I just recently had surgery. Everything was great. Exactly as I would have expected it to be. They all knew I was a nurse but did not expect me to know everything about what was going on. They treated me respectfully. I understood everything that was said to me before surgery, so on and so forth.
Except for one after my surgery. I did not notice this but my husband sure did. I was outpatient so I am not sure what each area is called. I rememeber waking up in PACU and then being transferred somewhere else but it was not the floor. Recovery maybe? (may have dreamed it too, who knows
At some point I asked for water. I had some nausea but I just wanted a sip to get rid of my dry mouth. That was what my mind was focusing on. Due to obvious reasons I was not totally with it. I had just woken up. Well my husband asked the nurse if I could have a sip of water and her response was rude to him. "Certainly not and she is a nurse and should know better". Luckily he reinforced the fact that I just woke up and not exactly in a nurse frame of mind. Other verbal exchanges took place that I just do not remember from this same nurse. (My hubby has not said what else happened. He just wants me to get better)
I was clueless at the time. I may be a nurse on a surgical floor but how much did she think would carry over while in a drug induced haze. Eventually I felt better and my mind became clearer but still I was groggy. I just had major surgery. Nothing was obvious to me.
I usually give my pt's lots of reinforcement just in case something did not sink in after arriving to the floor from PACU.
Now I know there is alot of room for misunderstanding. I now can use this experience to help my pt's.
I have seen many nurses make comments about their pt like, "they should know better." At times I have asked the nurse if they have been educated. Most times the response is "they already know, it's obvious"
This surgery will help me be a better nurse for my patients.
When I go back to work I will keep in mind what happened and try and be patient with my patients.
Starting to feel better but the pain is horrible. What a learning experience for me.
I am snapping alot and find the pain meds do not last that long.
Sounds familiar? like a night at work?
Details of what happened are hazy but my hubby did think the nurse was a "b****". I thought she was nice. So I guess some meds worked well.
Oh, by the way, I do remember repeating myself alot and asking the same questions. I do not remember what though.
She probably was a b++++. She should try being gassed, etc., and cut open herself. Then maybe she'd see things more from her patients' POV and be nicer to relatives, too.
Let your doctor know that the pain med isn't holding you. There's no reason to suffer in this day and age. Surgeons have often never been surgical patients so don't fully understand pain. Teach them.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit is the same as Recovery Room.
Please speak with your recovery room nurses--so you understand the immediate recovery period, and why certain things are done and certain things are not done.
She said she was out of PACU. I know they don't give anything to the patient in the recoovery room, but she said she was in another room and her spouse was with her.
Great nurse make train great assistants. When I did my CNA training for the post patients. My nurse taught me how to make Popsicles with the mouth swabs with the ginger ale soda and offer it before being asked...she was the best...
I had a similar experience with a pediatric nurse recently. My kid was sick and exhibiting behavior and symptoms I had never seen with him. I was a bit concerned. A little back story...I lost a child to meningitis many years ago - one week he had flu symptoms, doc sent us home with every assurance he would be fine and a week later, woke up to find him in a coma. So, I'm probably pretty oversensitive when it comes to my kid.
Anyhow, called the Ped's office to talk to a nurse, explain symptoms and any other pertinent information, just trying to get a feel for whether or not I should schedule an appointment or if I should be worried. Long story short, she was quite rude with me over the phone, condescending, insensitive. I kept my cool, calmly asked if there was anyone else in the office available to chat and this gal started calling me "Honey" and not in a nice way. I asked her not to call me honey because it made me uncomfortable. She didn't like that. At one point she said something about my kid's specific symptoms that was incorrect. I gently corrected her. Her response, "Whatever." Me in my head, "Wow."
Once I finally made it known that I was ****** about the way she was acting, I think I said something like, "I'm sorry to have bothered you, but could you please connect me to someone who actually gives a damn." I asked if she was so rude to all of her patients. She said she didn't treat anyone any differently. I said, "That's a shame. Thanks for your time," and hung up.
If I'd had a nurse like that in the PICU while my first child was dying, I'd have probably flat out strangled her.
But, I did learn a valuable lesson. A little sensitivity can go a long way.
StrwbryblndRN
658 Posts
Starting to feel better but the pain is horrible. What a learning experience for me.
I am snapping alot and find the pain meds do not last that long.
Sounds familiar? like a night at work?
Details of what happened are hazy but my hubby did think the nurse was a "b****". I thought she was nice. So I guess some meds worked well.
Oh, by the way, I do remember repeating myself alot and asking the same questions. I do not remember what though.