I tried posting this earlier, but it got eaten somehow, so I'm trying again. Excuse me if the other post shows up from cyberspace, lol.
At any rate ... I am laughing now about the whole thing, but it wasn't so funny when the whole thing was taking place last night!
At 0300 this morning, I had a 14 yo present to L&D c/o pain rated 9/10 in her lower abd. She was laughing with her best friend and mother and demanding that I get her a tray because the was hungry. I told her that I couldn't feed her until I knew what was going on with her and she became very upset with me ... almost throwing a tantrum. I proceeded to place her on the monitor and start my assessment. 1cm, very thick, very posterior. She had some mild contractions that were irregular - 20 minutes apart at one point. Her UA came back clear. Since she was 39+ weeks. I waited an hour, checked her again - no change. So I called the MD. He gave orders for a hydrocodone and to send her home with labor precautions.
When I went into her room to D/C her, her mother blew up like a rocket! WHAT! WITH HER CONTRACTING AND HURTING LIKE THIS! (The pt was asleep when I came into the room.) The mother then proceeded to ask why in the H--- the Dr hadn't even bothered to check on her. HER Dr came in to check on HER when SHE was in labor!
I told the mother that, had her daughter BEEN in labor, which she wasn't, the Dr WOULD have been there at some point to check in on her.
Then the mother informed me that she wasn't comfortable at ALL with some NURSE assessing her child and judging whether or not to send her home and that she was NOT leaving until they saw he DR! (The mother was also a nurse - or so she said.)
I called the MD back and he told me to just leave her there until he made rounds this AM, but to tell her that this didn't mean that he would be keeping her.
Like I said, I am laughing now, but I was so angry last night that I had to call the PP nurse to sit at my station while I went outside to cool off! :angryfire
I don't want people who receive Medicaid assistance to be making blanket statements such as 'all nurses hate poor people'. It wouldn't be true and it wouldn't be fair.
Who ever said that any of us hate poor people? Disillusionment and frustration with a few that abuse the system does NOT equate hate. That, too, is a generalizing and judgemental statement, made simply because you feel strongly against her point of view. I'm pretty sure that no one here has denied that there are plenty of exceptions to these vocal and memorable few that truly irk us...
We have nurses who come back in from wheeling someone down to their car to go home and come back upset as they are working their 4th 12 hr shift that week to make ends meet and this person who was a medicaid pt and that nurse just helped apply for WIC, drove off in a new SUV.
Did you check the title on the SUV? Maybe, it wasn't the WIC mom's car, but the ride she had to get to the hospital from a friend, or neighbor, because she didn't have a car of her own? Or, maybe she bought the car with a job she had before she got pregnant and laid-off, or before her husband, or boyfriend, dumped her when he found out she was pregnant. Maybe, the bank was coming to repossess that SUV the very next day. Or, maybe it belonged to her social worker who takes care of her now she had to be removed from her home because she was made pregnant by a family member, or her mother's boyfriend. You never know, do you? You never know.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You never know, do you? You never know.
So very true. We don't really know. And we can be grateful our resources are plentiful and we are reasonably well-off by comparision, to many of our patients.
I have to say when I started my first RN job I was shocked at how prevalent this sort of judgemental attitude is among nurses! I have been on the flip side of the coin as well; when I was in nursing school my family was on BadgerCare (MA in wisconsin) for a year, and we were treated like crap by the Peds nurses when my son was admitted for RSV. That experience affects how I treat my patients every day!
Back to the OP's vent, though, what a very frustrating situation indeed! all too common where I work too, and I totally agree w/the comments Deb had. very well put
Nurses who engage in this form of discrimination need to be reported, severely reprimanded, and required to complete some remedial education on the subject. There is no excuse for such behavior.
Who ever said that any of us hate poor people? Disillusionment and frustration with a few that abuse the system does NOT equate hate.
What they do or don't do with the system is none of your business. Whether the money comes from their private insurance, Medicaid, Daddy's trust fund, or their successful drug smuggling business, you get paid the same.
Your job is to treat your patients to the best of your ability, PERIOD.
It seems to me that a great many nurses need remedial education on this subject.
What they do or don't do with the system is none of your business. Whether the money comes from their private insurance, Medicaid, Daddy's trust fund, or their successful drug smuggling business, you get paid the same.
Your job is to treat your patients to the best of your ability, PERIOD.
It seems to me that a great many nurses need remedial education on this subject.
It is true, as a nurse, it is none of our business....as far as treatment and care of the pt. goes. I treat ALL of my pts. the same. I never have any idea how they are paying. The face sheets are never even on the chart.
However, I must disagree with the part about it doesn't matter where the money comes from.....we get paid the same.
The governor of my state has proposed a HUGE tax on hospitals because of a direct result of misuse of medicaid. Will we get our raises? Who knows?
I suppose you will have to count me in with the minority of posters here who are being flamed for their points of view. I, too think that a disproportionate number of people expecting entitlement in such situations are ones who are having their lifestyle supported by our tax dollars. Yes, the phenomenon of entitlement does cross socioeconomic lines, and at no point would I suggest that the poor have no right to quality care, but you can't deny resentment at the fact that certain individuals obviously don't appreciate the good thing they have. I agree that the system is far from ideal, but there are many places in the world where the poor are left to rot in the streets. Be thankful for the good care that you get and don't insult me as a professional...
As a side note, I would never let my personal or political points of view affect the quality of care that I give my patients. That is just plain wrong. But don't mistake my neutrality in the care I give my patients with an all-out tolerance of stupidity and opportunism. You have to EARN my respect.
:yeahthat: Im in nursing school now, but I have worked in the health care field for many years. I know that ignorance and stupidity come in many colors and flavors. I have never let that affect my treatment of patients. In fact I will not tolerate the mistreatment of any patient due to their ability to pay or their crappy insurance or their poor manners/attitude, etc.
The posters that feel that we dont have the right to feel disgust for those who dont feel like holding a job, should drive by the free housing devolpments and take a look at the SUVs with shiny rims and cadillacs and check out the designer purses and shoes and sunglasses that a lot of those "in need" are wearing and get back to me.
There are so many people that need assistance that dont get it because they cant endure all the jumping through hoops required by the govt. and find it easier to do without until they get back on their feet. There are so many people that make sure they know how to get whatever they can get from the government-(read you and me) and they make sure that their children and grandchildren learn the ropes at a young age.
I often wonder how so many of the people that are "unable to work" are obese- obviously they are puchasing and consuming quite a bit of food. Hmmm, or maybe they are all suffering from a morbid disease that doesnt permit them to work, only stay home watching Jerry Springer and waiting for a ride to the ER in their social worker's new Escalade when they want to deliver their new baby.
Im tired of seeing the rampant misuse and abuse of our taxes. And I am offended when others tell me that Im wrong for feeling this way. Perhaps you are too far removed to see the reality. Im not.
When were paying for the price it is our business whether it is medicaid, military spending, or education costs or whatever projects our tax dollars are spent on.
What they do or don't do with the system is none of your business. Whether the money comes from their private insurance, Medicaid, Daddy's trust fund, or their successful drug smuggling business, you get paid the same.
Your job is to treat your patients to the best of your ability, PERIOD.
It seems to me that a great many nurses need remedial education on this subject.
10 years ago, my husband had just gotten out of the Navy and we were living with friends until we could figure out where we wanted to live and what we wanted to do. We had two children at the time. 6 weeks later I found out I was preggo with #3. The kids and I went on Medicaid at the time and I am grateful it was available to us.
That said....
I love going the extra mile for patients and their support people when I am able too and they are nice about it...but the entitlement attitude makes me crazy.
I could care less what type of insurance, if any, a patient has when they walk in the door. I have to do a little digging to even find out what type of insurance they have. I do, however, get upset when patients are frequent fliers that are just tired of being pregnant, ask for trays at 0300 for themselves all 6 of their support people, etc... They never say please or thank you for anything, comment that it took long enuf for me to bring a pop in for their mother-in-law, etc...
We have had MDs give specific orders for some frequent fliers - Do not feed the patient or anyone with her, ice chips for the patient only - nothing for the guests, if they are a real dangling hemmorhoid (pain in the ****) they might even get orders such as - IV's (and specifically told by MD to use 18 guage and no lidocaine), foley catheter, bed rest, NPO, etc... Not necessarily because they need it (it can be justified though) but to make being in the hospital no fun.
As far as 14 years-old and pregnant - Parents can't always be with their kids all of the time. I know MDs, RNs, teachers, social workers, and ministers who teenagers came home pregnant. Can't blame everything on the parents.
This particular situation sounds more like mom was looking for the attention. I can't tell you the number of times young mothers come in and are fine until their mothers' get there - then all holy heck breaks loose. Family dynamics can be a very scary thing.
I have seen 14 - 18 year-olds act their age, but have also seen many of them step up to the plate and do a wonderful job at being a mother. I have also seen married, multips in thiers 20's-40's act like 12 year olds throughout their stay with us.
In other words - you can't generalize about anyone on any subject.
I find this type of behavior is very common with the indigent population.
They don't pay for their care and make loud demands on everyone when they present.
Being a minor and pregnant,she automatically qualifies for medicaid. It would be nice if they were greatful we are takning care of them for free and are polite to us.
Oh to be so Holy. I pay $300.00 a month to cover myself and my childrens in health insurance but when my 15 year old daughter became pregnant (while I was working 12 hour day shifts) my insurance refused to pay. I not only pay for the insurance to pay everyone elses bills but also pay taxes to pay for everyones elses bills. Thank God medicaid came through for us because the little SOB that got her pregnant has no job or insurance. And I think you are the one that should be a little gratefull because you didn't take a cut in pay for caring for them. What is so wrong with charity for people
This is an old thread and the Medicaid portion is really off topic from the OP, but I felt compelled to write this:
My brother has cataracts. He is legally blind and eligible for SSI, Medicaid, and subsequently- Food stamps. He has been eligible for YEARS. Yet, he has never applied. He works a minimum (darn near) wage job with no bennies because he can not get a license to drive and had to accept a job on the bus route with hours that accomodated the bus schedule. He can't get a license because he needs vision correction in the form of meds, surgery, and glasses. He can't get those things because he has no insurance. And while he is eligible for Medicaid and other programs he is too proud to get them because he is young, black, and already seen as a "burden" on society based on those two characteristics alone. Ok...now let's introduce his daughter. She is 17 months old. She was born with cataracts. She has just today been diagnosed with glaucoma as well. She is almost blind, even post two surgeries. She has behind the curve for her development-especially her fine motor skills because she can't see. She is eligible for SSI, Medicaid, and Food stamps. Her mother had to jump through hoops and was denied 3 times before her SSI case was opened. In the meantime, this baby needed medical care and OT. If my brother had already been enrolled in the various programs he was eligible for there wouldn't have been a problem enrolling my neice.
Our society attaches a stigma to public assistance programs. Perhaps this is a good thing because so many people who would abuse the system may think twice. However, those who really need the help are afraid to get it because of the fear of being judged by those who care for them or the checkers at the grocery stores they shop at.
I think feelings of entitlement cross all socioeconomic lines. I feel the poor have just as much right to quality health care as those who are better off, and if my taxes are higher because I have to fund a poor little girl's trip to the pediatrician I respect that.
I took my newborn to her 1 week checkup. She was brand new and didn't have a SSN so we hadn't added her to our insurance yet. The nurse looked at me with my baby and other three little ones and said "No insurance yet, right?" I said "Correct." She said "But it will be Medicaid, right?" I was offended. "No. Preferred Care, my husband is the subsciber." Being young or having a lot of children back to back does not automatically make you a person sitting on the dole, simply having children so you don't have to work.
Many of us are jaded. We need to see reality for what it is, and also accept that what we assume is not always what is.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
This is an old thread and the Medicaid portion is really off topic from the OP, but I felt compelled to write this:
My brother has cataracts. He is legally blind and eligible for SSI, Medicaid, and subsequently- Food stamps. He has been eligible for YEARS. Yet, he has never applied. He works a minimum (darn near) wage job with no bennies because he can not get a license to drive and had to accept a job on the bus route with hours that accomodated the bus schedule. He can't get a license because he needs vision correction in the form of meds, surgery, and glasses. He can't get those things because he has no insurance. And while he is eligible for Medicaid and other programs he is too proud to get them because he is young, black, and already seen as a "burden" on society based on those two characteristics alone. Ok...now let's introduce his daughter. She is 17 months old. She was born with cataracts. She has just today been diagnosed with glaucoma as well. She is almost blind, even post two surgeries. She has behind the curve for her development-especially her fine motor skills because she can't see. She is eligible for SSI, Medicaid, and Food stamps. Her mother had to jump through hoops and was denied 3 times before her SSI case was opened. In the meantime, this baby needed medical care and OT. If my brother had already been enrolled in the various programs he was eligible for there wouldn't have been a problem enrolling my neice.
Our society attaches a stigma to public assistance programs. Perhaps this is a good thing because so many people who would abuse the system may think twice. However, those who really need the help are afraid to get it because of the fear of being judged by those who care for them or the checkers at the grocery stores they shop at.
I think feelings of entitlement cross all socioeconomic lines. I feel the poor have just as much right to quality health care as those who are better off, and if my taxes are higher because I have to fund a poor little girl's trip to the pediatrician I respect that.
I took my newborn to her 1 week checkup. She was brand new and didn't have a SSN so we hadn't added her to our insurance yet. The nurse looked at me with my baby and other three little ones and said "No insurance yet, right?" I said "Correct." She said "But it will be Medicaid, right?" I was offended. "No. Preferred Care, my husband is the subsciber." Being young or having a lot of children back to back does not automatically make you a person sitting on the dole, simply having children so you don't have to work.
Many of us are jaded. We need to see reality for what it is, and also accept that what we assume is not always what is.
Beautifully said.
Making generalizations about human beings is rarely appropriate and never helpful. Thank you for settling the discussion so diplomatically.
nursedude1
21 Posts
Who ever said that any of us hate poor people? Disillusionment and frustration with a few that abuse the system does NOT equate hate. That, too, is a generalizing and judgemental statement, made simply because you feel strongly against her point of view. I'm pretty sure that no one here has denied that there are plenty of exceptions to these vocal and memorable few that truly irk us...