Nurse Rachett Interview

Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in the 1975 film. Photo from Wikipedia

Dr. Carm had the pleasure of interviewing a real-life nurse, Nurse Rachett (not to be confused with Nurse Retched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, seen above.)

Nurse Rachett has been in the medical field for "40 long years" and is currently a registered nurse at a nursing care/rehabilitation center. She was previously a licensed practical nurse and worked in a hospital. Below is the interview that might interest those who are wondering what it's really like working as a medical professional.

What are some differences you can tell us from working in a hospital and nursing care/rehabilition center?
 Hospital: There are acute ill patients, some with chronic diseases. With new admissions and discharges every day, patients are continually changing. You need immediate action to patients' changing conditions. Also, these are patients, not residents

Nursing Care Facility: These are chronically ill residents, who can potentially change to acutely ill. Residents "reside" there, most for years at a time, until they are called to their eternal home. [This is a nice way of saying the croaked.] Most changes in conditions are reacted to in a leisurely fashion, with the promise that the doctor will see them in the morning



How many patients do you work with on a daily basis?
55-60

 When you first started out as a nurse, what was something that you wish you would have known then that you know now?
I should have been a police detective

In your opinion, what type of person should work in a hospital as a nurse? (What qualities should he/she posses?)
#1 Organizational skills
To be able to set priorities
Compassion

In your opinion, what type of person should work in a care/rehabilitation center as a nurse? (What qualities should he/she possess?)
#1 Compassion
Organization


What's the hardest thing about being a nurse?
Worrying that you've done your best


What is the best thing about being a nurse?
The times you are satisfied that you know you've done your best

Any crazy stories that you are able to share with us (that will not violate the Hippocratic Oath)?
An 85 year old lady insisted that she wanted to get up at 1:00 am to go to church. I told her, "It's only 1 am--church didn't begin yet."
She was becoming infuriated. "I want to go to mass!"
I said, "Mass doesn't start until 11 am--it's only 1 am."
She shook both her firsts and yelled, "Damn it!"

Any advice for the future nurses out there?
Always expect the unexpected--never say I've seen everything--you have never seen everything no matter how long you work

The most important question: How does Dr. Carm look today? Beautiful? Gorgeous? Spectacular?
Simply gorgeous in a little leopard print dress and sandals

How sweet of you!

Interview was conducted on July 22, 2012.

If you would like to be interviewed by Dr. Carm, please email her at drcarmelee@gmail.com

If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy:
Dr. Carm's Interpretation of the Hippocratic Oath 
Dr. Bill's Guest Post on Hiccups
Beware the Butt Cooties