November 2017 – Dr Rod's Blog (almondemotion)

Evidence-free zone

So, yes, I’m a doctor, part scientist, part shaman, and a little bit trickster.

There is a phrase that is consistent across the fields of dementia, delirium and person-centred care, that is, if you have seen one person with dementia (or delirium, or pain), you have seen one person with dementia (or delirium, etc). Statistics, data, evidence have little to do with the interpersonal one-to-one relationships with people experiencingContinue reading “Dementia – dream state”

Schlaf / Shlof

For the past thirty years or so I have been living in guilt. Perhaps, shame or self-reproach are better words, all to do with my weekend nap. I love a nap. Indeed, any opportunity I can get, I nap. In the past I have even napped at work – something that were I not aContinue reading “Schlaf / Shlof”

This is me 33.3%

On Wednesday, I gained an insight into my problem with numbers. I shall explain. It is not uncommon for me to tell people that I don’t like numbers or that I find data and especially statistics off-putting. Sure, I am able to work a calculator, understand square-roots and algebra – that is not what IContinue reading “This is me 33.3%”

Dalteparin

Last night’s blog got me thinking about some of the over-and-above things we do to our patients during their time in hospital. Dalteparin, is, I wonder an example of this. For those of you unfamiliar with this drug – it is a relatively new class of anticoagulant which can be used to reduce the riskContinue reading “Dalteparin”

At nurse’s discretion

I have been struggling with this recently. Or, at least, some of my team have found this a tricky instruction and have become concerned. I’ll explain the context. Most recently this arose in relation to the care of some of my patients on the ward. You see, when a person passes through the doors ofContinue reading “At nurse’s discretion”

I am trusted by 86.5% of people.

We used our Purple bag scheme and there was a 33 per cent drop in the numbers of patients experiencing pneumonia.

The Hazards of Polydoctory

I started writing this, a little chuffed with myself as I thought I had invented a new word. Alas, someone has beaten me to it, although their meaning is slightly different from the one I intend to use here. In the Encyclopaedia of Ageing and Health edited by Kyriakos S Markides*, Polydoctory is defined asContinue reading “The Hazards of Polydoctory”

Great blog from Julie at www.nurseperspectiveonlife.blog

When I was 9 years old, the only dream I had was to be a nurse. I wanted it so bad, nothing else interested me. I joined first aid groups, went to music festivals including Glastonbury as a volunteer and pushed and pushed to reach my goal, to be a nurse. Aged 17 I applied […]Continue reading “Great blog from Julie at www.nurseperspectiveonlife.blog”

Trust me, I am a liar

Most of us know this from our family and social lives – one lie begets ten more and on and on, yet, the multiplication of lying is dependent on the person you are talking to having the capacity to hold-on to the matter of your conversation.

You made a mistake, dare I say…

Today I gained a further insight into the workings of hierarchy and patient safety. On the ward-round we were discussing a variety of topics; From this, as often happens we talked about one of my recent blogs, in fact, the one about the two old men, who yesterday became one, when Len (not his realContinue reading “You made a mistake, dare I say…”

Insight

People might think that surely, within the 21st Century there can’t be that many people out there with these issues – have you read my blog on arses?

Two old men

Stan, Not his real name And Len, Not his real name either, Meet in an unintelligible environment, Clinical, yet, homely, Hotel? Hostel? Hospital? It is all a fog, Stan, because of the progression of his dementia, Len, because of his fading eyesight and general deterioration. They stand Side by side, Looking out the window,Continue reading “Two old men”

The Death of Stalin

I thought it an odd way for someone to explain, ‘This is how we do it,’ but, there you go – within a short few years that person had become a victim of the system themselves.