Had a guy on med-surg this week, post hip, flat refused to get up for three days. PT tried, I tried, his wife tried. Nothing.
Today his wife brings their old golden retriever and parks right under his window. I tell him the dog is down there but he has to get to the window to see her. He looks at me like I'm the devil. Then he gets up. Walker, me, the tech, every single step complaining about it. Gets to the window, sees the dog, and just starts crying. Then the dog starts barking at the window like she knows.
He walked back to the bed without a single complaint. PT is calling it a therapeutic intervention in the note and I'm not correcting them.
What's the weirdest thing that finally got one of your patients moving?
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Post replyMeanwhile our unit can't even get a therapy dog approved because of some infection control committee that meets twice a year. Glad your guy had a window at least. Half our rooms face a brick wall.
I always ask family on admission what the patient actually cares about. Not hobbies, the real stuff. Grandkids, a ballgame, a specific person. Write it on the whiteboard so whoever's on next shift can use it too. Saves everyone three days of getting cussed out.
Love this, but I'll be the one to say it: three days of refusing is a lot, and it's not always stubbornness. Sometimes it's pain that isn't controlled or fear of falling, and the dog worked because it gave him a reason bigger than the fear. Worth asking what was underneath it before we file it under difficult patient.
Had a lady who wouldn't budge until I mentioned the vending machine at the end of the hall had the good peanut butter crackers. She did two laps that day. Her chart says 'ambulated 150 ft with steady gait.' It does not say 'motivated by Nabs.'
Was the wife just standing in the parking lot with the dog the whole time or did she have a lawn chair situation going? Need to know how committed she was.
Not crying at work, you're crying at work.