Share your experiences as patients

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 21, 2003

I can think of no time that I felt I was not being taken care of adequately. The last admission I had was to a sister hospital. I usually "omit" the fact that I am an RN when I have to go there.

I must say those nurses were fantastic. I don't require a lot of fluffy-puffy stuff, just give me my meds, start my IV and leave the rest to me! But this time I really felt cared for.

happystar · May 22, 2003

It'll be really great if i could get some answers to these questions. Thanks

Nurse2bSandy · May 22, 2003

Hi happystar,

About 3 years ago I was in the hospital for a hysterectomy. I am not of a minority race ( well, maybe here in Hawaii, but it doesn't count being haole! ).

I had a great experience with the nurses, in fact, I think that it is those nurses that I think of when I think about being a nurse myself. They were very concerned about my needs and took good care of me. One nurse in particular brought my a cup of special tea late one night... I still think of her when I drink that type of tea.

My only bad experience there was the last day... the hospital was threatening a lay off of nurses and the nurses were much more involved with discussing it than with seeing to their patients. That was not very professional and I felt like they should have put their patients first... but I guess I probably might have been just as anxious.

Those nurses were a big influence on my decision to become one myself. I know how important a good nurse can be.

LeesieBug · May 22, 2003

I have had both good and bad hospital experiences. When I had my twin sons, I wound up having an emergency C-section because of preeclampsia (toxemia). After being admitted so they could keep an eye on things, a nurse I had seemed to enjoy making me feel like crap; like I was doing something to cause my high blood pressure. She apparently thought I could control my BP, and was irritated that I would not cooperate and lower it! She would come in when I was just getting back in bed after using the bathroom and borderline yell at me for not being on my left side! Then she would check my BP and proceed to tell me, in a rather nasty tone, "Kid, you are too young to have blood pressure that high!" (I was twenty).

It was not a pleasant experience. Also during that hospital stay, after delivery there were several times my call light went unanswered for up to twenty minutes, every time they drew blood they poked me repeatedly, doing the dig around thing, and left me battedered and bruised. When I had my epidural for surgery the CRNA could not get the epidural in and made at least 10 attempts while insisting I was not arching my back enough(every part of my body was swollen and I had two six pound babies in my belly!) She finally decided she needed to get someone more experienced (that person managed on the first attempt).

When I had my daughter, different hospital, completely different story. Nurses were genuinely concerned for their patients, prompt, kind, professional. My epidural went smooth and painless. It was an all around good experience.

Hope this helps.

Anagray, BSN · May 22, 2003

The bad experiences I had at the hospitals had nothing to do with the fact that I'm a foreigner. I speak clearly, I understand well, so there was no problem.

Interesting though, I do get the "special" treatment, because I look the most 21 ( i'm 28). because of how young I look, people (patients, staff, etc. who meet me for the first time) automatically assume I lack wisdom and/or knowelege. I think it can be contributed to american young adults still being considered "young" at 21, where as in my culture fun and games ends around 15.

When we had patients on my floor who had trouble with english, we always made an effort to find someone who spoke their language. If I know that there is someone on the unit from my country, I always visit them and offer my "translating" services. The family members almost always speak english, but when they leave, the older pts may need someone to help them out, to ask question.

I haven't seen staff to be frustrated with the language or culture barrier.

i think the biggest influence on the staff's disposition comes from patients who are ungreatful, incooperative and who truly enjoy abusing us.

Disablednurse · May 22, 2003

I have been in the hospital once in my hometown, everyone knew me and that I was a nurse. Had a hysterectomy, nursing staff never did anything for me, no washcloth, help with a bath, etc. Felt like I would have done better outpatient. Had surgery this past summer on my back out of town, nurses were wonderful. Husband almost died while staying with me at the hospital and they took care of both of us until he went to the ER. Everyone on the floor was concerned and petted and took great care of me. Experiences on complete different ends of the spectrum. Both places knew I was a nurse.

flashpoint · May 22, 2003

My five year old daughter was in the hospital a few months ago. The RN that was trying to start her IV couldn't get in...he was using a 20 gauge ona very small, very dehydrated five year old. After three attemtps, I told him to quit trying for a while. I grabbed one of the paramedics that was restocking his truck and he got a 22 on the first shot. When she was ready for her bath, the CNA that was teamed with her RN and LPN told me, "You know how to work the tub...call if you need anything." I had to get here towels and clean gown and I had to to to Pyxis myself and get her soap and lotion. I also changed her bed because I couldn't find anyone else to do it, emptied her specipan and recorded her I&0, and called the kitchen when they sent the wrong diet. I also had one nurse tell her she was too old to wet the bed...she was SICK, she had 25mg of phenergan IV just before she went to bed, and she had fluids going at 125 mL per hour...I'm over 30 and I might have wet the bed if I were in her shoes.

Needless to say I complained to management who basically laughed it off and told me that next time I should just refuse to do all of her cares...sigh.

frann · May 22, 2003

I had just had my second child. I'm not sure if they knew I was a nurse or not. but I had classic symptoms of pulm. edema-I later came to find out. I did not lose any weight after the birth- wouldn't a person at least lose the weight of the baby and placenta?, my face was all puffy,very sob. I only had 1 pp check after the baby was born and she was a float nurse. 24 hr stays make it hard to catch things.