Seriously Ill Patient vs A New RN Who Clearly Did Not Know How To Work in That Area

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

This happened to me about a year ago. I have several serious life threatening conditions that affect my heart and my lungs.

This particular time I was hospitalized is serious condition after waking up around 04:30 AM gurgurling on my own blood, and was desperately gasping for breath.

The Medics gave me 15 litres of oxygen via non-rebreather mask, and rushed me to the ER. My heart was tachy, and it felt like it was going to jump out of my chest.

As the X-ray tech came to take X-rays, I vomited about 2 1/2 quarts of blood. After I was stabilized, I was placed in a room on 6 litres of oxygen.

This happened about a week before Memorial Day weekend, and it was very hot and humid at the time, but was too early for the hospital to turn on the AC.

I was alright laying flat, and on the 6 litres of oxygen, but when my Pulmonologist entered my room a few days later, he turned down the oxygen to 2 litres, and placed me in the high fowlers position. Everything turned black, and I felt like I was going to pass out, and my heart began to race again. When my Physician and my Pulmonologist saw what happened, I was immediately placed in the TCU, with a monitor placed on me.

Then when Memorial Day arrived, my kidneys began to fail. How do I know? Because what small amount of urine I was putting out was black.

I was so uncomfortable, I eventually asked my nurse, (a GN who clearly did know which end she was supposed to think with,) to please place a cold washcloth on my feet to cool me down. She placed a sopping wet one on my feet, and it made me even more uncomfortable.

A short while later, an 8yo was wheeled in after being ejected from a van in serious condition following a head-on crash with a motorcycle. He died a short while later. How do I know? Because the charge nurse, who had a very loud voice, said; "He's gone."

Needless to say, I did not need to hear that, nor did I want my door wide open without my curtain drawn, and the hall light blaring in my eyes.

I rang my callbell, and asked her if she would turn off the hall light. She said she couldn't do that. So I asked her to pull the curtain so the light wouldn't blare in my eyes.

Her response; "I can't do that, because I need to watch you." My immediate thought was; " Wonder where you went to school, and how much homework did you do, or are you brand new, and not yet trained?

That was the worst experience I had in that hospital. When I mentioned about the boy dying, she asked me if I saw it on TV, or read it in the paper, I told her neither, but I just had a clear show-and-tell experience about it.

After I got discharged, I asked my doctor to please put me on hospice. I did not want to ever even see the inside of that hospital again.

Well, a few months later, I was back in there, but in a much more comfortable room. In fact it was private. But when they came to transfer me into the accute care area, I asked them if they hire brand new graduates and place them in the TCU for training. I said they did not belong in there until they learn something first, because they are placing peoples' lives in jeopardy.

After they got me into the Accute care area, the one nurse whispered in the reveiving nurse's ear about treating me with TLC, because I was onto them.

Is this standard practice in other hospitals, or is this dumbbell experience I had just an isolated incident?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I know from reading here at allnurses.com that you've had a long & difficult health history that gives you great insight into patients' experiences. We can all learn from this.

Your specific complaints about your GN were 1) the curtain not being pulled and 2) the washcloth being wetter than you would have liked. I wasn't there, but I don't know that those 2 items would cause me to label a GN, or anyone, incompetent.

BTW, we don't pull curtains or close doors of the rooms of our ER patients either except when it is obviously appropriate (patient dressing/undressing, being examined, procedure being performed which exposes the patient, or talking/teaching about a difficult subject) or a staff member is in the room. All kinds of things can happen behind closed doors/curtains -- falls, pulling out lines, etc. I can't monitor what I can't see. It is a shame that the curtain wasn't pulled around the boy who was the trauma patient.

I wish you well.

[prmenrs, RN]

I'm sorry you had that experience, Fran. ((((POOPSIE)))))

[smk1, LPN]

I'm sorry you are having such serious health issues, and that your hospital stay was uncomfortable at best. As a stuent I can't really judge the care but just wanted to give you an online hug.

[TraumaGirl1018]

so youre saying that this new nurse didnt know how to work in the specific area because she wouldnt pull a curtain and because she put a dripping cloth on your feet? Im sorry for your situation and your health, but in my opinion those you two factors dont justify you saying that she 'clearly did not know how to work in that area'.

just my two cents;)

just wanted to add that i hope things are going well for you now

[prmenrs, RN]

I had to add that I remember how bad that time was for you, Fran. You seem to be doing better right now, but I have to think that your recollections of that time are affected by that fact.

The negative memories you have are intensified by how bad you felt--very scary, too.

I'm glad that experience is behind you, and I hope you can let go of this memory. I can tell you that many, many people were praying for you then (and now), and are grateful that you're still around to brighten our days.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

Oh wow! I am really sorry about your health issues. Just wanted to give you a BIG bear hug! (((((((((hugs)))))))))

[steelcityrn, RN]

The E.R. is a unique place that usually never runs the way a patient would want it to, but then again like I said it is a area like no other. Having said that, hope its better for you next time if you ever have to be there again.

[medsurgnurse, RN]

I noticed you hadn't been posting in a long time and then I saw a post from you recently. I hope you're feeling better. How about a joke?

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I am so sorry...wow. What were they thinking putting a dying 8 yo in a room with a room mate? And what did the nurse have to watch you for? You already had a tele monitor on. She couldn't add a sat monitor, and let you rest?

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

Fran,

Sorry to hear about your ill health, and your recent problems. :1luvu::1luvu:Lots of love, and hugs to you...I am sure you will be in our thoughts.

I wasn't sure if you were still in ER on memorial day from your post, but I too would have had the curtain open(even on tele) if no one was with you. All the monitors beeping becomes the norm instead of the exception. In our ER location is everything, if you were across from station and I could close most of the curtain I would-also turning off your light(if you appeared stable-maybe).

Everyone has to learn, there are still many things I haven't seen. There are many nurses I work with who haven't seen certain conditions in years, and maybe wouldn't jump to it like they would if they saw a condition all the time. I know you felt crummy, and were very sick....you don't want a newbie-but sometimes that's all there is. Everyone learns eventually.

Take care,

Maisy;)

[woody62, RN]

I am not sitting in judgment of your experiences. They very well could have happened just the way you describe them. The first several days I spent in ICU, last July, I recalled two other patients. One was a highly known member of our community. The other was a mother who had taken an overdose and was being pursued by an ex-husband. When I came around a bit more, I learned what really had transpired. Part of what I recalled was true and part was very wrong. If you feel you were mistreated, you have the obligation to complain to the appropriate people.

Woody