tragedy or suffering seem to have such an appreciation for life and the suffering of others. He's right. Most of my hurting patients comment that they're sure the person in the next room is in worse pain then they are; it's usually not true.
The soul is an amazing thing to witness. I get to see it in person everyday.
Much love to you all.
~Maura
And some of the things I FEEL as a nurse. I want them recorded here, for me. So some might be gross or disturbing to you, or just incoherent with nursing jargon but there should always be a point to the telling of the interaction. Granted most of them will probably be my growth as a nurse and human being, but you can always just skip whatever you don't feel like reading. I will try to keep them short!
I'm probably going to tell them in a "today at work I saw..." kinda style. But no, these did not happen to me all in one day. LOL This first one will be a tad longer than most. Because it has to be, but as I always say, worth the read.
Today, I saw a giant man dying alone in the ICU hooked to huge tubes and machines. And that was before I saw his intestines come out of a gaping 12 inch by 12 inch by 12 inch hole in his belly.
I was following the 'Wound Care/Ostomy' team and we were there to remove a wound-vac from his dehisced abdominal incision. (The vaccuum is placed over packing in the wound to suck up bad stuff and encourage good blood flow and healthy tissue to regrow. It is changed every other day and is supposed to make the wound smaller.) He had hernia surgery and they nicked his bowel. But didn't know it. Here he lies, a week later. The large incision was from the bowel resection and repair. But it didn't shut or heal. The wound-vac should have helped the two sides of the incision grow close together so fresh skin could close. When she pulled the tape off, the hole blew open and intestines erupted instead. We soaked towels in saline and covered the pit; packing them down and around all the organs. "That's all we can do, until that doctor gets down here, I'll go call again."
Um...I guess I was supposed to leave with her after that.
But I couldn't. I just stared at this giant man, and all his tubes and indignities. I noticed that his swollen eyelids seemed to flutter along with a foot, during us tucking in his insides. I stepped over wires and cords and tubing to come quietly toward his puffed ashen face and swollen chalky tongue, trapped in place by ventilator tubing and tape. I put his edematous hand in mine and I began to pet it softly. I looked around and found his name, and I whispered it gently, calmingly telling him he would be more comfortable soon, we were done bothering him, try to rest now.
His glassy eyes opened and he nodded to me.
He was aware of what was going on to an extent that no one cared to imagine.
That should be the end of the story. But I keep thinking about when I left work, I rushed into a meditation with the other Pagans. It was a self-healing session and we were asked to rate our problem on a scale of 10. Ha! Do you think I was in the mood to complain about my annoying and mildly painful slipped disc in my neck after what I just saw??! I said a two, and the healer said, "Not a very big problem, huh?" I think this applies to many of us in daily situations. Just not that big of a problem. And we all could use some healing.
My wise
streamweaver says that it gives him hope for the human spirit that people who've lived through extreme tragedy or suffering seem to have such an appreciation for life and the suffering of others. He's right. Most of my hurting patients comment that they're sure the person in the next room is in worse pain then they are; it's usually not true.
The soul is an amazing thing to witness. I get to see it in person everyday.
Much love to you all.
~Maura