A vent thread for patients- what can we do better?

Thank you for your kind words. Sadly my son did not survive his illness.

You have so much to be proud of in your life! I am sorry your classmates did not understand you better. It sounds like you have created a good life for yourself and your children.

:heartbeat:hug:

I'm not a nurse, though I hope to be. I'm only a student at the moment. I have had multiple surgeries (7 of them from a tri-malleolar fracture of the ankle/leg...a gift that just kept on giving). I also had a child 17 months ago. So I've been in and out of hospitals, clinics and outpatient surgery centers. You wanna know my vents about nurses?

I have none. That's right. None. I have been blessed to have been taken care of by some of the kindest, warmest people on the planet. I've actually never had a bad run-in with a nurse. When I've been taken to the OR, I pass on the sedative (is that Versed?) because I find it sort of fascinating. It's cold yeah, but 6 times out of 7 some lovely person put warm towels over me. I actually found the banter in the OR reassuring, I guess because to me it meant they were comfortable with each other and things were routine, because tense people don't talk. Plus, the nurses talked to me so I didn't feel left out.

The nurse who took care of me during my last surgery (to have ankle arthrodesis) actually listened to me when I told her that I have a terrible caffeine dependency (I owned a coffee house) and usually have an insanely bad withdrawl headache when I wake up from anesthesia, and actually had a can of coke and a straw there for me when I woke up. Its little things like that.

When I had my daughter, the nursing staff were incredible. They got my sense of humor and treated my baby like their own family. When I had a bleeding issue afterwards (I bled all over everything, the bed and bathroom looked like a murder scene and I felt awful about it) the nurse was calm and when I freaked out over them wanting to put me back on pitocin to help (I couldn't stand the thought of more of that stuff because it was so horrible) she actually got something else that worked. If I had to complain about anything, it's that they didn't seem to believe me when I told them I didn't need pain meds after my girl was born and kept offering it to me, and I don't consider that a complaint at all. My only complaint was nothing, not even a sip of water for over 24 hours, but that was hospital policy and not the nurses fault.

Now...if this were a vent thread about doctors, well...I'd write a book. I've only had one who was in anyway a decent human being. But that's neither here nor there.

I guess I just wanted to say thanks, to all the nurses out there who care. Because your patients notice. Even the little things, and we remember, and we bless you for it.

I've had a couple of major surgeries and I fully believe it was those experiences that led me to nursing. Two instances really stand out to me and have shaped how I approach my career:

1. I started my period the day after I had major abdominal surgery (I had a complex cyst removed from my liver--big ol' incision, couldn't get OOB without help. I was 25 and otherwise spry and healthy). Anyway, I needed assistance changing pads. The nurse just danced around the issue and didn't want to help me until my husband finally said that if she could get me a pad, he'd help me out. I've never understood her reluctance. I was 25, had been taking care of that for years, it was mortifying to have to ask for help like that. I can relate to how my patients feel when they need to ask for help with things like toileting, so I am very respectful of them.

2. Same surgery. The first or second day after, I had a really good CNA help take care of me. A few days later, I was being discharged, had changed clothes and was sitting in a chair waiting to go home. He was walking by and stopped in to wish me luck. It meant so much to me! I wasn't his patient that day, he didn't need to say anything, but he took a couple of minutes out of his day. I'll never forget that. I've taken that lesson to heart, too. I always try to give that little extra time/attention. It's not always possible, but when I can, I like to.

Overall I had great experiences with my surgeries. It was the knowledge, the kindness, and compassion of the people who cared for me that inspired me to be a nurse.

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Not to sound mean, but if you were that critical their priority was keeping you alive, not asking you what you preferred to be called. If I were that sick, I wouldn't care what staff called me, as long as they did their job. FWIW, I have been called "Mrs. Smith" more times than I can begin to count, and I have never been married. I just let it slide. In the long run, it doesn't matter a hill of beans if they're giving me safe, appropriate care.

I do applaud the nurse (who wasn't in the middle of trying to keep your airway open) who had the time to sit with you and ask what you wanted to be called, held your hand, talked you through procedures. Would that every unit in hospitals had that kind of staffing.

READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i said....she WASNT my nurse. she was one in the hallway that came in while trying to comfort my parents and myself so others could do their job. of course i had other people keeping my airway open, thats why i am here today. please read and understand what your saying before responding. Thanks :)

I think the patients need to find their own forum and vent there. This forum is for nurses!

What part about "Allnurses" is so hard to understand?

Im a nurse, but like almost everyone i've been a patient.

When i was 12 i went into anaphylactic shock from a bee sting. I was taken to ER via Ambulance. I had NO clue what anaphylaxis was, but i knew something wasn't right.

i was covered in hives, my eyes were bulging out of my head, every breath i took was getting harder and harder. I knew it was a deadly condition, and i was terrified. Everyone was running around me like chickens with their heads cut off.

They kept calling me "the patient" or "jennifer" not knowing i liked to be called Jenni. Never asked ME questions, i felt like they were treating my condition and not me.

I started crying once i saw my mom and dad start crying.

It took a NURSE in the emergency room, who wasn't even assigned to me to come into my room. She sat at the edge of my bed and held my hand. Then she asked me what i wanted to hear all along "Do you go by Jennifer? or can we call you seomthing else?" i could hardly talk and my dad replied "She goes by Jenni" and everytime someone said "the patient" i could hear her correct them "Jenni!!!!". She was the ONLY person (other than my parents) that i remember in this situation, and she wasn't even my nurse. i don't remember my doctor even. I remember her telling me everything that was going on

"They are now giving you something that will help your breathing"

"They have to take some blood. it might hurt, but if you close your eyes and think about your puppy at home it will be over soon"

She explained to me what they were talking about in terms a 12 year old could understand.

I remember her, her face, her voice everything. She was a traveling nurse from Las Vegas (Maybe she is out there somewhere?) who knows.

OCNRN63 was only pointing out that it doesn't matter if u weren't called by ur pet name - she wasn't having a go at you or putting u down, that I could see. I myself have been in a bad situation where I (thought) I was bleeding out as a child, and honest to god I didn't even think about what people were calling me (I liked to be called Caz but my name is Carol). She was not trying to denigrate ur experience, just saying as RNs we have more important concerns sometimes. And she wasn't getting mixed up with ur story either - we know it was another RN who comforted you and that is great. But calling u ur preferred name (which the staff couldn't possibly know), is not a priority when someone is nearly dying. And she DID say that nurse 'wasn't ur nurse', as you stated; I've just gone back and read her answer to you, so I'm wondering why you got so upset?

Sorry this happened to you. My brother has had scary reactions to bee stings & he said it is very frightening. I couldn't imagine not being able to breathe.

4) Please acknowledge I am a patient and not just the vag/hys in room 68....

Yes! I got annoyed somewhere I worked the other week, referring to patients as room 21 with the (whatever). I said it is Mrs such-and-such, not room 21! I also reiterated to a student that we should be remembering these are PEOPLE people, don't start treating them like numbers. I can't remember who is in room whatever - I want their name and how they are, etc.

This annoys me, that is why I always make my students remember the patient name & condition, not just the room number.

I think the patients need to find their own forum and vent there. This forum is for nurses!

What part about "Allnurses" is so hard to understand?

I'm a nurse. I have also been a patient numerous times.

I did read. I noted that she was not involved in getting your breathing stabilized, so of course she had the ability to sit there and comfort you. I'm glad she was able to do that for you.

I read it and understood it the first time.

Clearly you didn't because why would she be involved in anything else if she wasn't my nurse?? And it wasn't like i was THAT terribly critical like i couldn't breath. I came in before that point... I was breathing, i had the medications in me, i was STABLE at this point. So what else would there be to do at the point when she came in?

She came in towards the end of the maddness.

So if you have issues with calming a scared 12 year old, Then you need to reconsider your career choice.

Clearly you didn't because why would she be involved in anything else if she wasn't my nurse?? And it wasn't like i was THAT terribly critical like i couldn't breath. I came in before that point... I was breathing, i had the medications in me, i was STABLE at this point. So what else would there be to do at the point when she came in?

She came in towards the end of the maddness.

So if you have issues with calming a scared 12 year old, Then you need to reconsider your career choice.

Take a breath. ED nursing is all about teamwork, so in a situation like you describe it wouldn't be odd to have the primary nurse assisted by another nurse. One to get the IV while the other draws meds or sets up monitoring for example. This nurse that helped you feel calmer wasn't needed to help in getting your orders executed and didn't have critical patients of her own in that moment and in some places staffing like that is unfortunately not the norm. No one is saying what she did wasn't important but it wasn't THE most important part of your care. Calming a scared 12 year old is great. Saving her life needs to happen first.