nursing career is looking grim!!!!!!!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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My husband posted a few times on here about what had happened and asked for some advice. I just thought I would make a post and tell everyone what has happened.

I graduated on December 12th. I was supposed to start on the 15th however my physical showed a hernia. I had to have this repaired before I could start. I had the surgery on december 22nd and went home Christmas day. After 3 trips to the doctor and surgeon and 2 trips to the ER I was admitted again. I had surgery a second time and the next day I was told that I had MRSA. The following day I was told that I also had Pseudomonas. I had surgery again this time to remove the mesh that was put in to help prevent any future hernia's. I have been home for almost 3 weeks now and my incision is almost completly closed. I am still on IV antibiotics and 2 oral anitbiotics. My most recent visit to the surgeon was devistating as he stated he was not going to release me because he does not want me lifting anything over 30 lbs and that is not for at least 6 months. When I asked if I will be able to work he asked if I could get a desk job. I know there are other avenues to try and pursue however I did not go to nursing school to work behind a desk or be a secretary( no disrespect to the nurses that do work behind a desk) this is not what I intendid when I started the program.

Just thought I would get some thoughts from other nurses.

Even though I hate the sue word we are in a law suite against the doctors and hospital.

It is not even just about being a nurse(that is a big part though) I can't even pick up my children, help my husband, go anywhere and my damn doctor laughs about it and says that infections happen!!!! Sorry i am venting now, maybe hearing from some of you will help me out some.

thanks

Specializes in NICU.

NICU_RNwantsFL - you took the words right out of my mouth, LOL! I also agree that no one should go into NICU just because of lifting restrictions, as it is definitely NOT for everyone.

It's funny, we actually have nurses on the unit who have weight restrictions - no more than 10 pound babies, etc. Most of them worked adult care and damaged their backs.

I do often wonder if I'll get carpal tunnel from the way we hold the little ones, as I've actually heard of this!

:eek:

GOOD LUCK lildebbie, and hang in there!

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Specializes in Rehab, Step-down,Tele,Hospice.

Yeah it sounds like the mesh might be what caused the infections. I have been in many many OR cases where the OR team knows something has been contaminated but use it anyway and laughingly say"that's what antibiotic's are for" Really sorry this happened to you. Best Wishes.

PS. Before I get slammed from OR people, just want to say I LOVE the OR, I graduate this summer and already have a job lined up in the main OR at my local hospital. Im just saying that as a Surgical Tech for the last 10 years I have seen it happen.

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

I am sorry sorry so sorry.

But perhaps the ordeal you have gone thru is coloring your perception of what you can and will be doing. YOU CAN BE A NURSE...YOU can realize that dream. Please, hang in there and be patient. When you heal and have had time to cope with all you have been thru lately, you will have a lot of new perspective by then.

I wish you a complete recover and peace as time goes by. Time does heal these kinds of things and you now have time to PLAN that career you so want. Hang in there friend!:kiss

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Originally posted by sjoe

"Just thought I would get some thoughts from other nurses."

Some thoughts about WHAT? If you have a question, simply ask it.

that was a pretty rude response...

and your a nurse?!?! Geesh...I certainly hope not.:rolleyes:

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First of all thank you to all who have me in thier prayers, any type of support when a person is in need is appreciated, thank all of you!!!!!!

Originally posted by sjoe

"Just thought I would get some thoughts from other nurses."

Some thoughts about WHAT? If you have a question, simply ask it.

If that is the way you talk, you need advice and consulting more than I do.

Buddhakan

However, what strikes me is the juxtapositioning of such a thing before your first day ever being employed in a health care setting.

I have been in the health care setting for 11 years now(just not as a nurse).

What amazes me is someone's capacity to discuss legal action while about to pursue a career in nursing.

So just because your a nurse it would be ok if during surgery the doctor messes up and cuts off the wrong leg, or leaves a scaple inside you, or maybe takes an organ out without consulting you or your family, I guess as nurses we should turn the other cheek. I am not pursuing the legal matters just for the heck of it, these doctors caused problems that will affect me for the rest of my life and possibly could make me not pursue what I set out to do. I do not enjoy doing it however I can not just let it go either.

However, considering the fact that you intend to be entering a profession where you yourself my face other unrealistic expectations..... I'm sorry I don't know all that much about your particular case and I grant you in many cases seeking legal advice and action is warranted.

I did not or still do not have unrealistic expectations. I was not trying to be the president, I want to become a critical care nurse. I graduated 1st in my class and just wanted to start my nursing career. I was not expecting to become a millionare however having a wonderfull supportive family and the career that you wanted makes me feel like a millionare. Even though I still feel I can become a nurse that could be an unrealistc expectation thanks to a few doctors and a hosptal.

P.S.- Wonders how someone may feel as a defendant should they have to provide their own liability coverage lol

You would not need to be a defendant if you follow the rules, be carefull, be a little caring, have some compassion(I know this one is a hard one at times) and don't think you know everything. I understand that one things are just going to happen and mistakes do happen. what I am saying is if one person shoots someone one time that could be an accident however if 3 people shoot someone 3 times, that is not an accident and it could have been prevented.

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Did you ever investigate how you got the infections, are the theaters that you were operated in not infected?

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OK, y'all - I am confused here :confused: RE: the conversation between lildebbie and Buddhakan, about having to be a defendant and provide your own liability coverage.

Are we saying here that no nurse will ever get sued if he/she is careful, doesn't pretend to know everything, etc?

Excuse me, please, but GET REAL!!!!!!! I know several fine and consciencious nurses who have been sued. Are you not aware that in today's judicial system, you can pretty much be sued for anything in this sue-happy day and age! Think of all the frivolous suits out there (not just medical - think McDonald's hot coffee?) and you would have to be mighty naive to think it could never happen to YOU.

I am a VERY careful and conciencious nurse - as I am sure most of you out there ARE - and I CERTAINLY do not know everything (far from it). And NOBODY is beyond making an honest mistake.

But in court, do you think the jury will say "Oh, she just had an off day and made a mistake - we'll let her off the hook this time"?

I have never been sued, and hope never to be - but I am not unrealistic enough to think it could never happen.

And lildebbie - you certainly have the right (and responsibility) to sue your health care providers REGARDLESS of whether you are a nurse or not. Last time I checked, you don't forgo your legal rights when you decide to be a nurse. If wrong was done to you, you deserve your day in court whether you are a nurse or an astronaut or whatever! Good luck to you, and I truly hope things work out for you! :kiss

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Far be it for me to say anything regarding what other people post, but sometimes people are very rude. When people post things that make me mad, I respond to it AFTER thinking it through. And then, always in a matter of RESPECT.

Buddhakan

As a paralegal (now in my 2nd semester of nursing school), I realize that things do happen. And I have never been a person who is "sue" happy. One reason I left the field was because I could not live w/ myself knowing that I am helping a person steal from tax payers.

I am very scared about being sued as a nurse, just like teachers are scared about teaching kids - due to the stupid parents who think it is teachers jobs to teach the kids right from wrong.

You are a new member I see. Try and be alittle more tactful. If it happened to you, you may be doing the same thing.

and as for sjoe -

If I was your patient and was trying to describe a problem I was having, but the words were failing me, would you respond in that same manner?

LETS ALL BE KIND AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.

justjenn

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

To the original poster - I hope you get to feeling better soon! Please take care of yourself.

To other posters who don't think an experienced, honest and caring nurse can be sued - get real - happens way too frequently.

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I guess I should have thought out my response to Buddhakan and said things a little different. I know no matter what you do you can get sued and no matter how well you do things there is that chance that it will happen. There is too many sue happy people in this world and I have seen the frivolous law suites. All I was trying to state was that you could lower the chances of being sued, there are always going to be the people that sue or try to sue because they THINK something happened to them. I know that someday I could be sued, what I am saying is that there is a BIG difference between accident and down right neglegence!!!!

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

Debbie-----------Please read and understand what I and others are trying to tell you re: nursing and being sued:

I know of SEVERAL very good, conscientious, caring nurses who got sued and MADE ZERO MISTAKES, followed rules to the LETTER, yet a bad outcome still occured. It involved a baby born who was successfully resuscitated, yet is living on life support for the duration of his/her life. The parents sued for millions, everyone involved in the case.

I knew these people personally, and their reputations and lives were torn apart, TWO of them ended up divorced due to all the strain it put on their marriages. It does happen...yes...

It happens everyday. These good nurses had to defend themselves, their actions, their nurses notes (put up in HUGE print via powerprint on the courtroom walls) for MONTHS.

Two have since left nursing for other things ( one became an accountant I think)...the other I have no idea where she is now. They were people in whose hands I would place my own life and those of my family.

SO DO NOT BELIEVE OR GET LULLED into any delusion that "just because they follow the rules" good nurses/doctors won't be sued successfully. It happens EVERY single DAY!!!! You will see this when you become a NURSE. It's the ugly side of it. And careers are destroyed and nurses lost due to it. You are a bit naive yet; not meaning to flame you. Just want you to KNOW what you are getting into-----another thing you need to consider:

If you choose to go into cardiac/critical care nursing, be prepared for HUGE ethical dilemmas that put lives and careers on the line ALL THE TIME. Don't believe me? Go to the CCU/ICU forums and just ASK!

I hope you recover fully . ....you did not deserve what happened to you, certainly. But you need your eyes opened a bit, I think. I wish you well, honestly.

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SmilingBluEyes

I am not saying that by following those steps that I stated that you will not get sued, it could lower the chances. I was just responding to one post. I know that no matter what you do even not making any mistakes and following everthing to the letter, and doing everything right, you still might and could get sued. Hell you could get sued for just about anything these days, everyone wants to sue for anything. My iniatial post was not directed for the BIG sue discussion, I was just stating what had happened(briefly) and what I was doing and hopefully get a little support from some of the nurses on here.

I have been in the medical field for 11+ years now, started out as a dispatcher and first responder, than a registerd medical assistant, then went to nursing school, always wanted to be a nurse but went about it the long way around. Parents are Paramedic and EMT, Brother is a Paramedic, Aunt is a nurse so been around the medical field my whole life SO I AM NOT NIEVE. Believe me I know that careers have been destroyed and nurses have been lost all due to sue happy people.

Remember this though, there have been people, spouses, familys and friends that have suffered and lost due to neglegence. All I stated was that this has happened to me. The rest of my life is going to be affected because of this. I know bad outcomes happen and I do feel sorry for the nurses that are affected because of that. There is a difference between a bad outcome and bad medicine.

We are all nurses(I am hoping I will be) and are looking at it from the nurses side you just can't understand unless you are sitting in my shoes with all the problems caused by a few doctors and a hospital. I am not blaming everyone just the few that could have prevented everything from happening( and it could have been prevented, other doctors have stated this). when and if I become a nurse I hope that this would not happen to me but if it does I can look at the other side because I have been there.

By the way my eyes are open wide, I know what to expect, the risks, the hours, the stress and every thing else, that is what I wanted. I hope you do not think I am taking anything out on you personally, I just had to respond to the comments.

I thank you for wishing me well!!!!!

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