Friday, February 29, 2008

Stand Up Kind of Guy

A few weeks ago I had a very young patient come in laboring. I really felt for her because in addition to being young she was also alone and probably scared to death. She also had with her a really sweet birth plan that included being able to labor naturally and the father-of-the-baby showing up and being supportive. After talking with her for a little while I found out that the first part was probably going to be a go (IE. her reasons for not wanting an epidural did not include 1) needles hurt or 2) my mom/boyfriend/husband says I am not allowed) but getting a supportive dad to show up when he hadn't been involved for the past 6-7 months might not go so well.

I got her all set up and as soon as a better room opened up I moved her up to a room across from the nurses station so I could keep a better eye on her in addition to giving her access to a jacuzzi tub. I guess she must have taken care of the second part of the plan because a couple of hours into her labor the FOB shows up. To put this VERY mildly, the guy looked rough.

Before long, I am glad I moved her to the room that I did because it allowed me to hear a little better what was going on in the room. My patient was doing a fantastic job but it was obvious that dad was one of those guys that handles crying/screaming and probably any uncomfortable situation by acting like a jack-ass. He is yelling at her to "just get the damn epidural" and it doesn't take too much to realize that he is really agitating my patient. I get her alone and I ask her if she wants him to leave. Big tears appear in her eyes and I can see that she knows that her plan isn't working. I tell her that is it her choice and to just give me the signal and he is out of there.

All it took was two more contractions of him acting a fool and she wanted him gone. So in I go to try and get a guy who can quite obviously pick me up (and probably another nurse too) and run off with us, one under each arm, to get gone. I also call security, stat, for help.

I tell him he has to leave. He doesn't take it well. How dare I take this experience away from him? He loves her so much...blah, blah, blah. You know, all the stuff that being completely absent through the pregnancy clearly indicated. It quickly turns into a shouting match (or at least he was shouting) and we have three nurses and one of out scrub techs in there trying to ease the situation and move him towards the door.

Minutes pass. Where is security? The shouting continues. The four of us start herding the guy in the right direction while he is spewing off threats about how we all better watch ourselves because "I'll be back" Terminator style. We finally manage to get him to the elevator and when the doors open who is standing in there but the security guard?

Nice dude. We call you up here stat and you take the time to get on the elevator with 17 other people.

Now, we get strange calls to L&D all the time of people asking for weird and completely non-L&D related things but about 4 minutes past bar closing time the phone rings. It's A-hole. He is now obviously quite drunk and in tears about how sorry he is and how he is a total fuckup. Plus, he needs a ride home. Ugh. Tell me where you are buddy and I'll call you a cab.

At least my patient got half the delivery that she wanted, at probably a little closure as a bonus.

21 comments:

Jennboree said...

Your poor patient! We have all these expectations of what pregnancy and birth should be. I hope her delivery went well and she moves on with her sweet baby and NOT with Fuckup.

Caits said...

Ugh what a sad story. I feel so bad for her. I'm so glad you were there to get him the hell out of there!

JoyousJulia said...

What an awesome nurse you were for her. I hope my L&D nurse is half as supportive as you were.

Karen said...

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know I love your blog. You are hilarious. Thanks.

Prisca: said...

wow, do you work at my hospital? ;) we had that exact same couple on my floor a couple weeks ago.

you rock!

Desiree said...

You're poor patient!! My best friend had a terrible FOB experience, but at least he wasn't drunk and yelling at her! Her baby's dad showed up at the hospital after she had been in labor for 4 hours, fell asleep on the chair in her room, and then had the nerve to ask her (while she's in labor) to call me to bring him food! If only someone would have kicked that dirt back out, the whole experience would have been much better!
PS, I LOVE reading your blog. It is seriously addicting!! :)

MissoulaChick said...

This sounds a lot like what happened to my sister-in-law. Except the FOB's mom (grandmother-to-be) was the drunken belligerent one, and the FOB refused to go into the room because he hates needles. He "hated" condoms, too. Classy.

Nice blog! I read it to distract myself from my own impending delivery.

Unknown said...

Just spent half the day reading through your blog - couldn't stop laughing!! I've added you to my blogroll... can't wait to read more :)

Siobhan said...

Hi, I blog-walked and ended up here. Somehow. I read all of the 10 posts on your front page, a really interesting read. I am a 33y/o mum of two.

The strawberries story was funny, yet nasty! Hello infections!

Question: Do nurses generally put a patient in the room next to the nurses station to observe them more closely?

http://abritdifferent.wordpress.com

l&d.rn said...

To answer your question about putting patients closer to the nurses station, I wouldn't say that is common practice but it is typical to prioritize which patients get which rooms based on what is going on with them. For example, if we know they are going to be a repeat c-section they get a room closer to the OR or if they are just coming in for oberservation for a couple of hours they may have to share a bathroom to leave open a room with a tub for a patient who might need it. If I have a labor patient that has a crappy room though based on what was avaliable when they came if I will move them to something better if they are willing and capable.

Phatgirlslim said...

I just read through your entire blog. I find your stories hilarious. I can only imagine the sorts of people and situations you get to deal with every day! I'm a mom of four who has had lots of experience with L&D nurses. Most were wonderful! A few ... not so much. Keep writing, it's good stuff!

beth said...

I just found your blog tonight (from a friend) and I read the entire thing. You are hilarious. will look forward to more stories:)

jenn said...

bradley brat here...I dream of nurses like you for my students!

Mortiferouslatte said...

Aw, I hate to hear about people having their births not go the way they want, luckily you helped get rid of him.

AlaphGypsy said...

I wish my nurses would of been even half as supportive as you were to this poor girl while I was in labor with my son! My (now) ex-husband created quite the scene, after spending all evening at the bar - he dropped me off at the hospital and left to the bar, at 6pm, by 8am he was back, making a scene, then passed out...later harassed me something fierce because I ended up having to have an emergency c-section around the time he finally woke up at 5pm.

sasha said...

here is a blog about women health pregnancy vaginal diseases and tubal reversal
http://www.mybabydoc.com/blog/

ruzzel01 said...

Im also comfortable with that. I go for that method.

gynecologist maricopa

Kayha31 said...

Ugh I've seen that happen a couple of times, so sad, but so glad your patient spoke up, because a lot of them don't and then end up more and more miserable :(

I did have an amusing drunk Dad experience though, he was out for one last hoorah before baby when his wife went into labor... He was very drunk when he arrived, it was late, so he had to come in through the locked ER doors, they called security to escort him upstairs, of course we were all worried when he walked in with security. Luckily security just needed to make sure he went the right way, he was a big ole' drunk teddy bear and was SO excited about becoming a Dad... We got a couple cups (okay pots) of coffee in him, and he was almost sober for the birth. Haha. He was having a great time.

Kayha31 said...

Ugh I've seen that happen a couple of times, so sad, but so glad your patient spoke up, because a lot of them don't and then end up more and more miserable :(

I did have an amusing drunk Dad experience though, he was out for one last hoorah before baby when his wife went into labor... He was very drunk when he arrived, it was late, so he had to come in through the locked ER doors, they called security to escort him upstairs, of course we were all worried when he walked in with security. Luckily security just needed to make sure he went the right way, he was a big ole' drunk teddy bear and was SO excited about becoming a Dad... We got a couple cups (okay pots) of coffee in him, and he was almost sober for the birth. Haha. He was having a great time.

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