Not Quite a Nurse

DIPP'S

Dignity, Independence, Preference and Privacy

In this world of personal support working, it has become very apparent that common sense is not that common. And neither is kindness. Can you believe that? Kindness is actually a very uncommon thing around this world it seems. Well at least that's what I am being told by the patient I am assisting this A.M. It's incredible to me how thankful she is for the simplest of acts. Shirley has been receiving care for the last eighteen years. She has definitely seen many P.S.W.'s come and go so I would say she is somewhat of an expert.

"AAAhh, Thank you Darling," Darling is my new name in this household. Shirley is bent over and leaning so I can apply the medicated salve, which relieves the overly irritated itch from chronic psoriasis. "You have absolutely no idea how thankful I am that it was you that was coming today! Last nights arrival was quite a gem."

With a real look of disgust she continues, "It does take all kinds to make the world go round, but some can actually make it roll a bit backwards!" I apply more salve to her arms as she ex-hails loudly in relief.

"What on earth did she do?" I question with my brow scrunched up a bit.

"It's what she didn't do! I have never had her before and I've called the office already to tell them to never send her again. Where on earth do they get these people? She's a P.S.W. You think she'd show up with gloves? Took one look at me, and said she didn't have any gloves so she couldn't apply any medicated creams. With the look on her face you'd think I had leprosy! And how was she supposed to help me with personal care with out gloves in the first place? You know I can't do my own peri care. God!" She says this looking a little embarrassed, but still matter of fact, as it is indeed a fact of her life.

Shirley again exhales in relief as I continue to cover her legs in the ointment.

"And did you see at the front hall? She came walking in here with her wet muddy shoes."

Shirley actually looks like she is going to start to cry over it. Biting her lip back to try and control it, like it was the last straw. She keeps her place very tidy, which is not an easy thing when wheel chair bound. Like most patients I see, there is more than one issue causing them to need us intruding on their lives when they would rather do things for themselves.

"All she wound up doing is the few dishes I can easily do myself." Shirley finishes shaking her head looking quite depressed over the whole thing.

"Well, lets finish up here and we will see what we can do about your carpet. Unless there is something else you need done this morning." I say looking at her with questioning eyes.

Shirley pauses, resting a sec before continuing her morning personal care routine. She is applying her facial cream that she has me believing really does stop wrinkles in their tracks. Its quiet  an awesome product, but very expensive.

"You know Shirley, I think I am going to try that cream you use. Splurge and just get it. If I can look half as good as you do when I am forty years older, I'd be damn lucky!"

AAAAhhhhhh there we go. A smile in her eyes. A smirk and a smile come across my dear patients face. I tidy up her counter and look in the mirror a second. "Heck, I'd be so lucky to look that good right now, look at these dark circles! I look like a hag beside this elegant vision of you! Come on; let's get away from this mirror. Ready for breakfast?"

Smiling still she says yes and we head off to her kitchen to set her up to continue about her day on her own. The rest of my visit is all about prep-work. Getting things out and at hand so that she can do for herself how she wants and when she wants. I've gotten used to the usual things she has done but always ask her if there is something different she needed, and there usually is. After all, most people do not want to eat the same thing or do the same thing day in and day out. Variety is the spice of life!

Done before you know it, I reach under her counter for the carpet cleaner I have seen in there before. Dab at the carpet and presto, all better just like magic. Tidy up the mess I made cleaning up the mess from someone else, and Shirley is looking like all is right in her world again. It really doesn't take too much to make a difference, so why wouldn't you do it?

I get a big nearly teary smile and a "Aaahhh Darling, you are the best! You know, I know you didn't have to do that, right? Thank you."

Nothing feels greater than the feeling you get when you see someone touched by a bit a kindness shared. Honestly, why would you want it any other way? I probably earned just under twenty-five dollars for this visit including travel time. But my soul is feeling the visits worth in a whole different way.

I am thinking of my classes back when I was in school training for this job as I plop my workbag in the passenger's seat of my car. They talked all the way through regarding the acronym DIPP'S. To think of each patient as an individual, considering their dignity, independence, acknowledge their preference and give them all the privacy they need. It amazed me back then that this needed to be taught, but I guess not everyone gets it.

I think of the woman I just left and wonder how I would fair in her situation. There are such lovely people in this world and she certainly is one of them. Why you wouldn't treat her as such is beyond my understanding. Thoughts like this always cloud my mind when I hear how some others operate in this gig. Appalling! And I have heard worse stories. Much worse.

Well, the time has come for my own personal judgement day. The first of many to come. Driving towards what will become my new second home, I pray the people that run this joint have the same mentality as me. Even just a little. How I am going to feel to be weighed, and measured at all the crucial points of a persons body, wearing nearly nothing, I am starting to worry about that a bit as I get closer. I'm begging for a wee bit of DIPP'S for myself here as I sign in for the 100 Day Challenge, that fitness challenge I tricked myself into entering. Please please pleeeeeaaassseeee I am begging for some dignity and privacy, and hoping for some preferences and independence through this. Not exactly the same, I know, but it feels a little like the shoe is now on the other foot.

Aint it now, darling?

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