Isn't this a joke?

Nurses General Nursing

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Monday I was admitted to surgical outpatient for cautery of bleeders in my stomach. In today's mail there was what looked like an engraved invitation from the hospital. When I opened it up, it had notes on it that said "it was such a pleasure taking care of you, it was great working with you, blah blah blah." Each note was handwritten by each nurse or helper in different colored ink.

Hardly anyone talked to me except for the one that got me an extra warm blanket and the doc and cute young nurse were flirting with each other. Isn't this a hoot!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: baahaha !!! Too funny.

While I think it's a really nice gesture for a nurse to call after you've been released, to check on you etc. (wish we'd see more of that, really), the other stuff about signing and sending a card is a load of BS in my opinion.

Wonder how much money the hospital spends on cards, postage, etc. per year. Looks to me like that $$ could be wiser spent.

I would much prefer to be treated well while in the hospital, and be able to actually SEE a nurse now and then, rather than just racing up and down the halls with barely a moment to peek in at you .. perhaps have someone actually LISTEN to you for a couple minutes and act like they really care.. than to get a formal, snazzy card in the mail which REEKS of "satisfaction survey". :rolleyes:

I agree 100%......

places where people are always treated well, where staffing is truly adequate and the staff generally happy to work there, don't need gimicky things like this at all.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

How are you feeling now, Movingalong???

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How are you feeling now, Movingalong???

Hi SmilingBlueEyes:

Thank for asking. I had this procedure where a cautery was done for some bleeders in my stomach from taking too much Mortrin. Anyway, It was done this Monday, I felt well afterward as well as Tuesday, then found out that I had passed my RN NCLEX and then Wednesday I was in a shopping center and all of a sudden I got weak, nauseated, pale. I laid down on a bench for a minute and next thing I know there were all these people wanting to do CPR on me. Haha. Anyway I got myself up and drove home and stayed there for the next couple of days.

What I am curious about is why the delay? I think it probably because they gave me a pain block and it wore off about the time I was in the shopping center. I had this happen before with surgery for a medial menisectomy and the next day I went walking around and by the time I got home I guess the block had worn off and pain you wouldn't believe. I guess it's about time I learned not to do things like that.

Anyway, today is Saturday and I feel great. Thanks again for asking.

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I agree 100%......

places where people are always treated well, where staffing is truly adequate and the staff generally happy to work there, don't need gimicky things like this at all.

I always thought when they called after you were d/c'd that this was routine protocol. Like a safety measure to prevent complications if they should arise. I think this is a very good thing.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

a call is great. but engraved cards, i consider buttering up.

i am glad you are doing better and congrats on passing NCLEX!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

At the small community hospital I get 95% of my care at, the Day Surgery nurses (the BEST I've ever met - truly!) and the L&D staff each send cards or make phone calls. I'm sure they have more time, since it's a very small hospital, but it does make one feel remembered (in a way that the 3-page long itemized bill doesn't! ;)).

I'm just a student right now, but I have yet to be on a floor where any of the nurses would have time to do something like that.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I agree with pricklypear. Of course they want their names to show up on the patient satisfaction survey. They get the name drop, and what little perk do they recieve for doing such a "great" job? HMmmmm,,,,been there seen that. Would rather know that i have done MY best for a patient and let the institution get the praise, i dont care if they know my name or not.

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You can bet it wasn't their bright idea to send you the thank you notes. It's doubtful they even remembered you as they were writing them up.

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I've never received any card, and I've never heard of any practice like this.

However, after my grandfather had passed, we got a a couple of standard letters from the hospital, just giving the numbers to community agencies to call if you need anything. We got one at a week and a month?? Something like that... I don't remember exactly.

But they also sent one... and this one was the most meaningful... exactly at a year after he passed. It was just a standard letter, stating about grief, and how there is a stereotypical "one year" grieving period, and some people need more time than that. It was so nice to receive a letter like this!!!

I know it wasn't a personal letter, but it didn't need to be. ((Maybe I'm naive, too...)) One year anniversary of a death is always a difficult one - even when you think you are healing, one year can kinda reach up and slap you in the face. Really puts that customer-service foot forward.

(I think most places stop sending you letters after your loved ones' bills are paid!) It doesn't take much to stamp an envelope with a standard form letter in it... but it meant a lot. I wish more hospitals had programs like that...

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Were you under sedation? Did you see anyone?

To me it's like the inane saying "have a nice day!"

Hello movingalong :)

Yes, I was under sedation. I don't remember a thing. Now that is the kind of colonoscopy to have. :rotfl: I was taken from my outpatient room wide awake and taken to the procedure room where I was greeted by the doctor and one nurse. Once the doc and nurse talked with me, took vitals, explained again what was going to be done, etc., etc., the doc said "enjoy your sleep". Next thing I remember, I woke up back in my room. My daughter and the nurse said I was hard to wake up, so let me sleep a bit (several hours after the procedure if I remember correctly). :rotfl: I always have trouble waking up quickly once put to sleep, and I'm always nauseas afterwards. So, once I could tolerate eating a popsicle, potty, and was aware of my surroundings, I was discharged. I'm still wondering what the heck was done while I was "OUT" all that time. :rotfl:

Now, don't you think I will EXPECT a nice thank you card from now on every time I have a procedure, surgery, hospital stay? You bet I will. I'll write them up if I don't get one. :rotfl:

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My daughter went through 7 hospitalizations in a winter a few years back. We were at Children's Hospital. The care there was beyond wonderful. We didn't receive any cards afterwards......maybe we weren't gone long enough between visits.....anyways, we did start getting calls and letters asking for donations to help those who couldn't pay for their hospitalizations. I finally told them that we are our own donation. The hospitalizations put up far into debt. They quit calling after that.

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Where I work the card and the follow up phone call are mandatory.

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