I had a laminectomy with a microdiscectomy last week. The hospital I was in was one of the better ones. I woke up post op-took myself to the bathroom. Crawled back into bed, no one had answered my call button yet. Had a Morphine PCA thank god!!! Pushed it, took a deep breathe and tryed to sleep. Heard an alarm, the nurse came in, I was desating she put on O2. Left the room. I drifted in and out of a drug induced stupor, got up to pee without help again. Alarms started ringing, I pushed the call bell, a CNA came in. Told him my alarms were going off, what did they say? He told me my heart rate was below 50, I said get the nurse. Off he went. Some time later I heard another alarm, turned to look my BP was 83/40, heart rate was 48, called the nurse again. CNA came in, told him to get the nurse. She finally came in, I said "Can't you put me on Tele or something?" She told me my doctor was gone and she couldn't and proceded to give me a bolus. Then left. After the 500cc bolus I was up to pee alot, without help most of the time. Everything finally came around okay, thank god. I was terified I was going to CODE!!!!!!!!!!! Alone!!!!!!!!!! The next day PT came in to show me how to log roll, I had gotten out of bed how many times at this point???? Then they discharged me home, to another state with NO PAIN MEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! My doctor is the Cheif of Medicine at this hospital, what should I do????? What would you do?? I am a nurse guys........what about the other people who don't know better???
It is sad how many of these stories there are. After my last baby I had a tubal the next day. After surg. I went back to the floor and tried repeatedly to get a nurse to bring my pain med. but evvery time I called the sec. said my nurse was in another room. It took a nurse friend of mine coming in and seeing me in tears and going to the station to finally get my med. Then they sent me home w/o my prescription, I couldn't lift my baby for about three days. I didn't write it up b/c it happened at my institution but I should have. How many others did not receive their pain meds and didn't have friends on staff?
When I had my baby a few weeks ago the care was excellent. Of course, JHACO was on the unit, but I would hate to think that is the only reason they rushed to wait on me hand and foot and made sure I was in as little pain as possible.
On the flip side, my husband spent nearly a month in the hospital following a bka...The staff there was wonderful. Very helpful and call lights answered promptly. I was able to stay in the room with him and even though I could do many of the things for him, it seems they were always there to help with a smile! It was probably the best hospital stay I have seen.
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. I totally feel for you. I've had a couple experiences too, both at the "#1" hospital in the area. I will say though, that I've had good experiences too.
Last year I stayed overnight in a holding unit...OMG, it was *horrible*. The worst was being in pain and hitting my call light, and no one even peeked in the room to ask what I needed or to say someone will be right in. That light literally was on for 45 minutes! The husband of the woman on the other side of the curtain finally went and got a nurse (my husband was recovering at home from major surgery). When she came in she had the nerve to say "You're a nurse, you know how it is".....HUH?! Sorry chickie, but this nurse would pop her head into *any* room with a light on to at least see what's wrong, and to say someone is coming if appropriate. What if I'd been having chest pain??!!
But the worst thing is I let it go and never reported it (there's more to it, but I don't want to "hijack" your thread!). Now I would always report poor care, but on the flip side report excellent care as well (it's nice to hear the good stuff too). But if a loved one is ever in the hospital, I'm at their side-cuz you never know!
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fronkey bean
491 Posts
It is sad how many of these stories there are. After my last baby I had a tubal the next day. After surg. I went back to the floor and tried repeatedly to get a nurse to bring my pain med. but evvery time I called the sec. said my nurse was in another room. It took a nurse friend of mine coming in and seeing me in tears and going to the station to finally get my med. Then they sent me home w/o my prescription, I couldn't lift my baby for about three days. I didn't write it up b/c it happened at my institution but I should have. How many others did not receive their pain meds and didn't have friends on staff?
Hope you are feeling better BarbQ