Patients Waiting for Pain & Nausea Meds

[Doglover]

I have read many different postings on various boards here where nurses seem to think it is OK for patients to wait for hours for pain and nausea medication. Well, it is NOT OK. Just because some other patient has a "life-threatening" ailment does not in the least justify having someone in agonizing pain and/or nausea lying in misery for hours. Many of these so-called "emergencies" that get triaged to the top are lifestyle-induced from obesity, smoking, drinking, drug abuse, and reckless driving. On the other hand, certain other illnesses in which the patient suffers severe pain are NOT due to lifestyle factors; they are random misfortunes that the patient did not create.

Nurses and other health care workers (excluding those who are solely private pay) are obligated to serve the public, and that means patients and their families and visitors.

I have read that one of the jobs of nurses is to "educate" patients about their disease and to provide emotional support and counseling about managing their illness. Funny thing, but when my loved one was in the hospital they received zero support or information from the nurses. All of the information was from the DOCTORS and the Internet.

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

I have a question....:imbar

Could someone PM me and tell me what SDN means??

Indulge me please, I have worked all day today

Thanks in advance!!

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by ?burntout

I have a question....:imbar

Could someone PM me and tell me what SDN means??

Indulge me please, I have worked all day today

Thanks in advance!!

Got it!! Thanks!

[Doglover]

First of all, my family member was in perfect health until two years ago when stricken with a rare neurological disease which was NOT lifestyle-induced. Second and more important, they risked their life serving overseas during WWII and deserved some respect and appreciation from the ER nurses, not to be forced to lie in agony on a stretcher in an open corridor waiting hours for pain and nausea medication. It is high time that nurses and others started showing some appreciation for Veterans who have served their country, and it is an insult to them to give priority to some smoker with self-inflcted COPD or an obese, comatose diabetic who ate too many donuts and caused their own disease (not to mention squandering scarce resources).

[warrior woman]

It surely must be a nice view from your ivory tower. Granted vets should get EVERY courtesy and respect, due to their sacrifice. But my mom has COPD, and has quit smoking for 2 years thank you very much. How DARE you think that one life is more valuable than another's due to disease process or how one got it. That's presumptuous and callous at the very least. What a sick attitiude.

[Doglover]

Wouldn't bet on them sticking around long. With this sort of behavior their chances of having a career in medicine is very unlikely. >>

The medical students we encountered were all very friendly and supportive, and took plenty of time to listen. In contrast, the nurses, who had ONLY 5 or 6 pts each, acted very rushed, as if they were doing us a favor by stopping by to talk. Well, it is the patients, families, and visitors (ie, the Taxpayers) who are their Employers, not the other way around. The reason there is such a high rate of violence in ERs and hospitals is because nurses and other health care workers fail to live up to their duty to provide good Customer Service and show appreciation to their Customers (I find the word, "patient" very degrading).

[Ortho_RN]

OH PLEASE!!!! Get over it...

I do not know of any nurse who would intentionally let a patient suffer from pain and nausea, regardless of being a Veteran or not.

And I'm sorry, but if that smoker with COPD came in and had trouble breathing, then they need to be helped first...

And if you think 6 patients in the ER is NOT alot.. Then you are more "unknowing" than I previously thought

[Dave ARNP]

You win the AWARD!

For most words typed w/o making a single point.

Seriously, did you just suggest that violence in the ED is justified if people don't get their way? Sorry, but that's not a remark that a stable person makes.

You worry me. Alot.

Dave, who reminds you that if you are having thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself or other people... to call 911 ASAP!

[live4today, RN]

Originally posted by Doglover

.........................................It is high time that nurses and others started showing some appreciation for Veterans who have served their country, and it is an insult to them to give priority to some smoker with self-inflcted COPD or an obese, comatose diabetic who ate too many donuts and caused their own disease (not to mention squandering scarce resources).

We're not bitter are we? Tell us how you really hurt! Let it all out. Venting is great therapy. I'm not teasing with you either. I'm sincere in what I am saying. You've held a lot in. That's obvious from the way you express yourself and your pain towards healthcare providers, especially nurses.

Barking at nurses may be "safe" for you to do, but the ones you should be venting to in writing are the healthcare companies, the insurance companies, and the corporations that own hospitals. They are the ones who tie the hands of nurses and doctors to give the kind of care we would love to be able to give to every patient seeking healthcare. I remember nursing having been that way once. No longer is that the case, and it is NOT through any fault of the nurses who remain in the abusive nursing situations that exist in today's hospitals either.

Nurses KNOW that they are going to be blamed for everything that goes wrong or isn't done fast enough for a patient and their family member(s). We are the "middle man" so to speak, and we catch all hell from the top and all hell from the bottom. We don't like it anymore than you do, but what you dealt with in the case of your relative is happening to many patients who don't understand the logistics of it all. Our hearts DO go out to patients placed in these positions, but our hands are tied. All we can do in those type of situations is the best we can. Unfortunately, our best doesn't seem to be appreciated by SOME of our employers and SOME of our patients and their family members.

Venting here is what we do....patients, family members, and nurses alike. However, put that passion of what you believe on paper and mail it to the right people who have the power to change what you experienced. Nurses would love nothing more than for you to do that.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Doglover,

Why don't you write a letter with your concerns to the administration of the hospital? They are in a better position to do something productive with the information than we are here.

[Doglover]

>

Actually, how one got their disease or injury is one of the most important factors in determining who is DESERVING of medical care and support from society. A smoker who got COPD, even if they did quit smoking, is still not blameless the way people with rare, cause-unknown neurological disorders. A pedestrian crossing when the light is in their favor who gets run over by a drunk driver is more deserving of care than an alcoholic or careless driver who causes their own automobile wreck.

And yes, I think that some lives are more valuable than others and how one got a disease or injury should be a major factor in triage. It is downright insulting to all the Veterans who risked their lives serving their country to be forced to wait two hours sitting upright and six hours for pain and nausea medication.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

It's insulting for ANYONE to wait 6 hours for pain medication- you need to follow up with the facility!

[Dave ARNP]

Paging any moderator to this thread STAT.

Moderator to THIS THREAD STAT!

Hi, this is David, I'm the NP in the thread.

We have a patient in here who I'd like to have evaluated by a MOD. Presenting with irrational thoughts, inflamatory remarks and a generally altered perception of life.

I'd also like to get a cat scan, just to determine the actual presence of intelligent activity in the crainal cavity.

I've administed no medication, although 5mg of IV Haldol was what I was thinking about.

Dave