Negative experience in the ER

[Sadie04]

A few nights ago I spent several hours in the ER with my brother who is 23 and an alcoholic. He had cheated on his girlfriend so she moved out and decided to get revenge by bringing 2 of her guy friends over under the pretense of moving some of her stuff out. These 2 guys ended up beating my brother unmercifully, then stabbed him, stole several hundred dollars in cash and some of his possessions, and took off. He called me after they left and by the time I got there, his landlord had called the cops and an ambulance was parked outside. They wouldn't let me see him so I followed the ambulance to the hospital. They did a head CT which was negative, closed a stab would in his head with 8 staples, and sutured 2 lacs on his face. He was covered in blood from head to toe from the stab wound and all he had on was a pair of bloody underwear and 2 bloody socks. The resident stapled and sutured him and then left. Then we sat in the cubicle for 3 hours with no sign of a nurse or tech. No one bothered to wipe off any of the blood that was all over his face and in his eyes and ears. Finally I went through the cupboards and found some towels and cleaned him up myself. Then I had to go find some johnny pants and a johnny for him to put on so he wouldn't have to leave the hospital in his underwear since the paramedics cut his clothes off. I didn't expect anyone to wait on him, I just wanted him to be treated with a little bit of dignity

I worked at this hospital for 4 years as a float nurse, including the ER, and always tried to make time to at least make my patients feel human. When his nurse finally did come in to discharge him 3 1/2 hours later I asked her if it was busy and she said "not really.":confused:

Sorry for the rant, but the whole situation was very upsetting.

[Mulan]

I'm sorry that your brother had such a horrible thing happen and for your experience in the hospital.

Why don't you say just what you said here in a letter and send it to the CEO of the hospital?

[grannynurse FNP student]

A few nights ago I spent several hours in the ER with my brother who is 23 and an alcoholic. He had cheated on his girlfriend so she moved out and decided to get revenge by bringing 2 of her guy friends over under the pretense of moving some of her stuff out. These 2 guys ended up beating my brother unmercifully, then stabbed him, stole several hundred dollars in cash and some of his possessions, and took off. He called me after they left and by the time I got there, his landlord had called the cops and an ambulance was parked outside. They wouldn't let me see him so I followed the ambulance to the hospital. They did a head CT which was negative, closed a stab would in his head with 8 staples, and sutured 2 lacs on his face. He was covered in blood from head to toe from the stab wound and all he had on was a pair of bloody underwear and 2 bloody socks. The resident stapled and sutured him and then left. Then we sat in the cubicle for 3 hours with no sign of a nurse or tech. No one bothered to wipe off any of the blood that was all over his face and in his eyes and ears. Finally I went through the cupboards and found some towels and cleaned him up myself. Then I had to go find some johnny pants and a johnny for him to put on so he wouldn't have to leave the hospital in his underwear since the paramedics cut his clothes off. I didn't expect anyone to wait on him, I just wanted him to be treated with a little bit of dignity

I worked at this hospital for 4 years as a float nurse, including the ER, and always tried to make time to at least make my patients feel human. When his nurse finally did come in to discharge him 3 1/2 hours later I asked her if it was busy and she said "not really.":confused:

Sorry for the rant, but the whole situation was very upsetting.

I can only guess at why your brother was treated in the manner in which he was but there is really no excuse for his treatment. Regardless of why a patient is brought into an ER, he/she deserves to be treated with common curtsey and dignity. There is no reasonable excuse for the manner in which he was treated. I hope all works out for him.

Grannynurse:balloons:

[Sadie04]

Thanks Mulan and Grannynurse. The whole experience just reaffirmed for me why I left that facility 6 months ago. It's a large teaching hospital where patients are often treated as more of a number than a human being. It's disappointing to realize that some nurses have no compassion for their patients. No matter who the patient is - alcoholic, drug addict, homeless person, - they still deserve to be treated with basic human dignity.

I am considering writing a letter to the CEO. I only hope he reads it personally.

[suzanne4, RN]

CEO, as well as CNO. And you can move up the chain if you do not get any response. This type of care is simply inexcusable, no matter where the facility or type of facility.

[bluestar]

CEO, as well as CNO. And you can move up the chain if you do not get any response. This type of care is simply inexcusable, no matter where the facility or type of facility.

I agree. Let us know what kind of response you get.