Barcarolle
Yesterday I found myself changing two syringe drivers at a patient’s beside. For those that don’t know a syringe driver is a device that gives a specifically measured amount of drug to a patient via an abacath placed subcutaneously under a patient’s skin. Large amounts of analgesia, anti sickness meds and medication that combats terminal agitation can be given safely and incrementally and the drivers are the staple in a palliative care nurse’s weapons to maximise symptom control Checking the drugs for these drivers has to be done with with another trained nurse and this is time consuming, but I always take my time when changing the drug syringes as it gives you a change to assess your patient, often in the quietness of a side room without distraction or fuss. My patient was unconscious and alone when I started work changing his meds yesterday morning. Classic fm was tuned on the tv by his relatives . And the Barcarolle from Tales Of Hoffman was playing ...
