[oramar]

One way to look at this is to step back and see the big picture. ERs in many places, especially places that serve poor, uninsured, sometimes illegal minorities are imploding. First there will be bad care, indifferent care and neglegent care. Then there will be no care at all. This does not absolve the nurses and doctors involved of responsibility but the responsibility does not end with them. Believe me this is not merely a problem related to bad nurses, it is MUCH, MUCH bigger than that.

[chuck1234]

Originally Posted by oramar

One way to look at this is to step back and see the big picture. ERs in many places, especially places that serve poor, uninsured, sometimes illegal minorities are imploding. First there will be bad care, indifferent care and neglegent care. Then there will be no care at all. This does not absolve the nurses and doctors involved of responsibility but the responsibility does not end with them. Believe me this is not merely a problem related to bad nurses, it is MUCH, MUCH bigger than that.

Don't take my words personally....
You sound like if you are poor or new immigrants...legal or illegal...you might not get the care that a human being is supposed to get.
While Ms. Rodriquez was dying like a "dog," none of the nurses in that ER came out and spoke for her. What a shame!!!!

[Suesquatch]

Originally Posted by chuck1234

Don't take my words personally....
You sound like if you are poor or new immigrants...legal or illegal...you might not get the care that a human being is supposed to get.

Yes. The poor et al often - in fact, I'd venture to say usually - get inferior care.

[pickledpepperRN]

I know nurses who quit working at King Drew after a decade or more because management, both hospital and the County Supervisors, didn't care. I heard too man say, "I only have one license. There are many hospitals. I had no choice."

So who stayed?

[caroladybelle]

Originally Posted by Myxel67

This really sounds like the other side of the ER nurses venting. First, the woman was obese, she was also Mexican or Hispanic. Can't you hear the accusations of "Drug Seeker!" resounding down the hall. Then, she probably did not have insurance. She had 3 strikes against her before she came in the first time. How could anyone let a woman lie on the floor in pain like that. ER nurses can do it because they are extremely judgmental and they think they know it all and are always right. The woman had a perforated large bowel, for God's sake.

T. Soup--how can you lay the blame for this at the feet of ER patients. This woman needed care, and apparently never got any kind of diagnostic workup. They gave the woman instructions to come back if pain worsened. She did, and they totally ignored her. Not even so much as a temp or BP check.

Now, another really good reason why NO ONE wants to work triage.

[kukukajoo]

I don't think the nurse is entirely to blame here. You have to remember she was discharged by a DOCTOR only 3 hours prior!

Also, the police were the ones who brought her to the ER in the first place to be examined. obviously they thought her complaints were warranted at some point.

Sad, very sad for all involved. I hope whoever inspects the place in the next 6 weeks goes over the place like a toothbrush on tile grout!

[TazziRN]

Originally Posted by kukukajoo

I don't think the nurse is entirely to blame here. You have to remember she was discharged by a DOCTOR only 3 hours prior!

Also, the police were the ones who brought her to the ER in the first place to be examined. obviously they thought her complaints were warranted at some point.

Sad, very sad for all involved. I hope whoever inspects the place in the next 6 weeks goes over the place like a toothbrush on tile grout!

Yes, the doctor is at fault for missing a perf'd bowel, but the triage nurse did not triage as she was supposed to. She carries some of the blame here.

[bopps]

I am sorry but i really take offense to the comments regarding ER nurses. Someone blatently said,"ER nurses could because they are judgemental." As an ED nurse i am really disturbed by that comment. That would never ever ever ever happen in the busy ED i work in. Even the most hardened nurse I work with with never ever ever ever leave a pt. writhing in pain on the floor. Is that just my ER ? I think not. Who knows what really happened. Now is not the time to point fingers at our fellow nurses. Now is the time to stand up and figure out what REALLY happened and not ever ever let something like that happen again.

[bopps]

okay two posts in a row. Perhaps we as ED nurses should learn spanish. Too many of out patients do not understand english and this presents a major barrier to safe and effective care. I do not get the comments regarding the poor not recieving appropriate care either. We see more "poor" people in the ED than "rich" people on a day-to-day basis. Everyone recieves unbiased treatment.

[TazziRN]

Originally Posted by bopps

We see more "poor" people in the ED than "rich" people on a day-to-day basis. Everyone recieves unbiased treatment.

*very dryly*


Not according to non-ER nurses......according to them we are the worst nurses around