I was horrified today!!!!

Published

Today i got a 38 year old patient in by ambulance from a ECF. He had a stroke a year and a half ago and is not able to move on his own. He understands everything that is said and can answer any questions you ask of him. First of all the paramedic said more then once in front of the patient how bad he smelled, it was bad to say it once but she kept saying it and he could hear and understand her. Then as I am doing my assesment I see he has a foley that looked like it had been there for months, with no urine in the bag. He was on a cloth pad that was soaked in urine and had been there awhile. He had ***** drainage arount the entrance of the cath also. A huge bed sore on his cocyxx, and one on his heel that went to the bone. He had a temp and looked like crap!!!!! I changed his foley and got over 2000cc of the nastiest urine I have ever seen in my life (and I have seen alot of nasty urine). He also had a PICC line that had a dressing that looked like it had not been changed in forever!!!!!!!! I called the ECF and asked when his foley had been changed and of course they could not give me an answer!!!!! I guess my biggest gripe about the whole thing is how can any nurse work in a place like that and live with themselves????? Anyway sorry just had to vent!!!!

I say report it imeediately. Then the authorities can handle the neglect or abuse.

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

I'll go with everyone else and say REPORT IT. As for the rude EMT, I have been known to say things like "you are being very rude to MR. X, he can hear and understand you", right in front of the pt, just to get the other person to shut up! And that make the pt feel as if you care, and will advocate for him. Now, I wouldn't be rude to the EMT, just correct his/her assumption that the pt is an inanimate object!

PS: wanted to say, thanks for your worry about this pt, some nurses/doctors/ect would just ignore it and think, well thats how it is in the NH/ECF. You must be a great nurse!

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I have a reputation for being able to shut down an 18-wheeler with a look. I am not sure what I do but it seems to work when anybody gets mouthy in front of a patient. Disrespecting a patient is one of my biggest pet peeves.

To protect our facility, if something like what you have described comes in, we take a few photos and keep them in the chart. We once found a dirty glove inside a dressing on a stasis ulcer.

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thank God for nurses like you.

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Definitely report the ECF.

I'm going to play devil's advocate for the medic: was she disrespecting the pt or complaining about the ECF's lack of care? Not saying that the latter makes it okay to say it in front of the pt but it's less cruel than disrespecting the pt. If I had been the nurse and the medic was complaining about the facility, I would have pulled her aside and told her to imagine being in the pt's place and hearing that. If she were disrespecting the pt I would have called her supervisor.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

REPORT THEM, REPORT THEM, REPORT THEM!!!!!!!!

Talk to the medic the next time you see her, or call the stattion and ask to speak to her. She may have been just as horrified as you are, and unable to contain any longer. She was out of line, and definately needs some remedial sensitivity training.

Definately report the ECF, that type of "treatment" needs to be stopped!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

Document, document, document until your fingers bleed. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

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Specializes in ER, Flight.

I am guessing that as in most states you are mandated to report neglect which this appears to be. Report them asap!!!

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Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

poor pt .report them document it we take pictures and are mandated reporters.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I changed his foley and got over 2000cc of the nastiest urine I have ever seen in my life (and I have seen alot of nasty urine). He also had a PICC line that had a dressing that looked like it had not been changed in forever!!!!!!!! I called the ECF and asked when his foley had been changed and of course they could not give me an answer!!!!! I guess my biggest gripe about the whole thing is how can any nurse work in a place like that and live with themselves????? Anyway sorry just had to vent!!!!

I would be getting APS (adult protective services) on the phone also, PRONTO! They are very good and work quickly. I have called them 3 times and in each case they have removed the patient and placed them in a good facility in less than a weeks time.

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Specializes in SICU.

OMG. Horrific, unexcusable... and I KNOW you're going to report this.

That poor, poor man... how awful. I was just telling my husband about this and he said something that is very true: "When someone is unable to speak for themselves and they have no one to advocate for them, oftentimes they are no longer viewed as people."

We must all strive to be advocates, in the loudest voice possible, for patients like this one.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

This was posted in 2005. You guys had me all worried about this man.

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