Walked into work today. Swiped my time-card in the computer. Took a gander at the assignment sheet. “Karl–Pod 3 trauma unit.” Picked up my stuff and walked down to my patient rooms….so what do I see….4 DuPage County Sheriffs in my patient’s room. *mental note — this can’t be good, text Gabi and make sure life insurance is paid up* So I was assigned a 30 year old guy who I actually admitted several days ago for a suicide attempt. He had taken a whole bunch of Xanax. Apparently, on my off days he was discharged and that night he tried again to kill himself, this time with Xanax, Vicodin and Trazadone about 60 pills in all. Again he was admitted, this time he is combative and is admitted in full four point leather padlocked restraints. The jolly bit of this is that he has been neglectful in paying his child support and has a warrant for his arrest. So my patient at all times has two Sheriffs to keep a watchful eye on him until he is transported to the Inpatient psych unit.
Actually, it was quite nice having them there considering my last little adventure with a psych patient. I also have quickly learned to make friends with the sheriffs. So I made sure that every set of sheriffs had refreshments, food trays and the TV remote with listings.
So much fun,
ta, KB