Dear Patients

sharann, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2003

CD(*Renee)

I like your letter (and all the others after yours). I think that you should send it as a letter to the editor to your local paper. It can be a statement alright. If this would get you fired then don't of course. It speaks volumes. I only have one suggestion if you do something like this, chand the abbreviations for the lay people.

You certainly are going through some intense changes of late.

All my best,

live4today, RN · Dec 9, 2003

Your letters are all heartfelt. I can tell. I can "feel" the love we feel for our patients. Sometimes I don't think they believe we truly care about them, but we do.

Dear Patient,

Many--if not most--of us nurses have been patients ourselves. I know I've been a patient more times than I care to remember. I had some hospital stays that were not pleasant. I have had a few nurses in my adult life whom I felt "abandoned" me because I didn't see them for long periods of time, and when I was in pain, I wanted my pain med YESTERDAY! I had to wait, and often the only thing the nurse would say to me as she rushed into my room was "I'm sorry it took so long to bring your pain med, but it's been like a zoo around here." After she gave me my pain pill, she exited the room as fast as she entered it leaving me with unanswered questions just hanging off the tip of my tongue. So, I curled up in my covers and tried to relax and let my pain med work until I fell asleep.

I've had children and grandchildren hospitalized before. One...an infant...didn't survive. The pain was so overwhelming. I know the pain of death behind those walls we serve our patients in. We do care for you and your needs, your loved ones needs, and when we say we are truly sorry for all our delays in getting to you sooner...please believe that we are most sincere because we are not only nurses...we are also patients at times...some more than others. :)

Other delays we have are entering acuities. Sometimes when you call me to your room and I don't come right away it is because the shift manager is yelling at me to put in the darn acuities...you don't know what those are, but take it from me...I've NEVER seen them work on my watch. I'm sorry you are forced to wait for the mounds of paperwork and computer entries I have no escape from during my long shift.

The staff may see me as nothing special, but when I am with you--my patients--you make me feel special and wanted, and I thank you for that. I can leave work happy because you cared enough to say thanks for being a good nurse, and some of you even tell me how much you really do understand. Some of you even apologize for "bothering me". Let me tell you my dear patients...you are NOT a bother to me. Don't ever feel that way. Thanks ahead of time for not judging me based on my inability to be with you when you need me for as long as you need me. I truly want to be, but TPTB act as if they do not understand how human bedside nurses are, and we can't be quick as lightening to assure there are no PR issues that may arise out of attempts to care for you properly and speedily as safely possible.

Your nurse again.... :nurse:

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 9, 2003

What very poignant, bittersweet letters from the heart. I would suggest sending one (as an article) to Readers Digest. RD has run some insightful articles on the nursing shortage in recent years. Also, as a letter to the editor--local newspaper; and New York Times, Washington Post.

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Dec 9, 2003

Cheerful,

What if you contacted your local TV news station. I bet they would love to get wind of this. I personally would like to see each and every heartfelt letter posted here, placed in some sort of a journal, or maybe a petition so the PUBLIC can SEE for themselves the reason for the nursing shortage and the lack of time nurses have at the bedside.

Something like this just might be the very thing to get some action. It's always worth a try. :kiss

Fran:nurse:

live4today, RN · Dec 9, 2003

There are three types of people in the world:

1) Those who watch what happens.

2) Those who make things happen.

3) Those who wonder what happened.

I prefer to be among those that make things happen. :)

Anytime someone enters the public eye, they are bound to be under a lot of scrutiny and blasphemy. This is why a lot of people fall into the category of those that watch what happens. Then, you have those who are totally out of the loop as to what the heck is going on, but they will throw in their two cents without really knowing what the true issues are because they do their nursing for the paycheck and pretend all is well openly, but when given the opportunity to share their own voice in the matter, that is when we can hear a pin drop...cotton ball fall to the floor...we all have been in unit meetings like that.

Nurses complain to one another, but will deny deny deny when given the opportunity to own up to what they really say behind the nurse managers back. :rolleyes:

Those nurses...like myself for example...who are NOT afraid to exercise their voice...are often ostracized as troublemakers, complainers, whiners, difficult to get along with, etc. I call them "Haters". You all know it isn't healthy to be a "Hater". The same ones will come to me "in secret" (ya'll know the ones...don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about here) and say "Girl, I wish I were as strong as you. I'm so glad you said this or that, or defended this or that, or are not afraid to use your voice." Whatever! :stone

It is going to take those who are not afraid to exercise their voices to make a difference. Don't look to one person to do the job of many. That is why many unhappy people blame the President of the USA for NOT making life better for them as "they promised during election time". We ARE "the Village" that it takes to make a difference. IF you are NOT afraid........use your voice and don't hide behind those like me who are NOT afraid to use her voice. I'm not a millionaire. I'm not even employed right now. I'm not afraid of retaliation because I'm God's child, and He ALWAYS has my back. :nurse:

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Dec 10, 2003

WELL PUT RENEE. I"M NOT AFRAID TO JOIN YOU, and I'm handicapped. But I REFUSE to let a thing like that STOP ME! From one person dedicated to the improvement of current nursing issues to another. :nurse:

Fran

allnurses Guide · Dec 10, 2003

Dear Patient:

Please forgive me for waking you up at 0400 but my shift started an hour and a half ago and I've been through my meds and looked through the charts and stalled all I could now unfortunately it is time for my first assessment of you. So here we go with vital signs, can you take a deep breath, may I listen to your heart, place my stethoscope on your tummy, check your feet for swelling and pulses, can you stand on a scale as the docs like daily weights in the chart when they round from 6-9? Do you need to use the bathroom? How about a shower? Or back to bed and lights out and see you at breakfast.

You expected to sleep in the hospital? I'm sorry for that.

steph

Karen30 · Dec 10, 2003

Dear Patient,

Good Morning, I'm sorry I'm a little later than usual this morning, although my shift started at 7.00 a.m. I didn't get to work until 7.10 a.m. as I had overslept because I didn't leave the ward until after 11.30p.m. last night, even though the shift ended at 9.30 p.m. When I arrived at work I then had to receive nursing handover for all 24 of the people who will be cared for by the other staff nurse, me and my team today. This took longer than usual, as there were a number of changes and poorly patients to discuss.

Please forgive me that the water is on the cool side for your wash but there is a problem with the water supply and unfortunately plumbing isn't included in nurse training.

Please forgive me whilst I go to the telephone to take this call, but the relative on the other end is anxious about her father and needs reassuring everything is fine and he is improving. Before I return to you I have to take two more phone calls, one asking whether anybody is going home today as there is a bed crisis and there is a gentleman in A&E who needs admitting.

When I leave the bay I don't go and put my feet up, but begin giving out medication for the morning, it takes longer than usual as many of your fellow patients need help taking there tablets, so I apologise if you are kept waiting for you medication which should have been given an hour ago.

I realise you are in pain and do everything I can to help you, including contacting the doctor who is busy at an emergency elsewhere in the hospital and may be some time. I know when you shout at me you aren't really angry with me but that all you want is to be rid of the pain, unfortunately I can't miraculously make a doctor appear and as I say they are dealing with a patient who is having trouble breathing.

When you see me sat at the nurses desk, although you may think I am having a rest, because I am having a quick cup of coffee, I am also updating your notes and checking lab results at the same time since it is about 5 hours since I last had a drink.

When your relatives ask if I have a minute to discuss some issues, I am not being rude when I state I'll try and get right back to you, but the lady in the side room has been incontinent and needs some help to clean herself. When you see me dashing from the room I am not avoiding you, but I desperately need the toilet as well as I haven't had chance to go in 5 hours, so I'm sure you can appreciate if I just nip into the toilet!

When your relatives catch me at the door at 4.30 p.m. I am not avoiding talking to them by asking them to speak to the other nurse on duty, but my shift ended at 3.00 p.m. and I am late for an appointment.

I hope you understand that I try to give you the best nursing care I can with the limited resources I have and sometimes it isn't my fault things don't happen or get done. All I can do is apologise over and over and hope you understand.

mattsmom81 · Dec 10, 2003

Dear patient,

I am here for you and your family, although it may not feel like it to you. I want you to know that if you are unsatisfied with the care you recieve today, my priority has been to keep my patients safe. If I was not with you I was likely tending to another.

I am sorry you have been promised 'service' and boundless attention. My employer has chosen to make this promise without my input....and the truth is, we are not staffed to give it. The truth is nursing care and hospitals run very differently today than they did in years past. Money is the bottom line today although that is not what administrators say. Therefore I want you to complain to administration, who is ultimately responsible for my understaffed unit. I am doing the best I can in a difficult situation, for which I have little recourse other than quit. Which is what many nurses have done and why there is a shortage of nurses who will do the job today.

I will likely 'put out fires' for my 12 hr shift making life and death decisions and fielding problems from uncooperative depts and doctors, doing mounds of paperwork and documentation which takes me away from my patients. Again, I have not made these rules or the system I practice in.. But it is often against the law for me to neglect them and I have only so much time in my shift, with time deadlines for paperwork and business. If I look frazzled, I am. I will not likely get a break at all in my 12 hr shift in order to do the best I can. I am told to tell you "I have the time" but I don't.

I am telling you this because most nurses feel nothing will get better until patients know the sham that is today's hospital, and WHO is making the decisions. It is NOT the nurses and they are NOT making decisions in the patient's best interest. Help us make them RESPONSIBLE. Please.

Sincerely,

A tired nurse

live4today, RN · Dec 10, 2003

MATTSMOM....Thumbs up on your post! :) You voice exactly what I oftentimes am emotionally feeling while on duty. Sometimes I've had to go into the bathroom to cry because the emotions are so overwhelming. It pains me deeper than I can put into words that I am unable to be the nurse my patients deserve to have during their hospitalization. Thank you for sharing your voice on this thread. It speaks volumes to the real crisis in today's nursing. :kiss

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2003

Awesome. I can't think of anything that hasn't already been said.

ladytraviler · Dec 10, 2003

It's 0730 and I hear 3 women crying. I get a very abreaviated report before I can get into the room. Yes, I understand that your call light has been going off for 3 min and no one has answered. I understand that you don't care how many others are in labor or about the delivery we just did. I will get your pain med as soon as humanly possible. Oh, ice? Its in the hall right there. No, I am not your maid. I am here for your wife, sister, mother, daughter, or girlfriend. No, I don't host parties in the labor room. Yes, I have ordered a tray for you.

Please understand that this new life needs me for a moment. I will willingly answere any questions you may have if I may have but a moment to finish what I am doing.

Yes labor hurts. That is part of childbirth. NO we do not do epidurals. Please understand that in order to help ......... I need your help. You have one person here. Please help me by helping her. I will teach you how to help with breathing and relaxation techniques but you have to do them even after I leave the room. You want me to be there for you and I would love to be there for you, I just haven't figured out a way for me to be in 6 places at once. Please understand that when your ........ is ready to give birth, I will be there.

Your child is important to me. I have to draw blood so that we can be sure that he/she/it/them/they are healthy and have no nasty suprises waiting for me. The ointment in the eyes is a preventative for certain diseases that can be transfered during birth. The shot is to help the gut start working and to clot the blood. I do not intend on torturing your child.

I wish for your labor and delivery to be smooth and complication free. I will do everything within my training to make sure it is. If I move in a hurry, I will explain why. I thank you now for your help and will soon introduce you to your new infant to bond.