From nurse to patient

[Cginns]

Is it just me, or do nurses tend to be harder critics on their quality of care? As a patient, I don't want to mention that I'm a nurse because that shouldn't matter. Every patient deserves quality care.

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

When I am a patient I usually do NOT pull the nurse card unless I have to, meaning I feel something is not right or I have questions or issues not being met.

That being said, I worked Oncology and BMT and it was ALL about the lab values everyday (and the patients KNOW this and are waiting to hear results from the nurse) so it depends on the type of unit you work in and what the patients diagnosis is as to whether the labs are important or not.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I find that when nurses are patients, they are reasonable understanding of delays, lack of attention, errors like being brought the wrong food or the nurse coming to drawn blood when the phlebotomist just did it, the new medication order not being sent from pharmacy yet, or no one being available to help them to the bathroom, or when they have to remind the medical team about their history or plan of care. Because they understand the reality of health care processes, busy assignments, and human error. I remember being left alone in my delivery room for an hour just 30 minutes after I gave birth to my daughter, door closed, epidural still in, no call bell in reach. Why? Because it was change of shift and I knew my nurse was probably giving report so she could go home. Was it safe care? No, but I knew that I could most likely recognize if I started experiencing something abnormal, and I did have my cell phone with me. As nurses, we tend to be both self-sufficient and self-sacrificial. I don't really mind if my nurse doesn't check on me every hour because I know that I can recognize and communicate important changes in my health status. I general know whether what I'm experiencing is normal, abnormal, or going to kill me imminently, I can advocate for myself, and I know that I can yell pretty loudly if I really need something.

Now, when nurses are the family members, it's a whole other story. My family member may not be willing or able to advocate for themselves. They may not know what to look for and communicate to their nurse. They may be at risk of injury if they get up by themselves, or may not be physical able to perform ADLs. When that family member goes hours without seeing a nurse and the call bell isn't even in their reach, you better believe I'm going to get worked up. I am far less tolerant of unsafe care when the potential victim is my child, or parent, or grandparent rather than myself.

[StrwbryblndRN]

I completely agree when it comes to family. Most likely someone stays with them if they are not sufficient to speak for themselves. My husband spent the night in the hospital recently and I did not stay. He was ambulatory.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

What you were not taught in school

and the real world are galaxies appart

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I wish I had been at my daughter's bedside after her cesarean. I might have been able to turn her or grab the suction when she vomited and aspirated.

[NurseLife88, ADN, RN]

I have never pulled the nurse card as a patient. Although during the delivery of my second child I was recognized as a nurse because of the clinical rotations I had completed on that floor; but my care and the care of my son were no different than the birth of my first at the same hospital (first born before clinicals). On a different level though I am a caregiver to my mother as well and she pulls this card whenever she feels her care is subpar or when she would like things to be explained,etc. Sometimes there is a noted difference in care provided and sometimes not. When the treatment or care of her changes I do sometimes feel as though it's because some people are very aware of scrutiny and therefore may tailor the care they provide accordingly whereas others simply do not change their manner of care regardless. Dont really think anything is really wrong with either as long as you are consistent and competent with what you are doing. As a side note though I cant say how many times I have been told nurses make the worst patientsí ½í¸†I

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

No.. I just graduated this December @7 months pregnant. I was wondering if I was being too critical for expecting the type of care that we are taught in school vs what is actually given in the real world. As a new nurse, I just hope that I am consistently giving the best care possible to my patients.

I'm actually still in the hospital now with a BP of 182/99 so I'm trying my best to stay as positive and understanding as possible. After all, I will be delivering here and I would like to have a pleasant experience.

Thanks.

Nursing students are generally far more critical than experienced nurses. You've just gotten out of school and have been hearing about how things are done "in a perfect world." But the world isn't perfect, and things are done differently in the real world. Not having been there, none of us are able to comment on why you couldn't get something for a headache for twelve hours. It may have been that the doctor refused to order it and didn't explain why, that he wouldn't order it and did explain why but the nurse refused to get back to you or that he actually ordered it and the either missed the order or had too much going on at that precise time to take care of it or she forgot. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and this was not a potentially fatal mistake so it's a good kind to make, if there is such a thing as a "good mistake."

I was very critical of my husband's physician when I was a new grad . . . years later, when I had some experience under my belt and some perspective, I was ashamed of the way I had spoken to that nice woman.

[bkhadijah]

Im critical, but silently. Would never say anything to a nurse. I think some nurses are very "brave" with their license is what I'll say. I think nurses just get comfortable (myself included at times) and it often shows. We get numb to it until we're the patient. I can remember being post op and having no assessment done or education given. Im sure the nurse charted bowel sounds, lung sounds... but never actually listened. I lived. It was fine. But that's not good care. I just think in a law suit happy society, I dont want anybody to have anything on me. So Im very critical of myself. Have I done everything I could? Could this be seen as neglect? I try to treat every patient like they are taking detailed notes. In court there is no such thing as "well thats not how it is in the real world". But I do understand what everyone is saying.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

I think one of my primary roles as a nurse is ADVOCACY.

I have consistently found it difficult (in many ways — physically unable, maintaining my patient status with a group as my choices were limited in finding other care by insurance, need, geography) to ADVOCATE for myself.

This was surprising to me.

I found myself admitted and figured I could send everyone home, I'd be just fine — after all, I'm a flight nurse with a high end crustal care background. And it's a good thing I had the ability to jar awake on monitor alarms, when the SaO2 Monitors dropped below 60

[malarwen]

I was very critical of one of my hospital stays...but really just one. In a hospital where there was 1:2 ratio and the nurses were constantly on their phones and chatting, my medication was handed to me with bare hands, my requests to speak to a doctor (who was an OB on duty in a tiny hospital in the mountains and I was a post spinal fusion patient - with my surgeon 300 miles from there) went unaswered, doctor was clueless. PCA was provided but my multiple requests for stool softeners that were prescribed went unaswered and I ended up with an impaction, complaints about an IV that was extremely painful were ignored for two days until I removed it myself - complains about pain in IV site and after were also ignored...I ended up with a 60cm blood clot going from my hand past my shoulder...and so on and on and on...So yep, that time I was critical but couldn't be too crazy open about it because they were the only healthcare jobs provider in the area and I wanted a job with them. I do regret not taking the steps and filing a formal complaint now. THat level of care is simply dangerous. Not just nurses, even the PT (forced me out of bed when i wasn't up to it - I was getting panic attacks every time i would see him around town for a year and half - until I actually decided to confront him about it). This was my only bad experience out of numerous hospitalizations at various hospitals in the past 4 years. I also never fail to thank the great nurses before being discharged...except that one time...I simply couldn't do that.

So to sum it up...we don't want to be pain in the ass...but if you see something wrong speak up. It means other patients are getting bad care as well.