Nurse Neglect/Abuse?

Nurses General Nursing

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InsideWindow

21 Posts

While medical attention is pretty good for him on some bases, its not always the case. I have no knowledge of Canadian regulations, but in the states, diabetes doesn't help anyones cause. He joined back in 08 and he just barely made the cut because of it. He had to plea his case in front of a board. I partially think he only made it due to the demand they were having and the fact his diabetes was so well regulated. Now, its a no nonsense cut, if he were to try to join today he said he would be turned away at the drop of a hat. He's been warned multiple times of leave if and when his diabetes starts to get worse. He's pretty much playing russian roulette every time he sees a doctor. It's hard, we're pretty sure his foot issue is going to be the end of his career, he can hardly keep up with pt on weekends, but we understand why and realize he at least had a good run.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

4 Articles; 7,907 Posts

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
That's where we are different. Our personnel go straight to the head of the line in whatever province they are stationed in. Police injured on the job just like any other worker go to the top. If they can't make it to camp to have their meds filled, they are refunded. Having said that, I've known hospital pharmacists issue enough "carry" meds to cover their needs until returning to camp.

That's pretty impressive.

Here in the US, active duty may get some head-of-the-line privileges, but in things like the pharmacy and walk-in clinics...and even then, only if they are in uniform. As far as getting fast-tracked to non-emergent specialty appointments, not so much.

It sounds as if your military doesn't take care of their personnel all that well.

I agree, it is a disgrace how our government treats its servicemen and servicewomen at times.

0.adamantite

233 Posts

Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.

I'm not sure what happened. But I can tell you this. I work in acute care and sometimes it can take several DAYS to get testing performed, particularly MRI. There are emergent conditions like strokes that take precedence over others. I am the middle man. Patient's want their MRI's done NOW, but the imaging staff tell me that the patient's need isn't as great as other patients. So I have to tell the patient they may not receive their testing for several days. And who do they get mad at? Me, the nurse, since I'm the easy target. Even though I've argued, fought, and pleaded with the imagining staff to take my patient sooner.

On weekends, when imaging centers are closed or have limited hours, they have to call staff in extra. The staff will call me and argue with me because they don't want to come in on their day off - or they will deem the test "not medically necessary" and make the patient wait until the week day to have the test done.

Many times MRI scanners break down. Imagining centers often over-book appointments. The scanner costs millions of dollars, and to pay for it's use, they need to keep it constantly busy with patients. They count on cancellations, which may or may not happen, leading to a back-up of patients awaiting testing.

Sometimes doctors get mad at ME for the imaging not being done. I hand them the phone to the imaging center and often after they have a conversation with the staff there, the patient's test happens must faster. The MD will talk to the staff, hand me the phone, and now the imaging staff has changed their tone - instead of, "Well we don't know when we can fit them in," they are saying, "Is the patient ready for the test? When can we send for them?"

Also, MRI's can require labwork, paperwork to review safety measures, and sometimes extra testing or recommendations from the radiologist to determine if the MRI is safe to perform. All of which require extra time.

So please understand that we as nurses are fighting for you, but often we don't have the power of the MD. We can't wave our magic wands and make things move faster. And sometimes other people are just sicker than you or your loved one. I understand when it's you or someone close to you, it's easy to loose sight of the bigger picture.

trishmsn

127 Posts

I partially think he only made it due to the demand they were having and the fact his diabetes was so well regulated. Now, its a no nonsense cut, if he were to try to join today he said he would be turned away at the drop of a hat. He's been warned multiple times .

I didn't see at first that you were a military family....it is a good thing that you are in nursing school, as I would bet that your DH will be medically boarded out sooner than later . [i am a vet, the wife of a vet, the daughter of a 35 year vet, and the mother of an active duty soldier, so I am NOT pulling this out of my left ear...] I started nursing school ages ago when it was clear my hubby was going to be RIF'd after Vietnam, and it gave him time to go back to school while I supported us.

It may seem very unfair, but the military needs healthy personnel who are ready to deploy at the drop of a hat (or bomb) and who do not have medical needs. Good luck to you both....and make sure to take advantage of EVERY transition and vet service available (but don't count on the VA for anything medical, for obvious reasons!)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What I don't understand is if you are a military spouse (your words) why isn't your husband getting priority access to healthcare. Here in Canada, military, police are given priority access to things like MRIs. A worker injured on the job is sped through the systems as well. The cost of prescription drugs shouldn't be an issue either as service personnel are fully covered for this.

It sounds as if your military doesn't take care of their personnel all that well.

Our Veterans system is a mess.....VA Hospital Scandal - NBC News

InsideWindow

21 Posts

it is a good thing that you are in nursing school, as I would bet that your DH will be medically boarded out sooner than later

Yeah, we're pretty much just waiting :(

OCNRN63, RN

5,978 Posts

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I won't go on student doc or those websites anymore. I've came across too many pages of members bashing nurses, laughing about "stupid things stupid nurses say", bad teachers this, bad teachers that, "Nurse Ratchet was working today", "Nurses unite like fat kids at the dessert bar", etc.. etc.. It takes a lot to walk away from immaturity like that and still feel your pride intact after multiple, unsuccessful times to defend your career and future colleagues from those you are supposed to work next too. So I came here after putting that place behind me to get more honest reasoning, and not just what I "thought" I would hear. (If anyone expects to come to a Nurse based website and expect "positive" advice on bad things nurses do from other nurses defending their careers - they need the literal **** of common sense shaked in them - and I'm aware of that) You don't go on a "Cop" website and say "Hey, so how many cops here are the 'bad cops' posted all over social media?" :eek:

I also don't really know what is meant by "championing your cause" though, because I don't have a cause I'm fighting for really. I'm just a firm believer in taking ethics everywhere when your name has a professional title placed after it. I see nothing wrong with that, and won't change it, even if it upsets others - of course others will feel differently, and that's fine. But it won't change my moral views.

I've seen some bad nurse judgement before - two girls played Hide-N-Seek through the hallway (in the ED) all the way to my father's room to tell him he had appendicitis and was going to be prepped for surgery, still grinning and out of breathe from their game. :yawn: I've worked for another nurse in the hospital who wouldn't be bothered to get a patient a cup of water even if a pitcher was sitting on her med cart, but would roam the unit instead for 5 minutes looking for one of us to get it - she was funny like that though, she refused to change pads, reposition patients, take vitals unless absolutely necessary; the other nurses couldn't stand her and called her Nurse Diva.

But you know what? For each bad experience, I've had 100 more good ones. I've seen nurses at my work take a woman's clothing to the laundromat on her break because housekeeping was slacking and she had nothing to wear. I've seen them buy food out of their pockets to give their patient a "little somethin" to curve their sweet tooth at 2 am when the kitchen was closed. When I worked in home health, one of my favorite client's nurse would borrow him her movies knowing she may not get them back if reassigned. One time she came by and dropped off a present for his granddaughter, a stuffed animal and candy, because he couldn't afford anything for her birthday. I could go on and on about the little things that one person may have not noticed or taken for granted. I can't verify this story, as it my Clinical professor told it and I wasn't there, but shes a midwife and started to get emotional so *I* believe it, but after delivering a stillborn for a woman, she ran out to the store and bought a clay footprint set so the mother could take her steps with her. A lot of my classmates don't like her, but she is my favorite teacher. (And she may or may not look just like an aged version of the redhead receptionist on Mad Man, and walk and talk like her, but thats not why shes my favorite :lol2:). So I also don't understand why some feel I am abusing all nurses (which the word abuse was just debunked in this conversation and its clear my curiosity is not abuse) just because I just joined, when I only mentioned one. I understand you all stick together, but realize I did just join so no one knows me from the wall next to them, nor how highly I view nurses, even with the a few bad ones. And I do plan on staying with this webpage, for further insight (good and bad), knowledge, and experience. We all had to start somewhere, so I'm sorry if I started out on the wrong side of a few of you - just know I'll change your mind as time goes on ;)

​TBH, there are threads here about "Stupid Nurse Tricks," fat nurse hating threads, "Nurse Ratched" threads, etc. There are also threads about stupid doctors.

SubSippi

909 Posts

As an RN, I understand the inclination to take complaints made about nurses with a grain of salt.

However, I don't understand why the first post struck such a nerve. The OP's husband wasn't being noncompliant, it seemed more to me like he was trying to make things work with what he had. It's one thing to just not take your insulin, but in my opinion, not being comfortable with taking narcs for chronic pain is entirely different. And as far as the MRI goes, if a doctor orders something that insurance won't cover and the patient can't afford it, then that's that. What are they supposed to do, set up a lemonade stand?

I don't think any part of the OP's story qualifies as abuse, and I'd be interested to hear the nurse's side. But if I was in the OP's situation, I'd be frustrated, too.

In regards to health care, if anyone (including nurses, doctors, pharmacists, ect..., AND patients) can't be flexible at times, problems arise.

ktwlpn, LPN

3,844 Posts

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
he couldn't afford the whole deal, did you miss that part??

He could have waited until he could have paid for the entire study.

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