• Mostly_Frogs@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    One of my first mentors as a nurse was this old battle axe who had been around in the ER for decades. Tough as nails, hard as a rock. She was pushing morphine in some young girl’s IV. This girl was maybe 18 years old and having a good amount of pain, nothing crazy but needing medication. She was really anxious about it. She foolishly asked the question, “What’s the worst that could happen?” The nurse answered, “You could die.” No expression or sympathy or care. And she just kept on slowly pushing the morphine without another word as the patient visibly tried to suppress her terror.

      • NathanielThomas@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I think it depends on the situation. There’s a time to be a hardass and a time to be kind.

        For example, 25 years ago I got a cut in hockey and went for stitches. Doctor said I needed a tetanus shot and I didn’t want it because I don’t like needles. Doctor proceeded to describe death by tetanus. It worked.

      • Mostly_Frogs@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        What I would be expecting is someone who gives a shit about how the patients feel at least enough to phrase it in a non terrifying way. She knew what she was doing. While what she said was true, the odds that the girl would die from it were staggeringly low. She was just basically an asshole and left that part out.

      • Blimp7990@reddthat.com
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        1 year ago

        If you’re in the ER I’m not sure what else you’d be expecting.

        ‘bedside manner’

        this thread seems to basically just be about cheering on people who cause others deliberate mental anguish.