Glen Beck's hospital experience

moseisley · Jan 13, 2008

EndgameRN, thanks for pointing out the mistake. "Republican Senators" should just read senator. Fixed :). And yes we should keep politics out of this, and just look at the individual.

I'm not trying to judge Glen Beck, but I am trying to get to the heart of the issue here. People going to the ER for drug seeking behavior is a huge problem and is what desensitizes some nurses and doctors to those in pain. That said, since none of us truly know the truth here, I would extend my post by saying that if Glen Beck has a recurrence of narcotic addiction, that he should be taken care of in a holistic fashion. Perhaps he is in spiritual distress.

You are wise and polite EndgameRN

Actually now that I think of it, we should teach in nursing and medical school what 'narcotic addiction' typically presents as (doctor fishing, filling at numerous different pharmacies, not accepting anything but dilaudid or allergic to all the others), and then offer treatment for it when we make the diagnosis because in a way it is a cry for help. The problem I see though is that if you label someone with that diagnosis - when they really are in pain, they may not be taken care of (boy who cried wolf). Perhaps instead of ever diagnosing someone with a narcotic addiction - just recommend holistic care for everyone in pain, win win. I learned something from this discussion.

NotAMed · Jan 14, 2008

Hello,

After seeing Glen Beck's video and reading many comments, I feel compelled to add my input as a non medical person.

First I would say that I easily disagree with Glen Beck on >90% issues.

And, I would state that his video's accuracy and intention can be questioned.

But, he does raise a very relevant issue for me personally.

A few years ago, I had very severe case of food poisoning and my wife drove me to the Washington Hospital, in Fremont, CA. 11:00PM at night.

I had fodd poisoning before, but this time I was convulsing so much that I was getting delirious, and losing consciousness once in a while.

The Emergency Room nurses there refuse to see me, while a parade of characters (my wife can see that many of them are claiming to be seriously ill, yet they still had the ability to speak, stand, etc.) were getting to see nurses and doctors.

Because my wife told them I had food poisoning, we guess that the nurses assumed that I would recover eventually. But, I did suffer very severely. I had lost my body control that I was shaking and could not even sit in a chair.

Even after seeing my condition from their vantage point, the nurses still refuse to even examine me, while several nurses were just chatting or filling out paper work.

I thought i would die.

At around 1:00AM, we were sick of waiting and my wife decided to drive me home. the nurse even had the audacity to try to force my wife to sign that we waived treatment.

if i had a gun at that second, i would definitely have put a bullet right between that nurse's eyes. ( i was so ill, that i thought i was going to die.)

To conclude, Glen Beck's motives can be questioned, but he raises a good point for the poor quality of care that patients sometimes receive.

I would also add that it's a good thing for me and those nurses that I didn't die. if I did, my parents would gladly sacrifice themselves to revenge the death of their child. I would do the same for my child.

Any comments.

EmmaG, RN · Jan 14, 2008

if i had a gun at that second, i would definitely have put a bullet right between that nurse's eyes. ( i was so ill, that i thought i was going to die.)
I would also add that it's a good thing for me and those nurses that I didn't die. if I did, my parents would gladly sacrifice themselves to revenge the death of their child. I would do the same for my child.
Any comments.

Yeah, I do.

I think you're sick.

End Game RN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

Greetings Baptized By Fire;

Way off topic, just wanted to address your post.

Just got home from one of our farms. Pregnant mare with an issue and expected due date this coming week. We are doing blood DNA collection on some of our foals and their parents on Wednesday after which I have to Fed Ex the specimens to New Mexico, first stop with the final journey ending in Spain. It would not be far from the truth to tell you I work 24/7 and am on call year 'round for our farms. My mental health break. Nursing leads one down many many roads.

You are correct!! My clinical judgment and how I act on my assessments are of primary importance when caring for this patient population. My education, my experiences and knowledge, communicating my findings to our surgical teams, our ICU attendings and nurse managers and who ever else needs to be aware of what is happening to my patients are invaluable when providing a high level of nursing care.

As for protocols..I consider them a guideline..giving me a lot of room to act quickly on a changing critical situation. I initiate all necessary interventions that I determine are appropriate to whatever situation is occurring. From A to Z I will do what I know is right and stabilizes the patient until someone from one of our teams arrive on the scene. I do not wait for a physician. I order stat lab work, Chest x-rays, other neurological changes that go along with treating a severe brain injured patient with cerebral edema, contusions, traumatic IVH, name it..I order a portable plain brain CT scan stat. Since I am friends with pretty much everyone in our level 1 facility I get what I want when I want it. My reputation is such that I am not questioned when I tell these other services what is needed. When someone from our trauma team or ICU team arrives, I give a quick report of all of the above interventions and give a filled out physicians order sheet for everything that we did...Uh...it is signed without question after it is first reviewed. By this time our medical /surgical teams arrive and continue on with the care of the patient with all of us now participating, controlling the situation as best we can, and yes, some of us will go to the family or friends of the patient providing information and a supportive presence.

In this way and in other situations I do make life and death decisions for my patients. I don't wait for a warm body to show up and tell me step by step what needs to be done.

I am careful and never make an uneducated decision when I finally choose the the intervention/s most appropriate to the patient's changing status. I am fortunate to work with a great group of nursing professionals. We offer each other support and educated input when dealing with a rapidly changing situation. At times it seems as if we work as one unit, knowing without speaking who is doing what and why. Freaky I guess.

I have always been unable to separate clinical professional assessments and interventions from the psychological support I offer unconsciously, I simply do this while I perform clinical assessment and the interventions required. I will in certain situations ( not during a major life-threating crisis ) include family members: inviting those who are interested and willing to participate in the patient's care when the patient's condition allows this. I encourage them to ask questions, take notes when appropriate, and advise some family members to utilize the internet to help them understand a patient's condition and interventions initiated by nursing and medical, surgical teams.

I don't feel any pressure when working, interacting with my families since I initiate our relationship from the moment I meet them. They get my cell phone number and I give them the times they may call me. I tell them not to call me to the telephone in the nurses station since this requires me to actually leave the patient. Many times the families that I work with, (two patients and 100 or so visitors for each patient..multicultural community) develop a relationship with each other since they are "sharing" me..as I have been frequently told.

In the end, you are right, but I was tooo lazy to write this in the last posting. Thought I'd do so now. I realize that there is more to nursing then love, caring and support. Some of our clients have no one else to support them during their hospitalization and surgery..whatever...so its something we all do for those patients who fall into this category.

Education, experience, my relationships with all of those who provide care to our patient population and a passion for this profession is what carries me through my day.

I like you..take care

Eeka End Game RN

End Game RN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

Hi Moseisley,

Just wanted to tell you that I apologize for having written in such a sarcastic manner. I offer no excuses. Re -reading what I had written shamed me and was unacceptable.

I will in the future think twice or more often before submitting another response to anyones postings.

I will tell you that Mr. Beck doesn't have a narcotic addiction. He was frightened, overdosed, mismanaged and ill informed of what he could expect from this surgery and post op management. His experience plus the weird video showing him to be orbiting around the Klingon Home World did not help his reputation. He has frequently admitted to being a recovering alcoholic (many years ago)and has never made an attempt to hide this. In closing, he does seem to come across as a nice guy..had a bad experience and made poor choices when he went public in the manner that he did.

Thanks again for your kind words!!!

Sincerely and with respect

Eeka End Game RN

This is just my clinical assessment.

Batman24 · Jan 14, 2008

EndGame-

I'm sorry to read about some of your experiences. They were awful on so many different levels. I wanted to see what happened after you reported the male nurse and the circumstances you encountered with him?!That is just about evey patient's worst nightmare. I have been treated by a male nurse in the past and had no issue with it as he was so professional and treated me with such dignity. This nurse did the exact and utter opposite. And the fact that they wouldn't let your female friend in the room with you sends off all sorts of lightbulbs. I hope he felt some backlash for his actions. No one deserves to be abused that way.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 14, 2008

Greetings Baptized By Fire;
I am careful and never make an uneducated decision when I finally choose the the intervention/s most appropriate to the patient's changing status.
I have always been unable to separate clinical professional assessments and interventions from the psychological support I offer unconsciously, I simply do this while I perform clinical assessment and the interventions required. I will in certain situations ( not during a major life-threating crisis ) include family members: inviting those who are interested and willing to participate in the patient's care when the patient's condition allows this. I encourage them to ask questions, take notes when appropriate, and advise some family members to utilize the internet to help them understand a patient's condition and interventions initiated by nursing and medical, surgical teams.
In the end, you are right, but I was tooo lazy to write this in the last posting. Thought I'd do so now. I realize that there is more to nursing then love, caring and support. Some of our clients have no one else to support them during their hospitalization and surgery..whatever...so its something we all do for those patients who fall into this category.
Education, experience, my relationships with all of those who provide care to our patient population and a passion for this profession is what carries me through my day.
I like you..take care
Eeka End Game RN

Well, I like you, too. And I'd work next to you any day!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

Never having seen this person before on TV, my first impression was that he was completely doped up. In other words, his perceptions were off and rambling into places even I, with my very broad definition of reality, could not follow.

emmycRN · Jan 14, 2008

EndGame- Since you mentioned that politics may have colored some of our perceptions I wanted to clarify one thing about myself... I am a conservative Republican who enjoys listening to talk radio, especially Rush Limbaugh, and on occasion I even catch Glen Beck's show.

Also, I am truly sorry to hear of the experiences you and your family have had. I hope you and yours are well and happy.

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Jan 15, 2008

If Glenn Beck thinks that a hemmrhoidectomy and Fentanyl trip conjure up horror-movie style despair ... he's obviously had a blessed life.
What a whiner.

Hee. Spoken like a true ER nurse. :lol2:

moseisley · Jan 15, 2008

Actually no apologies necessary endgamern, you were right on about keeping politics out of this discussion. After reading this thread I kind of moved more midline of this whole discussion...I think this whole case just illustrates how complex patient and doctor perceptions can be and how completely out of sync with reality either can get.

Chilly_hands · Jan 15, 2008

Here's a silly question. Did Glen Beck actually "write" the article or did someone type what he had spoken? You have to sign in to "hear" the audio and it costs to do that and I'm not that interested. If it were the case that it was him speaking, that would make total sense of the bad grammar.

Just wondering.