Nurse as a Patient, treated badly, wanting to rant

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Specializes in Med Surg, SICU, MICU, CCU, Pulmonary.

***This is a very long story, but I have to get it off my chest, as I would have never dreamed of a patient, let alone me, being treated like this***

:yawn::no:

I am an RN (10 yrs experience in both med-surg and icu) who was just recently diagnosed w/ gastroparesis of unknown etiology and Mediastinal Lympadenopathy (oyy vay!); I was transferred from a small hospital in WV to Univeristy of Pittsburg Mercy Hospital.

I have a long ranting story, and want your opinions on my story. Of which, trust me, is all TRUE. Let me just start off by saying that bigger is not always better.

First off, they did not do a full head to toe admission and history on me. No Nursing Phyiscal assessment at all--no stethoscope, no lung sounds, etc. (although I was seen by a 3rd year resident 3 hours after my arrival, and 3 hours of waiting after being transported 4 hours by squad with my mother and sister following behind in private vehicle).

Second, I had no name band, and no allergy band on.

Thirdly, when I was asking a question about their TPN/Lipid policy (I was on TPN and Lipids when I arrived and they took it down immediately) and using "outside picc lines" I was rudely interrupted many times by my nurse stating "oh I'm not using that picc line, if will have to come out"; Of which, I refused (I just had it inserted the day before). In addition to this, she said she would "restart your tpn/lipids after pharmacy mixed it". Now is that not a contradiction, taking OUT a PICC line when you need it for TPN. SO I just asked, so are you starting a peripheral line for PPN, and she said "no". What is wrong with this picture? I am reading something into it?.

Another thing that happened, is that when I fell asleep, someone (I didn't know who at the time) gave me medicine sq in my llq, and how I know is that there is a bruise there that I didn't have when I entered. I woke up that morning with a sore stomach, and had a hunch so I asked the nurse about it and she said "Oh I gave you heparin"; OK, then she didn't follow JCAHO standards....2 identifiers, etc. because I still didn't have an armband at this point and she didn't wake me to confirm 2nd identifier;

This was the last straw.I signed out AMA (although still reluctantly d/t insurance not paying for the visit).

During the signing out: They have a policy that the medial staff who seen you (I seen a 3rd year resident 3 hrs after I arrived) has to see you before you leave. As I was signing she stood up, came toward me and said the was "demaning that you let me take that picc line out". I said absolutely not, that is attempted assault w/ battery. AM I RIGHT?

When I was leaving, I asked them to contact my family whom were staying in the same building, on a different floor for overnight family and was told "sorry I'm not on duty yet, I can't help you!".

I attempted to contact the patient liason 3 times w/ no success. I am just waiting on a bill, as soon as it comes, they are goint to have to EAT IT!!:argue:

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Wow, I would TICKED off too. That was terrible treatment. Did you at anytime speak with the nurse manager or house supervisor? If I wasn't getting the answers I wanted I would have bypassed my nurse and just went to them. If someone came at me with a needle and didn't explain what they were doing and what they were giving I would have a serious issue with them caring for me.

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Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

Hi,

If you are really serious about reporting the danger:

Go to the JAHCO website and report the hospital. Clearly list the infractions with specifics. That will be far stronger and more effective than any other measure if you truly want to give them a wake-up call.

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Specializes in Med Surg, SICU, MICU, CCU, Pulmonary.

I spoke to the house supervisor twice. First time right off the bat about not having a private room and being placed in with a Pneumonia patient. I agreed to stay in that room d/t the lady was being discharged the next day. I appologized for causing a ruckus right when I got there. Second time I spoke to her right before I left, and she was just very passive, and didn't offer any help at all. I am just so in a tizzy over this whole thing! I am going to go to JCAHO and report it, especially since they gave me medication while I was sleeping!

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

i had a horrible episode in my own hospital years ago which culminated in my signing out ama also. i was on the phone to the insurance company and my md the next morning at 0900, and sent a long letter to the vp of nursing, and cc'd everyone i could think of. within six weeks, the unit had a new manager and a bunch of new policies. (there wasn't a joint commission website back then.) if you don't report, how will they treat the next poor patient who doesn't know any better?????:argue:

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Please report that hospital to JCAHO. And I would write to the president of the hospital and to whomever the president of nursing is.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Do it ALL - report to JCAHO, letters to DON, hospital president, letter to administrative staff at your insurance company, the works. Squeaky wheels get the most action. I would squeak so loud they need hearing protection.

Might even consider a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. They most certainly did not follow any of their own policies, standards of care, etc. If there is any litigation against that facility already in progress, it might prove useful to have your info as well (assuming someone who needs the info reads the letter to the editor...).

Also - I'm sorry you are having to deal with this, on top of all your current health issues. You have enough on your plate, without having to have to receive sub-par care! Prayers for your health and recovery!!!!

:icon_hug:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I am so sorry for what you went through. I cannot imagine giving a patient heparin without waking them up or checking the name band!!!! Thank you for standing up against the pathetic care and treatment you received. I wish you a speedy recovery!:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

This is when you pull out the..."I'm a nurse. How dare you..." card. I would be stark-raving mad

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WOW! I don't blame you for being upset!

I think it's patterns like you describe that lead to the 80,000-100,000 estimated hospital patient deaths each year due to medical mistakes.

Please follow up and report this as others have suggested.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I am sorry for your experience, and sincerely hope you have found a source of high-quality specialized care.

I strongly encourage you to report your experience as the others have recommended.

I had a similar experience at the outpatient clinics of the University of Pennsylvania shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. I wrote letters to everyone I thought might be even remotely interested, and received prompt responses. I believe they made honest effort to improve, but I was never satisfied with my care there.

Fortunately, I had excellent local physicians whom I trusted with my care, and didn't have to rely on Penn for much other than consultation. I certainly learned that bigger is not always better. I believe their clinic had grown so rapidly that they had no idea how to manage it and couldn't find adequate qualified specialized staff. No excuse for poor care, though.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Definitely write a formal complaint.

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