Pragmatically
speaking, in the care facility era there certain areas where dementia (or MS symptoms
of dementia) figure more prominently, at least for me.
PRN is
an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “pro re nata”. Since this is not Latin
class nor medical school for our purposes it basically means not scheduled medications
and is “upon request” by the patient.
Staff
has the traditional smiley and unhappy face chart to interpret for residents
with dementia or cognitive symptoms who may be challenged to express pain, and/or
request medication.
However
it’s with other acute no-pain symptoms that the PRN system can unravel. Tacit
vs explicit knowledge of any given resident’s current condition coupled with
the ‘cover your ass’ philosophy of possible overnight or weekend temporary
staff is not the best system to facilitate patients unable to direct their own
health care.
Medical
advocates, POA, even simply family and friends are the straw that stirs that
drink. … ‘boots on the ground’ involvement is soooo necessary.
For
example, Thursday night after getting Patti into bed I asked about her PRN
Delsym for her cough at bedtime. A non-regular LPN covering the floor looks it
up and remarks, “you know Patti has not asked for that since Monday night.”
Truth be told, it was me not Patti who asked for it Monday night.
Then
again her cough probably would not have been a problem if laughter, normally good
medicine, had not grown to an ab crunching, eye watering, cant’ catch my breath
crescendo as we found ourselves unable to tear ourselves away from “Finding
Bigfoot” on the Animal Planet channel, in particular an episode with a dude named
Bobo camping out in the woods, drinking, peeing on trees, and bellowing
sasquatch calls.
Patrick Leer
Health Activist:
Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/
My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/
multiple sclerosis caregiving dementia mental health
Delsym is the best cough medicine in my opinion; glad it was available to help Patti, especially after a particularly enjoyable evening!
ReplyDeletebetty
Betty is I had any clout, your 'bench with a view' would be sprouting a brand new Delsym billboard ad. :) Patti also likes it because it makes her sleepy.
DeleteCertain words do that to me too, so I am in Patti's court here. (but I think you know I'm always in yours as well)
ReplyDeleteMary, that's the FUN of being in conversations with us - you can actually be in both our courts. :)
DeleteWe watched that on Monday too and now my 5 year old keeps telling me that Bigfoot is "reals." HE wasn't even in the room, he was in HIS room watching Nick JR. so I have no idea how he got that idea.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought does Nick Jr have commercials from Animal Planet?
Delete