“Someone stole all the sandwiches. I think the Navy Seals have been here.”

“When are you going to get me some of that snake marmalade?”

-To which I said to myself : “That would make a great band name.”

Conversations

Patient: “Daddy’s a-hurtin”

Nurse: “Why’s he a-hurtin?”

Patient: “He went off to war. And war is a lot of work.”

Conversations

Nurse:  “Go to bed!”

Patient:  “With who?”

Nurse:  “Fair enough”

Quote The Nurse

“It might be easier to train squirrels to make pancakes than get her to put pants on.”

“Can you give me a stamp? I want to mail you my earlobe.”

“You look at me again without coffee, I’ll tear your nipple off.”

“Did you see where that midget went? I think she stole my mind and hid it behind the bookcase.”

“I’m sorry I’m a pain in your bounce. Which looks like it has plenty of ounce.”

“The happiest day of my life was when the whole world was fighting and they told me I was a good man.”

“Look here, never listen to jackasses and aardvarks.”

“Why are you whispering at me like the queen of secrets?”

Conversations: Sleepless Night, Insecure Night

This is a conversation I had with a resident just last night. It isn’t a funny one. It is one of the sweetest, most profound conversations I have had with anyone. It was what I call a round conversation. Meaning that it looped and repeated many times, as is typical for a conversation with Alzheimer’s. Even though this conversation repeated itself over and over in varying sequences it remained fairly cohesive, which doesn’t often happen. I am posting the basic conversation, not the many loops.

The other reason this conversation was so profound is that it was outright religion themed. Which is something that I am very careful to keep vague when speaking with patients. This conversation, however, became very deep without me even realizing it. I somehow transformed my personal spirituality into hers as a form of therapy.

Patient: “You know, the best time with you is when you smile with your heart. God Almighty gave you that lovely face for me to love.”

Nurse:  “God Almighty gave you to me because he knew I’d care for you through your pain.”

Patient:  “When you smile I know I have a chance in life.”

Nurse:  “Then I have accomplished my goal in life.”

Patient (crying):  “Does God love me?” 

Nurse:  “With all his heart”

Patient:  “I love you for being the face of God this morning. Will you teach me a new prayer?”

Nurse:  “I think you should teach me your favorite prayer.”

Patient:  “Did I do something wrong to make him make me so confused? Why does it hurt so much?”

Nurse:  “You did nothing wrong. Sometimes being subject to the human condition can’t be helped. It’s part of being alive. How about you teach me that prayer.”

Patient:  “I think your name is my prayer today. By the way, what is your name?”

Conversations

Patient 1- “That nurse has a lot of tattoos, what kind of girl you think she is?”

Patient 2- “An exciting one.”

Nurse: “I sure am.”

Conversation

Patient- “Don’t tell her where the wiggle went. She’s already got it.”

Nurse- “I’ve been practicing my wiggle.”

Patient– “You took it all the way to Massachusetts.”

Conversations

Patient: “I think I have sexabetes.”

Nurse: “Would you like penicillin or insulin for that?”