Nurse's Station - what to expect? I need help!

[candice22]

I m SO THANKFUL to you nurses and CNAs with kind hearts and caring attitudes. It must be upsetting when those with bad attitudes ruin it. My father is a 90 year WW2 veteran who fell and broke his back 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately he is in a VA hospital and I don't know the "unwritten" rules of the nurse's station. Yesterday there was no one at the nurses station for m entire 4 1/2 visit. His room mate crashed with low blood sugar and nurses didn't answer his calls button or shouts for help. I had to help him. He wanted to be wiped down as he was sweating profusely A team of 5 eventually showed up and attached an IV etc. This SCARED me! I am not qualified to give patient care. Both my dad and his room mate are in the room closest to the nurses station in an "observation" room (my dad tries to get out of bed when he is on opoids). Typically a tech sits in the room with these men. There is a chair there an a computer for that person. However there is one shift of nurses that worked yesterday and they are INVISIBLE ~ not at the nurse's station, not in the halls, I have no idea where they are or what they are doing but it is very different from other shifts. I would appreciate ANY tips or advice you have for me which will help me navigate this hospital and gt the best care for my dad. P.S. I drive an hour each day to see him, spend the day, and drive an hour home.

[Purple_roses]

If the nurses are not at the station, they are probably involved in patient care. Different shifts have different levels of busyness.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

There should be a system in place for you to address your concerns with the particular facility.

Just some things to consider:

-Nurses have many patients. That means that they can be in many places providing care instead of at the nursing station. There isn't a nurse assigned to simply sit at the nursing station.

-It was a weekend. I would not be surprised if there is less staff on the weekend, especially when you also take into account the fact that it is a holiday weekend.

-Not every day, every shift, or even every hour will be the same. Just because things you saw one day didn't happen the next doesn't mean no one was providing care.

-Many facilities have a number posted where family can call a rapid response. Look for that number, and know that it can be used if needed.

[candice22]

Thank you for responding. I will look for a rapid response number.

I am still confused. Are you saying it's normal for visitors to help with patient care? The room mate was pleading for help, broken out in a sweat. What do I do as a visitor?

When I left yesterday my dad had on yellow pajamas - top and bottom. When I arrived today the other patient in the room has on my dad's pajama bottoms. My dad can't get out of bed. ???

I don't bother the nurses at all unless something important comes up. To me, this level of care is just plain wrong.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thank you for responding. I will look for a rapid response number.

I am still confused. Are you saying it's normal for visitors to help with patient care? The room mate was pleading for help, broken out in a sweat. What do I do as a visitor?

No, it's not normal. This is where the patient would use the call bell. If the patient's condition needs immediate intervention and no staff are available, then use the rapid response number.

When I left yesterday my dad had on yellow pajamas - top and bottom. When I arrived today the other patient in the room has on my dad's pajama bottoms. My dad can't get out of bed. ???

His personal or provided by the facility?

I don't bother the nurses at all unless something important comes up. To me, this level of care is just plain wrong.

This is where you need to follow up with the facility. We don't work there; we can't provide the solution. Take it up with the appropriate department at the facility.