[BornHealer]

Maisy,
That's a wonderful idea (writing educational items in a local newspaper, so the public would be knowledgeable about what to expect during their ER visit or hospital admission to the hospital) It's been my experience that people handle stress and anxiety much better, when they know ahead of time what to expect --- should a crises or emergency occur. This applies to every aspect of life --- not just Medical Care. I'm not exactly sure what the liability would be --- it could be considered in the same category as triaging someone over the phone -- especially if the "Public" mistakes the contents to be Medical Advice. I don't know about that --- You might need to run it by the legal department to make sure you protect yourself ---But it sounds like a great idea. I wish you a lot of luck. I hope it works out well for you.

[MAISY, RN-ER]

Originally Posted by BornHealer

I'm not exactly sure what the liability would be --- it could be considered in the same category as triaging someone over the phone -- especially if the "Public" mistakes the contents to be Medical Advice. I don't know about that --- You might need to run it by the legal department to make sure you protect yourself .

I still haven't gotten an answer from the newspaper, but your comment gave me some food for thought. I suppose a disclaimer should be included in each column....maybe I will contact my nursing insurance too...I'll let you know what they think.

Thanks for your comments.

Maisy

[bbj113]

Sounds like the instructor got a dose of "reality shock". You know, the one we're taught about in school?
I found it interesting that as her mother she connsidered it not her job to check her daughter's I&O's, spirometer use, baths etc. ???
I have been on both sides of the fence also. And I was more than happy and willing to do whatever I could to help my child recover. It does not take an RN to give a bath, write down I&O's or even use the spirometer correctly. My theroy is the less people invloved in the "hands on" the less chance of infection or an error being made. Who better to know what you child likes than you? Would a 15yr.old girl rather have a stranger helping her off a bedpan or her Mother?
Having been a nurse for over 30 years I have seen many changes. Not always better. Pts. who 20 years ago who would have been in ICU are now on the floors. Note that though in ICU the ratio would have been 2:1 they are now 8:1. I am sure most nurses would love to have the time to fluff you daughter's pillow but I am sure the little boy down the hall who needed his meds superceded that wish.
Perhaps you were right, the nurses were lazy and uncaring but I bet that you don't know the acuity of the rest of the patients on the unit. And of course you nurse is forbidden to tell you, as she shouldn't anyways. Better to give someone the benefit of the doubt than make accusations based soley on soley on suspicion.
You need to work in a hospital on your school vacations to see what nurses really do.

[10MG-IV]

Originally Posted by MAISY, RN-ER

We know the system isn't great, but it's what we have to work with. As long as administration focus on keeping staff low, politicians keep cutting programs and hospital reimbursements, and hospitals keep closing. There will be no room at the inn.

I checked on the writer, and as I suspected ....she worked in L&D, Nursery, and finally as a lactation specialist prior to working as an assistant professor. None of these areas are crisis, all of them are usually happy areas, and areas where a nurse can spend time with their patients. It's expected, and supported by administration.

It's funny, I am currently taking a class with a professor working on her PhD-she worked pediatrics. She hasn't got a clue, and sometimes I am not sure she believes us when we relate stories. I count the hours while I sit in her "fantasy" nursing class, and thank GOD, it is almost over! I wonder if this is how Karen's students feel. She also writes a column....so shame on her. I agree with another poster....shadow an ER, PACU, Recovery, ICU or any other critical care nurse for several days-do what they do-get your hands dirty-see what it is all about before it ends up in a national magazine.

Maisy

Now, girls and boys, I am sure the Triage nurse was filling out the extra sheets of med recon pages, social HX, PMH, all i's dotted and t's crossed, with her perky plastered on smile, make up perfection and coiffed hairdo, no artificial nails now...
I am realizing this nurse is a "book nurse: and hasn't worked a day in a busy ER/Critical care area, and could not multi task or triage, or slam an 16g if her life depended on it. But, I am sure she can pencil whip a policy for us to follow without a care for the REAL WORLD and just slow us down. It sounds like she has become a victim of her own doing.

[candlegirlcb]

Okay, I am fairly new to this web site and I realize this article is a couple of years old but it really got to me. I have been a CNA for about 15 years and now I have an apportunity to go to LPN training which starts next month. I think we are missing the point here! !!!!!! Of course nurses need to eat ! Of course they need to laugh and pee and do whatever humans need to do. But to say that anyone showed any empathy to anyone in the waiting (according to the article) was completely FALSE !!!!! Empathy is the experiencing as one's own feelings of another.(Websters dictionary). If the nurses who were eating and laughing got up off of their butts when they were through and went to see how every one was doing, maybe talking to them and hold their hands for just a moment to see if they needed anything while they were waiting.....THIS WOULD BE EMPATHY. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a little moment of recognition to say yes I know you are in pain, I will try to do what I can in your situation to help. I am sure that in the 4 or 5 hours of waiting the so called nurses who are suppose to care for people could at least show some concern!!!!!!!!!!

[MAISY, RN-ER]

Originally Posted by candlegirlcb

Okay, I am fairly new to this web site and I realize this article is a couple of years old but it really got to me. I have been a CNA for about 15 years and now I have an apportunity to go to LPN training which starts next month. I think we are missing the point here! !!!!!! Of course nurses need to eat ! Of course they need to laugh and pee and do whatever humans need to do. But to say that anyone showed any empathy to anyone in the waiting (according to the article) was completely FALSE !!!!! Empathy is the experiencing as one's own feelings of another.(Websters dictionary). If the nurses who were eating and laughing got up off of their butts when they were through and went to see how every one was doing, maybe talking to them and hold their hands for just a moment to see if they needed anything while they were waiting.....THIS WOULD BE EMPATHY. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a little moment of recognition to say yes I know you are in pain, I will try to do what I can in your situation to help. I am sure that in the 4 or 5 hours of waiting the so called nurses who are suppose to care for people could at least show some concern!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the website.

While you are entitled to your opinion, so are we.

Until you are a nurse who has the responsibility of triage, crowd control and possible death.....you cannot understand. NO ONE wants to hear their loved one cannot be seen immediately!

We only have the writer's perspective of what happened, everything seems worse when the clock ticks slowly for them. The major problem most had with the writer is that she blamed nurses for her inability to get her daughter treated immediately-this was published nationally. If you write a journalistic piece, it should follow the rules. The facts and fair reporting. Not only did she not follow that format, but she portrayed herself as an educator, A PERSON IN THE KNOW-of course now the general public thinks a patient's access is our choice. They couldn't be more wrong!

Good luck with LPN school, you will see soon enough that there are many needs....but time is the enemy. We can only do the best we can.

Maisy

[NYnurseatheart]

I wanted to post a quick replyl to this post, because I have been there too. While I have been the mother of a child in severe pain, and have had to wait for hours and hours to get her into the ER, my attention was focused on my daughter, not the triage nurse. I could never write the type of article she did. She slammed our profession, acting holier than thou. It make me wonder if she is/was the type of nurse that would eat her young.

I too was a nurse, and mother, who ignored my daughter's symptoms. Abdominal pain is always hard to pinpoint. With my daughter having no symptoms that would indicate appendicitis, I was certainly shocked to find out she had cholecystitis and pancreatitis. At the age of 9. Her enzymes were off the chart, and she ended up needing an ERCP and a Cholecystectomy (finally 6 days after admission). I felt horrible guilt, and wonder if this mother/nurse wrote most of what she did to allay her guilt.

Just my two cents.

NYnurseatheart

[frenchfroggyRN]

I agree with Maisy RN-ER, hold your opinion until you have been the nurse in triage who doesn't get to eat lunch until 3 pm when you have been working since 7 am without a break. Been there done that!!!!!, Yes you are entitiled to your own opinion, just don't come down on us who are actually already working in the ER, until you have finished school and are working, believe me you will have a totally different take on this. Especially when you have the tenth patient of the day saying they have a headache, sore arm etc. for two weeks and just now decide to come the ER. Then get mad when the AMI is seen before them