Bad Experience with Nurses at hospital, rethinking my major now.

[Lindsey-Student]

I will start off by explaining that I am a nursing student. I got into nursing because I love to work hard, work on my feet, be challenged, and most importantly help others. I am planning a trip to India to volunteer at an HIV clinic, because for me it’s not about money, It’s about helping others and giving them support when the need it the most.

This weekend, a close friend of mine assaulted me. I had no idea that would happen, and it was emotionally traumatizing. I called the police, but 15 minutes later they still had not arrived. I asked my friend to drive me to the hospital because I was having vision disturbances and vertigo, and I was worried about having major head trauma.

My friend dropped me off and went back to her house to wait for the police and tell them where we were. I was alone, and taken back immediately because of my facial contusions and bleeding from my nose. The nurse who greeted me was unpleasant to say the least. The first thing out of her mouth was “Why did you let this happen? Why did they do this to you?” She began to lecture me, as I sat bleeding, dizzy, and unable to see about making better friends.

I don’t do drugs, I don’t hang out with “shady” people, this isn’t something I ever foresaw happening to me. No one who knew this person thought in a million years he would assault me. A minute later I went to the bathroom and I forgot where I was. I was extremely dizzy and began to panic. I walked out into the hallway, walked up to a staff member and said “I need help, something is wrong with me, I don’t know where I am” She shouted at me to go back to my room. I didn’t know where “my room” was, so I stood there “I can’t breathe” I said. I was having a panic attack.

She took me back to my room and said “You are in the hospital. There is nothing wrong with you. The doctor will come in to evaluate you soon. Take this” and handed me two pills. I asked what they were and she said “Calm down, Just take it!” and left the room.

5 minutes later, two nurses had an argument outside my room about one nurse who “had an attitude” they began to curse at each other, shouting about some other situation, not taking into consideration there was a terrified victim of assault three feet away, hearing all of this.

Maybe my friend should have stayed with me, but she left because she wanted to police to know where I was. She came right back with them about a half hour later. The nurse acted like my friend dropped me off and left me there because she had no respect for me. She acted like I did this to myself, telling me I needed a “new group of friends”

Just this experience is making me think maybe I don’t want to go into nursing. If I had been working, I would have told that nurse to calm down, and to talk to the patient like a person. She had no idea what my situation was, and yet she chose to lecture me when I was scared and vulnerable. The nurses fighting outside my room was just totally unprofessional. I had no idea someone who worked so hard to get this degree would act like that. I feel like if these are going to be my coworkers, then I don’t want to be in this field. I guess what I am hoping for is for someone to tell me not all hospital envoirnments are like that, and that we are allowed to be nice and caring to our patients. I don’t want to become bitter and unpleasant, like these nurses were. This whole experience was so humiliating; I wish I could have been treated with compassion.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I am so very sorry for what you have been through. Your experience is not the norm in all hospitals and in time you will be able to evaluate this experience through different eyes. Right now you are still very vulnerable, scared and traumatized. It will never become a warm and fuzzy memory and the way those nurses behaved was deplorable. It is likely if you do continue with your schooling, you will use it as a way to know the kind of nurse you do not want to be when it is your turn to care for others.

Take the needed time to recover and make no big decisions right now. You are still very vulnerable and close to the event emotionally. Get well first; make life altering decisions later when the waters have calmed. My heart goes out to you. Hospital nursing does not have to be and often isn't what you experienced in this situation. You deserved better. :hug:

[P B and J]

Rather than letting this awful experience deter you from your passion, let it fuel it... Be the best nurse you can be. Be the nurse that is compassionate to a patient in need. Be the nurse that refuses to invest valuable time in workplace squabbles. Vow to be a nurse that educates and informs your patients gently, rather than telling them to just "take it" (meds).

So sorry this happened to you. Your friend shouldn't have hit you, and the nurse shouldn't have treated you without compassion and understanding. Hope you are feeling better soon, physically and emotionally!

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Where did all this happen? Was it in an ED/ER? You don't say.

If it was in an ED, then it sounds like the one I worked in last night. People coming in drunk, shouting, screaming; nurses getting angry & annoyed, being rude and ******; other patients yelling at the drunk person to shut the eff up; people who have been attacked by dogs; obvious drug seekers who have probably hurt themselves to try & get opioids given to them; families & a baby who had been in an MVA - all emotionally wrought, upset and all wanting attention RIGHT NOW NURSE! I'm a very cool person, not much gets to me, but last night I was feeling anxious, fed-up, over worked, hot and a bit emotional myself what with the insaneness going on around me. It can be very trying working in an ED if that's where you were.

I am really sorry your friend (who I hope is not your friend now) assaulted you, as you say, unexpectedly. And you should not have been allowed to the toilet by yourself; I have no idea why a nurse would let you do that after a head injury - it's just not protocol.

I myself would have asked for another nurse, or when I got better, asked to be transferred to another hospital. I worked with some absolutley horrid nurses last night, and even the young, seemingly competent ones, couldn't have given a shite re each patient. I think I have become jaded myself.

If u feel better now, write a letter of complaint and ask to see the higher ups. Such behaviour shouldn't go unheard of.

Also, could u have taken some of it out of context? You admit you were dizzy & emotionally distraught? Maybe the nurses were just having a really awful night, like I did last night (though I didn't & never would yell at a patient & say such awful things).

Having said all that, if you are still relatively young, I myself would not encourage anyone young to go into nursing as a first career. I regret doing mine now when I was older. I wish I'd finished something else when I was younger. See what credit you can get from your learning institution and have that transferred over into another major, I would urge you very strongly to do this ASAP. If you've nearly fin nursing however, get your initial qualification/degree then go do something else. Do not stay in nursing. As you get older, it gets harder to deal with everything & to bounce back from shift work. You hurt all over as well, & have no life from shift work - friend drift away and don't call after a while. Please get out of it as soon as possible; in fact, I would say run away as fast as you can.

I hope though you feel better, and make the right decision for you.

And avoid that hospital & tell everyone else to avoid it too!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

:hug:What a B!h!!! What a horrible experience!!! I am so sorry for your ordeal. There are bad nurses, bad doctors, bad lawyers, bad police officers......bad anything. BUt that does not mean the entire professionals a whole sucks. That nurse....if it was a nurse....should be held accountable and you should file a complaint against here with administration and the Board. Her behavior is reprehensible ands she should be held accountable.:flmngmd:

Don't make any major decisions about being a nurse right now. You need time to recover and heal and absorb what happened. Please seek out victim's groups and crisis intervention groups in your area. You need to regroup and get a better handle of your life and well being right now....you are important. Keep your dreams and don't let this horrible person terrorize your from your passion and dreams. Seek counselling to help you through this.

I am so sorry this happened to you but don't judge us all over one really bad apple in the bunch.

My prayers for you healing and inner peace....:redbeathe

[Lindsey-Student]

Yes, I was in the ER. It was Saturday Morning when this happened. I would say I understood if they were busy, but when I was there was only one person waiting in the waiting area. I went straight back to be treated, no wait. It didn't seem that hetic in there, but I understand when you work in an ER you are probably very stressed out. I was schocked at the way I was treated though.

I really love medicene. I am in my second year of Nursing school, I will graduate spring 2013. So far, I have a good GPA and I love my classes. I still want to stay in this field. I just felt like these nurses hated their jobs, and if I am right, then maybe I should look into something else in the medical area. It breaks my heart to feel this way.

I am 25, I've been on my own since I was 17. I have worked many jobs. I know I want to work in medicene, I know I want to help people. I guess it is silly for me to say I want to switch majors, because honestly I don't think I will. I really love nursing school. I guess I was hoping someone would tell me that this is a rare occurance and most nurses are kind to their patients.

I worked in a dental office as an assistant before going back to school, and one of the patients was a recovering addict who had to have most of his front teeth pulled. When he came in he was a wreck, he was 30 but he looked much older due to bone loss. After the extractions we fixed him up with a bone grafts and a bridge, and he looked like a new man. When we handed him the mirror he began to cry, thanking us. It was amazing what those teeth did for his self esteem. It was then I knew I wanted to be a nurse. Dental was fun, but I wanted to be able to work with more than just that.

You are right, the shouldn't have let me go to the bathroom alone. There are many things they shouldn't have done. I just hope that the job won't make me bitter, like them

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I am so sorry this happened to you. I agree that a letter of complaint is in order. Be sure to include date/time/all relevant details. Make it concise and to the point, factual vs. emotional. Have a friend read it to make sure there are no glaring grammar or spelling errors.

If you are ever in the position as a friend to an assaulted individual, don't make the mistake your well meaning friend made. There was no reason for her to leave you alone at the ER in order to go back to your home to tell the police where you were. A simple phone call could have accomplished the same thing and she would have been able to stay with you to offer you moral support and serve as your advocate.

There are many kind, compassionate, skilled nurses in the field. If you continue your studies, there will be one more added to the pool. The fact that there are a few bad apples in the profession should not sway you from your desired career as there are jerks in every profession.

I hope you have a full recovery and are able to move on emotionally as well from this awful event.

[aznurse1]

fine, don't be a nurse, then

[aznurse1]

sorry, that's my initial response. note to op, nurses are people, they get jaded and cynical from the stuff that happens on the job. what you experienced are coping skills that they use. No I'm not defending them, just explaining. they aren't supported in how to handle all the feelings that are generated in the work environment. your expectations are unrealistic and you most likely will wash out as a nurse (ie, your head is so far in the clouds that your can't do the actual job)

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

If you want to work in medicine become a physician, RPA or NP.

Sorry your night bit.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

fine, don't be a nurse, then

I am going to comment just once and let this go.....

Really? You can't possibly be serious......that's all you have to say? Wow......

[nyrn5125]

you are in 2nd year. finish and promise yourself to never be that wretched nurse. ask around what the best place is when you go to clinical. my facility would never allow that behavior, or ignoring a confused pt. Everyone is busy but the pt comes first and you had a change in mental status. I would have gotten a stat blood sugar, a CT of your head stat,labs, and neurology, and held your hand. So to answer, no not all nurses are that awful