jmjohnson

I have to agree with a couple different points throughout this discussion, and disagree with a few as well. I disagree with the comment that stated to disregard this nurses behavior, as the actions were not directed towards your mother. I think that everyone in this profession needs to be a Patient Advocate. That does require standing up and reporting things that you feel are not appropriate in any persons care. We are all working towards a common goal, patient improvement and comfort. I hope you did speak with the NM about this nurses care of this patient, so he can correct his actions. I also need to disagree with the person who questioned if the patient was just a difficult patient to deal with. Who in this profession can honestly say they have never had to work with a difficult patient? I know I cannot. That does not change my treatment plan of my patients. I am never more forceful with difficult patients, as they all deserve respect and comfort. We see people in the worst times of their lives, and I don't expect them to always be the most respectful and pleasant beings. I agree with all of the nurses who respect and honor the patient's dignity, and the major thing they picked up on was the fact that the nurse failed (repeatedly) to close the curtain while doing perineal care. I think this is a major issue, that does need to be addressed. This is just a complete lack of respect for the patient, as well as the other patient and family in the room. I applaud you for seeing the issue with this, and I do hope you took this to appropriate persons within the organization to have these types of behavior changed. I am about to go off on a personal tangent, and for that I apologize. But, I have a very serious issue with the one person who commented that all of the male nurses she worked with all exhibited this type of behavior, and that it is a gender based issue. First off, I do question how long you have worked in this profession, as well as where you have worked (one place for your entire career?). I have worked in multiple hospitals in my short career in this profession, in multiple specialties throughout the nursing field, from emergency, to critical care, to medical-surgical nursing floors. I do take this comment very personally, as a male nurse, because I see this as a very large assumption of male nurses, based on a very small encounter. I am not saying that all male nurses are the best providers, but can anyone say that they have not seen female nurses act in this way. Questioning someones compassion based on gender is just not acceptable. I have worked with many male nurses I would not let take care of me or my family, but I can say the same thing with some female nurses who I have worked with. I can also say that I would love to have some of my male colleagues be the people taking care of me if I needed it. Gender has absolutely nothing to do with this topic. I think the issue at had is compassion, patient advocacy and respect. Thank You for your time. I hope your mother is doing better. I just hope that this encounter has not tainted your mothers views completely of all men in this field.