Hospital patient's birthday

[sdnetrocks]

Have you guys ever done anything to mark / celebrate / highlight / etc. a patient's birthday? I am an M3 carrying a terminal geriatric patient whose birthday is coming up in a few days... Should I do anything?

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[Gimlet]

Have you guys ever done anything to mark / celebrate / highlight / etc. a patient's birthday? I am an M3 carrying a terminal geriatric patient whose birthday is coming up in a few days... Should I do anything?

Just the simple act of wishing them a happy birthday would be enough to put a smile on their face. The fact that you took the time to notice that it is their birthday probably sets you apart from a lot of doctors they might have seen over the course of their lifetime. Other than that, I think that baking them a cake or buying a present would be inappropriate for the doctor/patient relationship. Maybe you could gather up a few nurses and other doctors and sing them "Happy Birthday"...I bet that would make their day.

 

[sdnetrocks]

Just the simple act of wishing them a happy birthday would be enough to put a smile on their face. The fact that you took the time to notice that it is their birthday probably sets you apart from a lot of doctors they might have seen over the course of their lifetime. Other than that, I think that baking them a cake or buying a present would be inappropriate for the doctor/patient relationship. Maybe you could gather up a few nurses and other doctors and sing them "Happy Birthday"...I bet that would make their day.

Baking a cake wouldn't work b/c NPO, and buying a present is indeed going too far. Thanks for the advice.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Write a note or get a card and leave it in their room one night so they find it in the morning? You could attach a balloon or something as well.

 

[musiclink213]

I had a friend who was in the ICU on her birthday, about 2 or 3 days after losing her leg. They didn't do anything, although she was so gorked up on pain meds, and had surgery that morning, I don't blame them for not doing anything. But just say at least Happy Birthday, just to acknowledge it, it's always nice to feel like people remember the littler things like birthdays and anniversaries.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

My intern year, we had a patient that had her 100th birthday the a couple of days after admission. Her family had planned a huge birthday party with people coming from all over the country to honor her 100 years. She was still sick enough to require hospitalization and still needed a foley catheter. After a lot of effort, we arranged for a foley bag to be attached to her leg and wheelchair and sent her on leave that afternoon to attend the party. Who am I to prevent a 100 year old from attending her own birthday celebration.

 

[Freakingzooming]

Write a note or get a card and leave it in their room one night so they find it in the morning? You could attach a balloon or something as well.

that was what I was thinking. Honestly, just spend some quality one on one time with the guy if his family isn't there. I'm sure he'll enjoy the company more than a gift.

 

[Krony]

Maybe you could gather up a few nurses and other doctors and sing them "Happy Birthday"...I bet that would make their day.

This sounds good, just make sure no one adds on....."and many more".....at the end.

 

[Doc Ivy]

I agree that a simple "Happy Birthday" wish and a card are appropriate, the latter especially if you've been following her for a while. If she weren't NPO a cookie with a candle in it might have been nice.

I think when you've established rapport and people are dying, you can ease up on some of the doc-pt formality. Just my opinion.

 

[Pinesinger]

At our hospital you can order birthday cake through Dietary services, I did this once for a patient. He was a diabetic but it was his birthday and it sucked for him to be in the hospital so I did it anyways. He was so pleased it was worth it.

If your patient is NPO, I would at least be sure to wish him a happy birthday, and maybe make sure his nurses know it's his birthday too, to create something of a festive atmosphere. Kudos to you for paying enough attention to your patients to know when their birthdays are.

 

[Dr Turninkoff]

This sounds good, just make sure no one adds on....."and many more".....at the end.

uhhhh, stupid

 

[sdnetrocks]

Thanks for all the advice. I think that a card may be going too far as well, but I'll definitely clue the staff in.

Just a quick comment - I was careful not to reveal the pt's gender. Sure enough, responses refer to my pt as a man, some as a woman. 😀

 

[sdnetrocks]

Thanks for all the advice. I think that a card may be going too far as well, but I'll definitely clue the staff in.

Just a quick comment - I was careful not to reveal the pt's gender in my original post. Sure enough, some responses refer to my pt as a man, some as a woman. 😀

 

[Gimlet]

Just a quick comment - I was careful not to reveal the pt's gender in my original post. Sure enough, some responses refer to my pt as a man, some as a woman. 😀

I noticed that, too! That's why I used the gender neutral (and gramatically incorrect) "their". It's such a pain in the ass to type his/her every time.

 

[Realest]

What's NPO?


And btw, you're all really sweet - I'd love to be a patient of yours.

 

[Flopotomist]

Dietary often has candles to stick in cafeteria cake. If the patient isn't NPO, I think it would be great to carry up a piece of cake with a candle - shows compassion and caring above and beyond the call of duty. Make sure the pt isn't a Jehovah's witness or some other religion that doesn't believe in celebrating birthdays though.