One bad apple shouldn't cause mistreatment...RIGHT?

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I joined this community because of ignorance and mistreatment dealt out by the nursing community towards patients with Sickle Cell. I always told myself that nurses need to be taught a lesson in compassion bc every memorable experience with you all were NEGATIVE ones. I had to sit back and reflect on my life living with Sickle Cell and realized that duh...YOU ARE HUMAN ALSO!

I don't think that my goals for bettering my community will be achieved if we all can't wipe the slate clean CONSISTENTLY! I feel that the only way to get others to understand is just letting them in to our lives. Yes CONSISTENTLY because of how often you are rotated out of the ER. I've had some hesitancy because I believed you should have known better but again YOU ARE HUMAN.

I research and my priority is all things Sickle Cell but you guys aren't so that never registered until I began this process. Teaching and Sharing the reality of our lives with each new nursing class is how I feel our goals will be met. When I was 28 my orthopedic surgeon told me that I had the bones of a 60yr old. People don't realize...HELL I DIDN'T REALIZE...the POWER of my sickled cells. THINK ABOUT IT GUYS...these cells that people don't care about can DAMAGE #bone. So you already know that the remaining body has no chance! THIS is the ONLY reason for our mistrust of the medical community as a whole. ONE plus ONE will forever equal TWO.

I can't give the bad apples in your community an out or excuse because it seems that simple. To be accused of and then treated like an addict when you know that our pain is very real. The first time I was mistreated sent me on a mission of self preservation and love. This was the first time I thought about finding ways to strengthen the body. I couldnt understand how my divulging the names of the meds that will help me feel better give you the right to step on me instead of just treating me? I was so freaking OVER IT.

I don't think you guys even understand how your treatment and your attitude towards us adds to the pain we are already feeling. For us to even come there we've had to have been in pain at home already. So an ER visit from us means that it's really really serious. I don't care if I just got out of the hospital...TREAT ME /CARE FOR ME /REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAY TO EVERY PATIENT BEFORE DISCHARGE (COME BACK IF YOU DON'T FEEL BETTER ) AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...REMEMBER THE OATH YOU TOOK.WE ARE A STRONG BREED OF PPL.* WE TRY OUR BEST TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER BUT THEY'RE TIMES WHEN WE JUST BREAK DOWN. I KNOW HEARING/READING THE PHRASE...YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF..CAN BECOME REGULAR TO MOST BUT TO US IT IS SOOO VERY COMPLEX.

1} BEING ADMITTED FOR A CRISES AND ENDING UP W/3 EXTRA ISSUES.

2} HAVING A "NORMAL" PROCEDURE DONE AND ENDING UP IN ICU.

3} RECOVERING FROM A SURGERY AND ENDING UP IN ICU

4 }WALKING AFTER A SURGERY AND ENDING UP ON THE FLOOR B/C SEIZURES(SORRY..THAT'S ME)

5} SITTING ON THE SIDE OF HOSPITAL BED AND ENDING UP DISLOCATING A JOINT.(SORRY..THAT'S ME)

6} LIVING THROUGH ALL THE CLOSE CALLS AND BEING EXPECTED TO JUST MOVE ON B/C..{AT LEAST YOU DIDN'T DIE} I know that you may believe that I'm being OVER THE TOP about this but THIS IS LIFE AND DEATH FOR US.

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Specializes in ER.

Well, that was a great speech. I didn't see any specific things nursing could change, other than be nicer. That holds for all patients though, not just sicklers.

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This was very difficult to understand what you were trying to say..

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

It sounded like a rant that was directed toward a few, but shared with everyone.

I can't say that I am an expert on sickle cell anemia, but I cared for a young female on a hospital floor who was in acute crisis. There was no question that her pain was real.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I'm very sorry for your experience, as if suffering so much pain isn't bad enough. Truly. I don't have much experience with your condition, although early in my career I cared for a few -- either as overflow from or while floating to the heme-onc unit.

One of the patients took 20 mg of IV Dilaudid every 2 hrs -- yes, I said twenty IV. He also took 50 mg of IV benadryl every four hours (I can imagine that that much Dilaudid will make someone itch.) The other patients weren't up to that level, but needed much more meds than a post-surgical patient would.

It never once occurred to me that they were "drug seeking," in the sense that they were lying/exaggerating with the intention of getting legal recreational drugs. They/you have had a painful condition from the day you were conceived...and guess what? People develop tolerances to opiates. OF COURSE, by your 20s-30s you'll require significant doses.

Again being a Scandinavian gal I don't know what you go through personally. I have experienced cold that while not to the point of frostbite, made my feet cold enough to grow numb and pale. Once they start to warm up, it hurts like hell. With sickle cell disease, you also have blood that doesn't flow freely through the capillaries...and I'm sure it hurts like hell.

I would seriously consider talking to the unit's nurse manager. If nothing else, it sounds like some re-education of the staff needs to happen.

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