THE COST CONUNDRUM What a Texas town can teach us about health care.

I lived and worked in McAllen, TX a few years ago.
The working conditions were horrible- standards of care were non-existant. Equipment was antequated. We hung our IVs from the overhead light fixtures, as there were no IV poles. PCA, feeding and other pumps were placed on bed-side tables while in use. Pts and their families would routinely steal all the IVACs, BP machines and so on off of the units. I saw some of the equipment from my unit for sale at a flea market. Medical mistakes and serious med-errors were glossed over and seen as "no big deal."

I worked at a for-profit hospital.

Hospitals and doctors take advantage of the lack of sophistication of the people in the area. The people themselves take advantage of the system as a way of life.
Doctors order one expensive, inappropriate test and procedure after another. Entire families expect to eat and sleep at the hospital free of charge, and expect staff to baby-sit their children. Hospital admin goes along w/ these expectations.

Nurse to pt ratios in med surg and tele are typically 1:10-13.

I can honestly say that being a nurse in McAllen, TX was the worst experience of my career.

Wow Valerie Salva!! You describe a nightmarish work experience. I am so sad that people are subjected to that substandard healthcare.

I truly felt like I had a mild case of PTSD from working there. After I quit, I did not work for six months, as the experience had really turned me off to hospital work (the job was my first as a new grad RN).

Thankfully, I got a really good non-hospital job when I was ready to work again.

I've since done hospital work again, but I have never gone back to med surg.