"The Ratchet Line"

One of the nurses I was working with last week coined this phrase -- and I love it. We were talking about the point where a nurse can give a patient care and the point where a patient can refuse -- even though that action will harm or even kill the patient. Refusing dialysis; being noncompliant with their medications; continuing to drink with cirrhosis of the liver; and other equally dangerous practices are frustrating for nurses as we watch the patient literally kill themselves. Yet when the nurse insists or attempt to "do what's best for the patient," they can face assault charges.

The other nurse called this "crossing the Ratchet Line," which means they've "crossed the line between being a good nurse -- and becoming Nurse Ratchett, the fascist witch from hell.

"The Ratchet Line." I like it.

~~JD~~