Time out of mind

Seems that I have been with a lot of pts lately with "altered mental status" whether its Alzheimers or suicide attempts I just can't get enough! I will say that i dodged a bullet the other night when I was transferred from 1 pt to another because the 1st 1 didn't want a male sitter. FINE with me since she was a "self-mutilator" who had swallowed nails and screws in an attempt to end her life. WOW, really!! nails and screws...there's got to be an easier way. I would guess ANY way would be easier. She had this blank look in her eyes and scars all over her arms and face. She was really creepy! The guy I ended up with was great, we talked sports and music until 1 am then he went to sleep until 6:60. Easy Peasy. He was also a suicide watch but nothing so dramatic as self-mutilation just your deep depression. That I can handle. I don't start psych nursing until next week! I also sat with a man last week who just moaned all night. It just about drove me crazy! 8 hours of moaning like a wounded goat! It was BAD. 2 nights later I sat with the same guy and was informed that he wasn't expected to make it through the night. It's a strange feeling when the moaning from 1 night you consider annoying becomes the final sounds a person might utter in this world. They didn't seem so annoying anymore and I felt guilty for being annoyed in the first place. I spent that 2nd night watching over him with his wife who would periodically break down in tears as she wrestled with the decisions she was having to make. We talked, we laughed, she cried, we hugged when I left. He made it through the night but I have no idea where he is today. Welcome to nursing!