The first time I heard about Mrs Chunn was when my coworker Gina gave me report that this patient talked on and on about the same thing and "was a little bit off." "She probably is so lonely that she can not stop talking to you," Gina described Mrs Chunn.

Well, after 3 long days dealing with her and her family. Lets say "a little bit off" was simply a compliment. And here is my side of the story.

After I got reports from midnight shift, I walked in each patients room and eyeballed everyone. Mrs Chunn was in 332. It was still dark at 0730 here in the wintery Michigan. Without the light on, I could hear the lady on the bed snoring loud. A black lady. Obese. Then I came across a bed side commode. This potty chair's lid was up and it started to smell. Immediately I emptied the urine and cleaned the bucket. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Its my nursing motto wherever I go.

About 0930 I heard something from Rm332, I knew that Mrs Chunn finally got up. Then I walked into her room and introduced myself. "Good morning, Mrs Chunn, My name is Purr. I am your RN today. Its 0930. Would you like to order your breakfast? I may HAVE TO give you your 9 oclock medication pretty soon." I said. "Oh good morning, hon. I can not #$%^&*....and last night (*&^%$....and my throat $%%^^*..." She was trying to tell me something that I did not ask? With the strong southern accent, she was TRUELY on and on. I stayed in her room for 5 minutes to find out she DID NOT have a menu to order the food.

"D*mn it," I thought, "Who was the nurse aid last night that did not leave her a menu?" I went to the secretary and got a menu. Already knowing that Mrs Chunn could keep me forever in her room telling me stuff without a focus in a conversation, I told her to browse through the menu, call the room service number for breakfast, and "I'll be right back with the medications," I said.

Alrighty. Its not that the nurse can not help getting the menu or ordering meals for the patients. But during the morning I have things with HIGHER priority to do. Most of the time patients and the family can not understand this part. "So what other higher priority than feeding the patients?" they asked.

Well, something like talking to the doctors about the treatment plan when they make round once a day. Something like when some patient can not breathe and de-sat so much that I need to call the resident right away and get orders on the phone. Something like getting phone calls from the lab or other units to get report of a patient. Something like no other staff can do except the patients nurse. That is why we have nurse aids. They take care of most of the daily activities that require cleaning, feeding, walking, and basically helping the patients to get through the day.

Then I picked up the phone and ordered a non-select breakfast tray for Mrs Chunn. A non-select tray is what it used to be, an old-school style of sending meals on a tray from the kitchen during the hospitalized days. There is no ordering, no calling down to the room service, and no confusion as to what can eat or what not. The tray will be delivered to the room 3 times a day. Like the Old Faithful.

I passed the meds without any problem later in an hour. Then near 1300 when I did not see any lunch tray going to Rm332, I went back to the room again and asked her if any assistance was needed. "Oh hon, can you order for me?" She said. Well, I do not mind. But considering Mrs Chunn is alert, awake, not confused, who can talk, can eat, can walk, a 75 y/o young patient. I do not see why she can not call room service for herself. Unless she can not read?  

Okey-dokey. Then I showed her again the room service extention #, highlighted it, then explained to her how the room service system works. "Ok, tell me what you want." I asked. The more I explained, the more she kinda resisted to order for herself. I then dialed 83663 to the room service for her. "Ok, grilled chicken quesatilla...then what, Mrs Chunn? OK, mashed potato....no, no, she would like breadstick and cancel mashed potato...and make sure there are 2 cups of prune juice..." I was struggling to try to complete the order in less than 3 minutes. "Wait, Mrs Chunn, you are on a cardiac diet. The kitchen said you can only have half a quesatilla if you want, " I told her so. Matter of fact she also ordered some other food that was cut in small portion or simply was turned down because "its not the diet that she can eat." Boy, this 75 y/o lady eats like a teenaged football player!

Now Mrs Chunn was pissed because she could not have what she wanted after giving considerate thoughts, reading the menu for 20 minutes. I was trying to tell her the APPROPRIATE diet she can have again. "....but I can go hungry," Well, I understand, Mrs Chunn. I am totally against that the hospital has just become your diet bootcamp. "Maybe you can call your daughter to bring in the food you like...." I was implying a grey area she can cheat. "No, I AIN'T telling my daughter to bring food. The hospital supposed to feed me," She was angry, "The hospital supposed...^#E%^...I WILL NOT ...&*&^%$..." oh man!

"You order somethin' for me," She said. Might as well, I know that I'd order low salt, low fat but big portion for her. "Turkey with gravy, rice, steamed california blend and beans, chocolate chip cookie, and vanilla pudding, apple juice, coffee....by the way, she would like to have 2 cups of prune juice." Well, it can be very fulfilling because of high fiber in the meal. We kinda agreed on the same thing and she looked happier now.

An hour later I went back to the room and see if Mrs Chunn liked the tray and how she ate. There was 2 big pieces of turkey left on the plate. She ate the rest. "I thought you said you liked the turkey, Mrs Chunn?" I was puzzled. "Yes, I do. But the Turkey was tough. I don't have teeth for it. And you know I like my prune juice. I'm taking pain medications....%^^&*&*...." boy oh boy.

"No tough meat. Definitely baked fish next time," I was taking a mental note.