Lack of advocacy for a fellow advocate

[Jkingnrs23yrs]

As a young student nurse in 1999, I recall the absolute importance our instructors placed on patient advocacy. Despite any backlash or bullying...” you are the patient’s voice!” This incredible feeling that I was gonna be helping patients who couldn’t help themselves stayed with me for 23 years. And bullying? Yes there was usually 1-2 bad apples but the first 10 years of nursing I always felt the amazing nurses whom I worked with we’re just as dedicated as I was to always being the best nurse to any patient under our care. Not only using nursing judgment, unwavering compassion and common sense for all patients. As the years went by I noticed the decline in morale, laziness and lack of compassion so many nurses had. But I remained steadfast in my promise to uphold the rights and integrity of every patient, in any department I was working. I didn’t realize the unbelievably difficult impact that blatant nursing negligence in patient care/advocacy had on patient, family and community..until January 7, 2022. My daughter, 25 years old , arrived via ambulance into an ED in Temple TX. EMTs didn’t give report, 2 male officers provided staff verbal report as follows; “unable to speak, only crying “physician and nurses (per all hospital records) documented this subjective information provided by officers.” 5’4 112lb female-patient was on a FIRST Tinder date, started attacking the man” pt incoherent, unable to state name. 2cm diameter contusion to forehead.” Labs showed Ativan, unidentified benzo, BAC. 2.7. EKG abnormal, VS abnormal with R-30 HR- 126 , BP 164/96. SATS wnl @ 100% on RA. “ Patient admitted on diagnosis of possible attempted suicide and alcohol poisoning.” “Pt gave consent for labs, orders executed , urine collected via straight cath. Urine yellow, cloudy and appears to have mucous “. Lab showed large amounts hematuria/ mod mucous . Pt now lying in bed asleep with NS @ 125ml/ hr to left AC”. Male CNA at patients bedside to monitor “. ERK!.. OK Q and A time! What is wrong with this entire picture? Any patient coming in an ER naked and severely beaten, what would your first thought be? Although it wouldn’t matter if it were a homeless large man or a very small stature female with noticeably expensive plastic surgery and nails done professionally .. brought in this condition? ATTEMPTED SUICIDE? Why would any female attempt suicide on a first date with a stranger?? I would expect and obtain without question orders for STAT labs, ekg and mri. AFTER head to toe assessment, being extremely careful not to do anything that could possibly remove evidence of possible assault AND having a same sex nurse  or CNA monitor continuously! This completely disgusting inhumane display of medical negligence happened to my child. And I’m at a loss for words on how ashamed I am. Not just of the lack of care/direction provided by ER physician that night , not just the lack of advocacy..of several female nurses on staff at unamed ED that shift..it was the lack of heart. No empathy, no compassion, the inhumanity shown is indescribable!  No head to toe assessment was done! I know this as evidence by the following. Had any of them preformed any sort of even a half done assessment .. they would have documented “8” prominent, raised scar,  C6 to crown of head, apparent hx of brain or similar surgery” and the 2cm diameter contusion to forehead? Would have been accurately documented as 1 of 6 hematomas, smallest being 3”diameter contusion w/ ecchymosis. Patient also has hair extensions, furthering evidence of previous brain/skull surgery. The bruising to flanks, inner thighs, outer hips. Abrasions to bilat knees, bilat elbows,  chin. A circular burn to left posterior shoulder. Bright red blood to inner thighs bilat noted , visually noted from lady partsl/ rectum area and  a semi oval deep red injury to outer left hip.. an obvious bite mark.. not documented. After many hours, days, weeks, now months of researching , all reports from this ER , police reports, talking to everyone from “the date” she had that horrific night to the amazing SANE team at a well known county hospital in FTW TX , where she received impeccable nursing care. These nurses found all injuries (previously stated in this post) And severe internal injuries to  lady parts, rectum, cervix. Reports from these amazing nurses/MD showed “ a violent rape with trauma associated with a 15” object/ and or multiple persons , rectal tearing also noted” Why so much unknown information? My daughter left and divorced her husband. After 3 months of no dating or time for friends. Being tired from travel nursing 2 shifts/wk and going to college FT to advance her career and daily studying so she could once again .. graduate with honors(3.9 GPA) despite recovering from Chiari Malformation repair only 2 years prior,  she decided Tinder may be a way to meet a nice man. He groomed her for 2 weeks. Playing on her obvious love of children, he emphasized importance of his 4 year old beautiful son. 1-7-2022 she decided it was safe to meet a fireman of a small Texas town, 2 hours from home. Arriving at his very nice, well cared for home, approx 1800. After he poured her 1st glass of wine, directed her to sit on edge of his bed. Within minutes she felt an intense warm feeling.. fade to black. She woke up in nearby hospital @ 0600. Seeing an IV running and exteme generalized pain she rated at a 8.. she asked the male CNA “ Why am I here? Car accident!?” He responded with “ you don’t remember nothin?! You were brought in butt naked girl! By police! And you were out of it!” She asked for her nurse..asking “please tell what happened , I hurt everywhere and my lady parts is really hurting “. Oh the nurse brought her an ultram, but never documented where pain was? Why would any rational nurse ignore lady partsl pain!!? Why wasn’t anyone asking why males brought her in.. why couldn’t she state her name. There’s not a single explanation or excuse for the horrible medical care my daughter received that night. Those nurses should have stopped and said wait.. what? She’s hurt. She’s been rendered completely incoherent/unable to consent! We have no SANE TEAM.. TRANSPORT STAT!  When attempting to get information from hospital ED Temple, we were  treated with absolute disrespect. No apology from nurses,physician or hospital administration. The impact has been so severe it has threatened every aspect of her life! The lack of appropriate medical care that night has had a domino effect that has not stopped. This will be a long, hard fight. But she’s always been relentless with reaching her goals for life and career.  I do have to remind her of how she’s always been tough, stubborn and stands for what’s right. It’s in our blood to survive whatever obstacle is in front of our family. I am posting this not only to wake up any nurses who don’t question peers, who think lack of advocacy can’t change an entire family, or those who have lost the reason inside that led you into nursing, find it again. If you can’t.. change careers. This isn’t a job that anyone can do! Dedication is mandatory! Compassion for others is a necessity! And to thank the nurses who wouldn’t stop fighting for my daughter and continue this fight. One of our own in our amazing family of nurses..needs prayers. Please say a prayer for “A”. Sincerely Jking.