July 06, 2004

A Memorable Visit...

Today is, of course, nursing home Tuesday. I hose down the dog, wake the boys early, feed every living beast at The Outpost their breakfast, and we head into town.

Today's visit was fairly routine, although I would like to share a conversation I overheard. I was sitting with Mrs. S., who was thoroughly enjoying her time with Hoocher. My presence being thoroughly superfluous, I turned my attention to the words issuing from the bathroom that Mrs. S. shares with the room next door.

Nurse's Aide (NA): Come on, Rosie. I need you to lean forward a bit more.

Rosie: indistinct murmur

NA: I know Rosie, I know. But you need to lean forward. I need to put in the enema.

Rosie: indistinct murmur

NA: That's it. No. No! Don't touch. I'm sorry, honey. Just a minute. Okay. Now push, Rosie.

Rosie: indistinct murmur

NA: Come on, Rosie. Push it out. Can you push? Try again.

Rosie: indistinct murmur

NA: No, you can't get up quite yet, dear. Try to push. Come on now. Push.

Rosie: indistinct murmur

My attention was drawn away at this point because Hoocher was choking on popcorn, so I fortunately didn't hear the conclusion of the conversation. I did hear the NA emerge from the bathroom and tell a nurse in the hall, "Oh yes, we got quite a bit out!"

Think your job stinks sometimes?

Posted by Cathy at July 6, 2004 04:03 PM
Comments

yuckies.

vacation-time, methinks.

Posted by: Chris Muir at July 6, 2004 04:15 PM

It takes a special kind of person to do that sort of thing. Trouble is that a great majority of people in nursing homes have families that aren't interested in their elderly until it's time to read the will.

God bless nurses.

Posted by: picklejuice at July 6, 2004 04:38 PM

No kidding. I'm there once a week for two hours, and I can't count the number of times I've heard the residents and the staff remark that very few inmates have regular visitors.

I'm guilty of that too. My grandmother was in a nursing home for several years when I was a teen-ager, and I was horrible about going with my dad to visit her.

Posted by: Cathy at July 6, 2004 07:53 PM

W'sup Cathy?

Posted by: Jeff at July 7, 2004 08:40 AM

How can I beat that??

Posted by: Emmy at July 7, 2004 12:16 PM

Hey Jeff! Been a while...how's your summer going?

Emmy...beat what? A poop story? You've got young boys! I know you can beat an enema story! :)

Posted by: Cathy at July 7, 2004 05:01 PM