It seems that I always around when the security guards are activate to assist in handling difficult patients. This time, we got an alcoholic came in for seizure. During his first day of admission, he seems rather fine to me. Other than having an unsteady gait and sleepy for most of the day. We did not get any trouble from him.
As the days gone by, he became delirious. On the second day of his stay, he threatened one of the staff. Using the IV spikes from his drip, he told her not to touch her, or else. During the weekend, he absconded from the ward. He was found by a passer-by somewhere within the hospital's premise, asking around where he was. To prevent any injury to the staff and himself, a body restraint was order by the doctor to be worn on him.
During my shift, he would ask anyone for cigarettes. He would also find all sorts of excuses to get out of the bed and body restraints, be it logical or down right senseless. Once, while I'm attending to the patient opposite of him, he beckon me over.
'Hey... There's something at my hands...' he slurred.
'There isn't anything there, sir,' I replied, knowing he's up to his old trick again.
'No... There is... Take it off from me...' he said, while struggling with the restraint.
'What did you see?' I asked, patience slowing draining from my body.
'I cannot see la! Take it off...'
'Then how would you know something is AT for hands?' trying to sound as calm as possible.
Sometime I wonder whether he is really delusion, playing punk or acting. Towards the evening, a physiotherapist came to assess his walking ability. After the assessment, he refused to return to his bed. I went over the help coaxing him back, but without success. At one moment, he demand to see the the doctor. Then the other, he wanted to get out of the ward to smoke. After a while the ITE student came to aid. However, the patient stands his ground. This time, he wants to call the police. The CISCO security guards were activated. When they were on their way. The delirious guy turned to me and said, 'I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to talk to my enemies.'
'Now I'm your enemy?' said, feel a bit amused.
'Yes, you are my enemy.'
'Why is that so?'
'Because the sky is high.'
'Because the sky is high...' I repeat after him, perplexed by his reply.
Once the guards arrived, he demanded to go to the toilet to pass motion. Along the way, he again asked for cigarettes. In the toilet, he kept asking for a smoke despite the guards warn him that smoking is not allow within the hospital premise. Not getting what he wanted, he tried to threaten us that if he can't get to smoke, he'll beat us up. One of the guards counted the number of people in the toilet (six of us by now) to him and challenged him to try it.
Finally he gave in the went on doing his business. It took him more than half an hour to finish and he slowly fumble with the toilet paper. The guards who ran out of patience ordered him to quicken whatever he was doing and get back to the ward. The whole incident last for almost an hour. What make use most frustrated was that he choose the busiest period of the day, where medication needed to dispense, parameter to be taken and dinner to be serve.
Later the security guards told us that we're the well known ward for this kind of situation. Almost every week they're activated to come to this ward. Well, now at least you wouldn't be running out of job, I thought to myself.
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