Return to Main Menu

A patient gives his nurse something to smile about  by Stephanie F. Chomos, R.N.  Hospital Services Coordinator Some years ago, and I won’t say how many, I was working in a rural community hospital in Northwestern Pennsylvania.  I had been out of nursing school about six months and was in charge of the night shift on a med/surg floor. A licensed practical nurse with medication privileges, a (then-titled) nurses aid, and I were caring for 20 patients (on a normal night). Hospital policy stated that rounds were to be made every hour on the night shift. The licensed staff usually shared the task. Early in the shift, I came across an elderly male patient trying to climb out of bed and he seemed very anxious. I entered his room and asked what I could do to help him get more and comfortable and rest. With a tremble he said, “Why I’ve lost my dentures.”  It was early October and getting cold at night in that part of the country, so he was wrapped in a number of blankets.  By this time they’d been stirred enough to look like a pile with this little gray head sticking out the top.  I began pulling away a few blankets and was worried the dentures may fall and break on the hard floor. I told him to try and get some rest, and I would be in before leaving in the morning to help him look some more.  He was comfortable with that and was restful on my next set of rounds. About 4 a.m., as I was passing his room, the gentleman was up in bed with the lights on.  When he saw me entering he waved frantically and said, “Say, I found my teeth.” I said, “That’s wonderful, where were they?” His reply? “Why, they was biting me in my butt.”  As he slept, I completed my shift giggling. Editor’s note: The story was reprinted with permission from the booklet, “The Many Faces of Nursing” for the MUSC Medical Center.     Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.