So here I am sitting with my grandmother who is in the hospital with UTI, sepsis, ARF, and dehydration. I've only seen the nurse twice and I've been here since 6am. No one has assessed her, looked at her skin, or brought her fresh ice. No hourly rounds? They are obviously not on any computer systems but they don't even bring a paper MAR into the room when giving meds. I always assess my patients and at least try to round every other hour. What is the deal? Glad I'm here to look after her.
Last night my g-ma had a small seizure. Only lasted 10 seconds, no ictal period, but she had some disorientation afterwards. When we told the nurse she just said... "I'm sure she didn't have a seizure." Um... you know a seizure when you see one. Thankfully I was here this morning to tell the doctor about it. He thinks it was related to everything going on with her.
I just don't feel safe leaving her here but I can't stay 24/7. Also I have to back to work Thursday. Please say a prayer.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Well.... things have gotten worse. Grandmama was going to be discharged today. I was talking to her and she was telling me that her shoes didn't fit because her feet were swollen.... I asked her if any nurses have looked at her legs and she said no. My mother went back down there today I told her to make sure the nurses and doctor know about her swollen legs before she goes home. My mother went to the desk and told her nurse that her legs were swollen.. The nurse NEVER came and looked.... The doctor came in soon after and my mother made him aware of the legs. He said he hadn't heard anything about the swelling. They sent her for a BLE u/s and sure enough she has bilateral DVTs!!!!! I am sick about this. Why wasn't she on any prophylaxis???? I should have never come home. I am so angry right now. I'm angry at myself for leaving. I should have been there to advocate for her. I'm angry that today is the first time anyone there has even assessed her legs. I'm angry that I didn't think to make sure she was on lovenox/scds.... I just can't even think straight right now.
Now she isn't going home and now this is a whole new ball game.....
Tiger is there some other hospital where she can go? this is so scary And I am so sorry ... xo
I completely understand your frustration with the nurses, but shouldn't the docs who were rounding on her have checked her legs, also?
I'm very sorry and I hope she gets well, soon.
Yes and I am upset with them as well. I'm also upset that she wasn't on any prophylaxis. Which the doctor should have ordered on day 1.
Also I've been searching on the website and I cannot find any contact information for anyone. The only contact information is the main number for the hospital and the main address. What is the deal with that?
Also I've been searching on the website and I cannot find any contact information for anyone. The only contact information is the main number for the hospital and the main address. What is the deal with that?
call the main switchboard and ask for the names of the people you want to contact.
I'm angry right along with you, Tiger. The care your G-Mom received is inexcusable.
Please cc: the Patient Advocate's office on whatever letters you write. They can be amazing advocates for patients, but they can't help prevent situations that they don't know exist.
I would ask someone if I could borrow thier stethscope. I might light a fire under them and if not at least you could reassure yourself.t
No, I don't think the OP, should do this. I believe you should try talking first. The shoe DOES not automatically change because someone else is wearing it. This is the exact same situation we gripe about...when our patients have a medical person in the fam. and we don;t get to hear the last of it.
It hasn't called for that yet, please OP, try talking first and see where that gets you. I said a prayer for your grandma and wish you a quick recovery. Grandma's hold a special place in our hearts:)
[color=#b2a1c7]tiger, i am keeping you and your grandmother in my prayers... there is no excuse for what you are going through. you, when you are with your grandmother are a visitor. as a family member, you are not expected to be able to think straight and cover all the bases as you are with your patients. that is why it is unethical for doctors to treat their own family members. stress of illness affects you ability to be the medical caregiver for your family. you are there to support her, love her and care for her as any other visitor. don't hold yourself up to a higher standard than you would for any other visitor.you are not responsible for the poor quality of care coordination. [color=#b2a1c7]it is very frustrating.
Just had to respond because of my recent experiences with my father in an excellent hospital, but with varied care depending on the floor he was on. I arrived to find him clearly becoming septic (with a severe Clostridium Dificile infection)--unrelenting fever, pulse 120 and rising, resp 30, no one checking VS-- in fact I was there for 4 hours before I finally understood I needed to take things in hand--BP (which I was checking) had fallen to 85 systolic. I demanded to see the nurse who seemed unperturbed and was not getting hold of the hospitalist. I did have to get the Nurse Manager who got the MD up there, and my dad was admitted to the ICU (whose RN's told me of the number of elderly people who are dying from this virulent strain of C. Diff...) I do wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been there.
The way I see it is that yes, RN's are clearly busy, but also some are not as experienced as others and may not act quickly enough in critical circumstances such as this with my 89 year old father. Similar situations happened several other times, and I must say the only time I felt really comfortable was when he was in the ICU.
Point is, don't hesitate to take things in hand--speak with the Nurse Manager, get the Hospitalist's phone numbers so you can call them directly, and know that you need to be very proactive in making sure your grandmother gets the care she needs.
[color=#b2a1c7]it is very frustrating.
Liddle Noodnik
3,789 Posts
Tiger is there some other hospital where she can go? this is so scary
And I am so sorry ... xo