[RNKITTY04]

I have only been a nurse for 3 months now but am really surprised at some of the pt's we get. Last weekend I had a 54 y/o bilat stroke, loc questionable, peg tube, picc, foley, incont of bowel, pinpoint pupils of different sizes. unable to respond to even the must basic commands. Seriously how much rehab is this guy gonna do? I dunno, maybe this is normal for rehab but just kinda makes me wonder. Maybe he has good insurance?

[kaseysmom]

Originally Posted by RNKITTY04

I have only been a nurse for 3 months now but am really surprised at some of the pt's we get. Last weekend I had a 54 y/o bilat stroke, loc questionable, peg tube, picc, foley, incont of bowel, pinpoint pupils of different sizes. unable to respond to even the must basic commands. Seriously how much rehab is this guy gonna do? I dunno, maybe this is normal for rehab but just kinda makes me wonder. Maybe he has good insurance?

Personally, and not to be a downer, but based on the information you stated - it doesn't sound like they will go above and beyond normal rehab to attempt at getting this guy rehabilitated. I am sure they will try to get him to atleast a minimal functioning state again - but probably not much more than that. There are lots of questions people ask themselves when beginning rehab - is there another disease process that may be debilitating to the pt?? Lots of things will play a large part in the rehab process. Just a thought =)

[jkaee]

Originally Posted by RNKITTY04

I have only been a nurse for 3 months now but am really surprised at some of the pt's we get. Last weekend I had a 54 y/o bilat stroke, loc questionable, peg tube, picc, foley, incont of bowel, pinpoint pupils of different sizes. unable to respond to even the must basic commands. Seriously how much rehab is this guy gonna do? I dunno, maybe this is normal for rehab but just kinda makes me wonder. Maybe he has good insurance?

I know what you mean...I just started acute rehab and we have had a patient now for several weeks.....CP arrest w/anoxic brain injury. Peg, Picc, foley, numerous IV abts, trach with frequent suctioning. Pretty much unresponsive. I have a friend who is a case manager and she states that they will do all this "rehab" for a patient's family just so that everything that can be done is done, even if the docs think there's no chance for any true rehabilitation. It stinks though when you still have 8 patients and have about 2 of these types thrown in the mix.

[unknown99]

Oh how true that is!!!!

[VivaLasViejas]

Originally Posted by CashewLPN

Hi everyone...

Tell me, do you think this statement is true? If so why?

The patients we get on rehab are like those that would have been in med-surg 5 years ago.
The patients we get on Med-surg are like those that would have been in the unit 5 years ago.
The patients we get in the unit are like the patients that used to be in the funeral home 5 years ago

Personally, I agree...


--Barbara
Moderator

I totally and completely agree with you there.......too bad staffing doesn't keep up with the acuity, huh?

[Bird2]

Originally Posted by mopsi

This is true as far as I can see..I'm back in geriatrics and the acuity is out of this world..Skilled unstable patients are admitted left and right....And if they are a Kaiser patient ..good luck in getting them sent back if they start to go bad. Along with the increase in the number of patients it is overwhelming...No we aren't giving 1/2 as much care as we were able to even 5 years ago...Maybe with all this cloning they make a breed of "STEPFORD NURSES" Size 6...always ready to serve..endless energy..and the best cappped smile to ease your pain...LOL

I agree. I work in LTC and the admits we are getting are the type of pts that WE used to send to the hospital.

[suebird3]

Originally Posted by CashewLPN

due to the advancements in medical abilities in recent years, we must be more highly skilled, better educated, and more organized than ever before...

--Barbara

Cashew,
Remember the people are getting d/c "Quicker & Sicker" Makes me sick....of course, many of these people are even worse.....

Sue