Assessments

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Specializes in Oncology (OCN).

I'm a RN, although not currently working.  I caught Covid in July 2020 from work and ended up in ICU in respiratory failure.  The fallout from that and long covid symptoms have left me unable to work.  I had not planned on retiring at 56 but that's what it currently looks like.  
 I've been hospitalized multiple times since Covid for various things and am currently in the hospital with pneumonia.  I've been here a couple of days, and with the exception of the ER, not a single nurse has done an assessment on me.  They've checked vitals but no one has listened to my heart and lungs or checked for swelling or anything else.  I've noticed this before on other admissions but it was more hit and miss, not everyone!   Frankly, it's extremely disturbing.  Thoughts?  Has anyone else noticed this trend?

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If they are documenting assessments done and haven't actually done the assessment then its not a trend, it's fraud and that needs to be addressed with the nursing leadership at the facility. 

 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Cricket183 said:

I'm a RN, although not currently working.  I caught Covid in July 2020 from work and ended up in ICU in respiratory failure.  The fallout from that and long covid symptoms have left me unable to work.  I had not planned on retiring at 56 but that's what it currently looks like.  
 I've been hospitalized multiple times since Covid for various things and am currently in the hospital with pneumonia.  I've been here a couple of days, and with the exception of the ER, not a single nurse has done an assessment on me.  They've checked vitals but no one has listened to my heart and lungs or checked for swelling or anything else.  I've noticed this before on other admissions but it was more hit and miss, not everyone!   Frankly, it's extremely disturbing.  Thoughts?  Has anyone else noticed this trend?

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We've noticed a well.  We've had several family members hospitalized for multiple reasons and no one seems to have the time. 

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Specializes in Oncology (OCN).
Peachpit said:

If they are documenting assessments done and haven't actually done the assessment then its not a trend, it's fraud and that needs to be addressed with the nursing leadership at the facility. 

 

Indeed it is.  And I will be discussing it with leadership.  Very sad.

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Cricket183 said:

I'm a RN, although not currently working.  I caught Covid in July 2020 from work and ended up in ICU in respiratory failure.  The fallout from that and long covid symptoms have left me unable to work.  I had not planned on retiring at 56 but that's what it currently looks like.  
 I've been hospitalized multiple times since Covid for various things and am currently in the hospital with pneumonia.  I've been here a couple of days, and with the exception of the ER, not a single nurse has done an assessment on me.  They've checked vitals but no one has listened to my heart and lungs or checked for swelling or anything else.  I've noticed this before on other admissions but it was more hit and miss, not everyone!   Frankly, it's extremely disturbing.  Thoughts?  Has anyone else noticed this trend?

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It's not right in any way but how many patients does the nurse have and what is the acuity? In these hospital nowadays, nurses are bombarded at the beginning of their shift with unaddressed problems, unstable patients and admissions/discharges. Those assignments need to be addressed with the charge nurse and managers. 

 

 

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I've been in the hospital twice in the last three years. Once for surgery, once I had to be resuscitated.  Big time admits. I also noticed that nurses do not assess. Nurses only came in to pass meds.  The assistants did vital signs and left. It's not only nursing. My cardiologist charted lung sounds and edema check, he did neither.  Way back in the day, my patients always got a full assessment. I followed a doctor ( that I trusted). She charted lungs CTA. I'm thinking why should I bother listening. Good thing I did. Patient had a collapsed lung. Also found  patient in SVT by listening to her heart.  Hospitals are very scary places.

Peachpit said:

If they are documenting assessments done and haven't actually done the assessment then its not a trend, it's fraud and that needs to be addressed with the nursing leadership at the facility. 

 

I did not think of that! Of course they are checking assessments off on the EMR. Wow.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Been there,done that said:

I've been in the hospital twice in the last three years. Once for surgery, once I had to be resuscitated.  Big time admits. I also noticed that nurses do not assess. Nurses only came in to pass meds.  The assistants did vital signs and left. It's not only nursing. My cardiologist charted lung sounds and edema check, he did neither.  Way back in the day, my patients always got a full assessment. I followed a doctor ( that I trusted). She charted lungs CTA. I'm thinking why should I bother listening. Good thing I did. Patient had a collapsed lung. Also found  patient in SVT by listening to her heart.  Hospitals are very scary places.

I did not think of that! Of course they are checking assessments off on the EMR. Wow.

Hospitals are very dangerous. We don't let family stay inpatient without an advocate staying with them. Thankfully, none of us were hospitalized during covid. 

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Well you should address that with the charge nurse or manager in the hospital. And you said you're a nurse before, you can suggest or let them know your symptoms since you assessed yourself already . If you're too concern about that why don't you go back to bedside nursing and be the leader there . 

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Specializes in Oncology (OCN).
Oldhagersucks said:

Well you should address that with the charge nurse or manager in the hospital. And you said you're a nurse before, you can suggest or let them know your symptoms since you assessed yourself already . If you're too concern about that why don't you go back to bedside nursing and be the leader there . 

WOW!  That comment was uncalled for.  I would love to go back to nursing.  Unfortunately that isn't an option.  I contracted severe covid in July 2020 FROM WORK and wound up in ICU with respiratory failure which caused permanent damage (interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension).  I required home oxygen for 13 months and will likely be going home on it again (hopefully temporarily).  I also developed SVT and POTS.  Steroids caused severe chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers, secondary adrenal insufficiency and cataracts.  I'm now permanently disabled.

I've been a nurse for 20 years.  I know how crazy it is out there.  I know nurses are overwhelmed.  I'm not naive.  I still always assessed my patients!   

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Specializes in oncology.

If the normal requirements for an RN aren't met, the OP should get a job there? and do what? besides being a role model and leader? 

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Yeah right assess them 1:8 or 1:10 patients then what will the doctor will do about it other states sometimes it's the teledoc/ teleHOSP who came from a different state that's going to make you feel dumb since they don't think it's an important call. A lot has changed Sir. 

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Specializes in oncology.
Oldhagersucks said:

it's the teledoc/ teleHOSP who came from a different state that's going to make you feel dumb

If you are giving factual information about a patient why would you ever feel dumb? Also why are the doctors on a tele health connection?

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