Private nurse for Lenox Hill Hospital?

[Katie]

I think I saw in a few posts that people have recommended hiring a private nurse while at Lenox Hill Hospital, to ensure that the patient receives all the ordered medications.

Did I read this correctly? Is this a common practice in the US? I don't think I have ever heard of it being done here in Canada, although I sure could have used it a few times, with the care or lack of it at the time.

So what would this nurse do? Does she/he have any control over overdue medications, etc? I would be very happy to do this if necessary.

[dshobbies]

Not usually done in California

[Nairek]

Katie,

You can have a private nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital! The woman in the room across from mine did. My husband had mentioned it to me once I was more lucid. As I understand it, the private nurse was there basically to watch her patient & if anything went on, I believe she was able to assist the patient until the nursing staff could get there. All pain meds are under lock & key in the hospital. I don't think the private nurse was able to dispense any medications.

I'll ask my husband what he can recall once he wakes up. Poor guy works overnights & he's dead to the world at the moment.

You may also be able to e-mail the hospital to find out what their procedure is with having a private nurse assist you.


Here is a link to the hospital's website Lenox Hill Hospital

Karin

[ImpOssibleOne]

It probably isn't necessary but I could have used one for the night shifts. I was a Stanford Hospital for two nights after an ALIF and both nights I had to wait a long time for pain meds...over an hour the first night when my pump clogged and my call button had fallen on the floor. Next night the nurse went to get my Vicodin and got distracted by a post op admit. Had to wait another hour.

Daytimes, the opposite is true. They never leave you alone.

[Katie]

So would they just bug the night shift to get the proper meds if the other nurse was busy? How would they assist with that? If my husband stayed overnight if we got a private room, would that be just as effective?

[Justin]

Katie, the private nurse doesn't sound like a "nurse" but a nurse aide or a medical assistant. Usually the NA/MA have very limited clinical knowledge and are mainly there to "keep watch" of patients.

[Katie]

So to be blunt, what use would they be, and if any, how do you go about getting one? (I haven't checked the Lenox Hill site yet...on my way to see if they address this)

[Justin]

Katie, I don't personally see how their added cost would be justified. They are usually assigned to patients that have psych issues or dementia (they frequently try to pull out IVs, forget where they are and try to get out of bed [hip fracture risk], etc.).

If you need a nurse, there are "nurse call" buttons on the hospital bed or built in with the remote.

I think you should get a private nurse if it makes you feel more comfortable, but the care you receive should be very good at Lenox Hill.

Good luck!

[Katie]

Thanks Justin. I had been scrolling through the archives here and came across a few posts that recommended having a private nurse at the Lenox, that the night staff is often short handed, etc.

I have had experience with a family member who had serious problems with Crohn's disease, home TPN, iliostomies and had over a dozen surgeries. I was there when he was literally crying because of the pain, and experienced the shortage of nurses which led to missed medications. They then got very defensive and any intervention through the doctors the next morning just made things worse the next time.

So having gone through that, I am a little gun-shy about having proper pain management I hope I don't sound paranoid, just pro-active.

Thanks for your information, and I hope those archived posts were just that, things of the past.

[Katie]

PS, I really miss your old avatar with the bony x-ray

Although I always appreciate pictures of our four legged friends. Who is that anyway?

[Gil Denis]

Hi Katie

I think that is Dr J

I think a private nurse is for the rich and famous.

Good Luck

Gil

[Katie]

Very cute, either way

[ImpOssibleOne]

I think a family member would be just as effective as an RN or NA. There's not much a non-staff-member can do anyway in terms of medical care.
Most of nursing care is pretty rote: adjustments, giving you a sip of water, etc. All you is someone to whom you are the prime focus and who can notify the staff if they see a need.

[Katie]

I wondered what they would be allowed to do, but thought maybe there was a different way of doing things down in the States. I'm sure Dear Heart will do everything my little heart desires if I ask nicely

[Maria]

You probably know that an RN is more highly educated than a Nursing Assistant and a Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse so if you were communicating to the nursing staff ahead of time that you hired an RN for your care then it could go two ways depending on hospital policy and that is that the RN does your total care (is hired for this) and/or the RN is there just for observation and as a 2nd in terms of should there be things that need to be communicated and taken care to the nursing staff.

An experienced LVN/LPN is often extremely knowlegable as is an NA as well when they have been working far longer than the RN so it often depends on what someone's overall experience is however the RN is the one who should techically be able to observe more and do more under nursing abilities.

This is all something you might want to actually call the hospital admin about and find out what the policy is for the hospital re privately contracted nurses (private duty).

When I had my first spine surgery the surgeon liked to put his patient in intensive care for several days as he knew we would get turned as frequently as needed, cath care or bedpan given as needed, feeding assisted if needed, hygiene and so forth and pain meds given as soon as required. He wanted us to have the RN to 2 patient ratio of care back then in 1989.. it was a good deal at least the first day as the pain was excrutiating post open discectomy at L5S1 back in *the day*...

You might want to also ask your surgeon what he thinks of this idea and if you would need this.

Usually post operative patients that are just out of recovery and back on the floor are given high priority for monitoring and care however sometimes at nights if there is short staff (already skeletan staff and someone calls in sick) then maybe an additional body/set of eyes/assistant would be helpful.

[Katie]

Thank you Maria. I have never heard of a private nurse or the equivalent aid being used in hospitals here in Canada, and was interested in how different it might be across the border.

I will check with the hospital and their policy regarding this. I certainly don't want to step on any toes, and that's why I was checking on here beforehand with patients who may have already gone through it.

Again, thanks for taking the time to explain things.

[Maria]

Katie,
Long ago when I worked as an RN I would catch extra shifts doing private duty hired by families for the same patients I took care of during the day and/or I also have worked for agencies in the past to work specifically private duty.

Now we're talking long ago ~like 20 plus years ago when I was young and could work double shifts several times/week and so forth..

That's why I recommended calling the hospital and finding out their policy and also you might want to check with the post op floor you'd be on and just see what the normal patient to nurse ratio of care is.. like I said fresh post op is usually pretty good, esp. during the day.

Patients are released so much quicker now than back when I was working in surgical units ~ I'm glad I was in the hospital a week after my first discectomy even tho now that's probably an in and out procedure mostly as long as there are no post op complications.

You will probably be OK without a private duty nurse altho you are having quite a bit of surgerical procedures done close together so again you may want to get Dr.Bitan's input on this as he may think of having you in a unit where the ratio of care is very good or perhaps Jason and/or other working nurses/healthcare professionals can chime in here and update me on what post op surgical units are like now as it's been a long long time since I stepped foot into one as all my surgical procedures since 1989 have been on an out patient basis.

[dridobits]

Hi, I thought I would mention it's a good thing at Lenox Hill and any hospital is to have someone check the meds the nurses are giving. My mom was at Lenox Hill and we checked and she was about to receive the wrong chemo.

I grew up across the street from Lenox Hill hospital and learned some things about the hospital during that time.

[Katie]

Wow, it's a noisy busy neighbourhood by Lenox Hill! I guess I'll get a small taste of what it would feel like fairly soon, if the insurance approves this.

Maria, I think it is a good idea to have a chat with Dr. Bitan about that. He seems great about things like that, so I think he would give me an honest opinion. Thanks!

[runner]

Katie,

In California, private nursing in the hospital is rare but there are patients that have nursing assistants that stay with them. They can usually take vital signs and wash and bathe patients, just depends.
I would however have someone stay with you in the hospital if possible. There are a lot of mistakes made in hospitals. It is a good rule to ask what medications you are receiving. Even the best nurses make med errors and if anyone tells you differently they are lying.

Having a list of your medications (that you take at home) go with you to the hospital is a good idea. Communicate with your doctor about what medications are ordered for you while you are in the hospital.

k

[tomslack34]

You are right Katie. It is just to take care of the patient in a better and effecient way. It is all about the concern for your dear ones.
___________________________
new york home health care

[redmapleseo]

thanks for the post...


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