Nursing staff

[dshobbies]

I'd like to bring an issue to the forefront which I believe we've discussed before but is well worth mentioning again. Another poster wrote of her husband's incompetent or 'lazy' nurse. I too had an issue with nursing that could have killed me. I actually received an apology from the hospital as well as cancelling their entire bill. I know of another patient who actually called 911 because his nurses were -lazy- incompetent- uncaring, take your pick. My mother-in-law needed assistance. She asked for help several times before I went to find her - reading a magazine!

Nurses have a difficult job and I've encountered far more caring ones than the other way around BUT - it just takes one who can turn your healing into a downward spiral. Many nurses have spinal problems and some are posters on this and other forums. They know first hand how hard they work(ed) in their professional lives. It's a thankless job sometimes and some give the entire profession a bad name but no one deserves incompetence.

You are your own best advocate. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. Even if you fearthe nursing staff will think you're a pain in the ass, stand up for yourself. Demand the care you need and settle for nothing less.

To all you 'good' nurses out there, thank you. To all those on this forum, perhaps you can recommend some valuable tips on do's and don't's.

[Maria]

Back when I was an RN working the floor and units I think we were held to a higher standard of care or so it seems as I have seen much as a patient and an advocate that really scares me. I also think that there is gross understaffing based on patient-nurse ratio legislation passed in some states (not in ICU type settings rather the floors).

I've been really surprised at what I've seen however I've also seen physicians make some grave errors in prescribing and so forth so let's just say it's best if there is someone that can act as your advocate in case one is rendered unable to think for him/herself.

A turn for the worse can happen so quickly in or out of the hospital however clear cut errors/mistakes do seem to happen unfortunately. I know I was on everyones arses in the hospital when it came to my father's care last year even the physicians.

This year when my father developed CHF there were circumstances that I think if had been addressed properly and earlier he wouldn't have gotten so sick .. again I don't want to go into it because I wasn't here and I know I would have done things differently but I just realize it was probably truly his time to go as he was 89 y.o. and he escaped death last year because I was here but then again this year was probably different.

Ann sounds like the kind of nurse that I was and I do remember the older more experienced nurses giving me "what for" way back when ... they had reason to when I was a greenfoot. These days tho I think there's just so much that either gets overlooked or is delegated to some other allied healthcare specialty and health care is fragmented.

The more people involved sometimes in the care the more room for error...will leave this topic as I have a lot of thoughts on this and most are jumbled now re what I'm dealing with. thanks for bringing up the topic tho..

[dshobbies]

How did I know Maria that you would respond? The reason - because you care.

I know your plate if full right now and thank you for your time.

Fellow spineys and all others - we're all potential patients. If we can't keep our ears and eyes open when it comes to all health care, we should have someone else who can do it for us. Aside from obvious mistakes that as laymen, we may or may not be aware of, there is also negligent care which we should never find acceptable. Speak up for yourself.

At the same time, be sure to thank the nurse(s) from whom you received excellent care. I'm sure they'll appreciate the acknowledgment.

[cherylstewart67]

It's the ole saying. There is good and bad everywhere. For the most part, my nurses have been the best. I only had one nurse ever peeve me! I wanted her to wait until my husband got back to hold my hand while she pulled the drain tube out, but just went and did it anyway!!! I will never forget her stinking face.

[Maria]

Dad had been in ICU nearly 4 days before he passed (they transferred him to a regular floor the first night of palliative care as they expected him to pass). I went back upstairs to the unit to thank the nurses for their care and asked that they please tell all shifts that cared for Dad thanks and physicians as well. They seemed surprised. I know I always appreciated a kind word re my efforts at patient care.

My motto when I was working was treat the patient like they were a family member in terms of care. The real fiesty patients were definately a challenge and combative ones.. well, protect thyself!! Still all in all I loved working in this field.

[Burr]

I have been in and out of hospitals for the last five years. I had a spinal cord injury in 1995, and have been on many different meds since then . I am at the point that I have found after trying many meds what works for me and a schedule of when I take them. It happens every time, they wont give me my meds at the times I'm used to, or try something else in place of what I have used. Talk about getting messed up !. My wife and I have given the list of meds and when I take them every time I go to the hospital. One even ran out of oxy that I take for pain control. They didn't get me the meds until 5 hrs. later. I complained about this to the head nurse and she said I cant call your doctor in the middle of the night ! They have their own pharmacy right in the hospital. Meds never on time , etc. I dread going to hospitals. This 1 nurse had a very bad attitude when I would ask for my meds.she would holler, YEA YOU AND SIX OTHERS ON THIS FLOOR. The floor was that empty.They won't allow me to bring my own meds in either.Most of my meds are paid through WC because this was a work injury. The hospital bills my reg ins. for all these meds, which I end up paying for a percentage of. I just cant get through to anyone. These stays have been for pneumonia , nothing to do with work inj. Its always a real mess, I don't know what else to do. This has happened at 2 different hospitals. In the last 5 yrs. 4 times. Any ideas or comments?