I'm going through a really rough time and I'm not sure this is the best place to put this post but I guess I need someone to hear me.
I moved to Brazil in 2019 and, short story, I had an urgent hysterectomy (open abdominal) 2 days ago. The nursing staff at the hospital here were extremely indifferent toward me. I was very frightened before the surgery and was crying, nobody held my hand or told me it would be okay. They only talked to me to tell me to move this way, put my arm here, etc. 1 day postop I tried to ambulate to the bathroom (no one would help me) and fainted, hitting my face on the bathroom floor (currently have a black eye and bruised cheekbone). I woke up and yelled "help, help!" about 10-15 times before anyone came, finally it was my boyfriend who woke up and came to help me. The nurses stood there sucking their teeth and saying they can't believe I did this as he helped me back to bed. No one examined me afterwards, looked at my face, or even asked if I had symptoms.
The doctor came shortly after that and said I could go home, and you could believe I got out of there as fast as I could. The doctor only sent me home with ketoprofen. For an open abdominal surgery. I am currently using old prescriptions of zofran and hydrocodone I brought with me from the states.
My feelings are so hurt at being treated like this. I would never in my life let a patient fall. I would never let a patient sit in bed and cry. I have always made sure to tell my patients to call me if they feel anxious, upset, or need to talk. I hold my patients' hands and say I am here for you.
I feel like these nurses hated me. My boyfriend, who is Brazilian, says this is normal here. He says it is his fault for letting me fall because the family is supposed to do all the patient care, the nurses are just there to give medication. I am beyond offended at this idea, that nurses are just pill pushers. I am having a lot of second thoughts about living in a place where anyone would act like this, to me it's just common decency.
I was discharged to home yesterday and honestly terrified of having complications and having to go back to the hospital. I also feel like I need to find out what the governing body is for hospitals here and file a complaint against these people.
Maybe if you don't have anything helpful to say and just want to make someone feel worse, maybe just go on ahead and refrain from replying. That's what I want you to do. And anyone else who has a *** sarcastic reply as well.
Considering the OP just had a major surgery 48 hours ago, how about we use our therapeutic communication skills and active listening until her hormones have settled and the anesthetic has worn off, shall we?
No. This person is pushing it, no matter what happened 48 hours ago. They came here looking for validation with probably the same attitude they gave at the hospital. And we don’t have any idea how they were acting prior to the procedure. Nobody gives the rest of us a bye for bad behavior.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I am sorry you have what to you is a horrible experience but really what appears to be normal for that country. As mentioned in some countries families are expected to provide care. Nursing may not be what you expect but the nurses there know no different because that is how they do things.
You obviously do not like your answers here but you are home and I think you just need to put that behind you and concentrate on recovery
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
You cannot realistically expect USA nursing standards in a foreign country. It is unfortunate, but when you travel internationally that is the way things are and you have to work with it.
In other countries families are expected to provide all the personal care, especially in less economically developed areas. I have literally had to throw people out who were trying to "help" with a post op ortho patient who had sitting restrictions who had only migrated 2 yrs prior. Other countries the family has to buy the medicine and wound dressings even for the inpatient stay and hand them to the nurse....
It sucks that you have had major surgery but there is nothing we can do about the situation.
^^^^^ Exactly this.
The majority of my relatives live in Mexico and it's expected there for the families to provide, or give back, the blood that will be used for the patient. If not, then they charge you. I had an uncle who had terminal cancer that decided to take one last trip to Mexico, before coming back to his home in the USA . He got very sick. At the hospital, he needed a lot of blood so they went through all of my cousins, uncles, etc. to see who could donate to get the blood needed. Luckily we're a large family so there were no issues. Another uncle also recently had a heart surgery and the same thing happened. You just expect this. You also get to wheel out your loved one out of the hospital too once they're discharged.
Latin America healthcare is not the same as the US. There are private hospitals, of course, that will provide care similar to the US standards but they are costly and most people cannot afford this. To be frank, I think Mexico is a little bit more caring and advance than Brazil when it comes to healthcare, but that is what somebody I know told me...not from personal experience.
I would suggest getting used to this if you plan on living there. It's not the USA nor is it governed by US rules and regulations.
Good luck on your recuperation and hope you feel better soon.
I'm going through a really rough time and I'm not sure this is the best place to put this post but I guess I need someone to hear me.
I moved to Brazil in 2019 and, short story, I had an urgent hysterectomy (open abdominal) 2 days ago. The nursing staff at the hospital here were extremely indifferent toward me. I was very frightened before the surgery and was crying, nobody held my hand or told me it would be okay. They only talked to me to tell me to move this way, put my arm here, etc. 1 day postop I tried to ambulate to the bathroom (no one would help me) and fainted, hitting my face on the bathroom floor (currently have a black eye and bruised cheekbone). I woke up and yelled "help, help!" about 10-15 times before anyone came, finally it was my boyfriend who woke up and came to help me. The nurses stood there sucking their teeth and saying they can't believe I did this as he helped me back to bed. No one examined me afterwards, looked at my face, or even asked if I had symptoms.
The doctor came shortly after that and said I could go home, and you could believe I got out of there as fast as I could. The doctor only sent me home with ketoprofen. For an open abdominal surgery. I am currently using old prescriptions of zofran and hydrocodone I brought with me from the states.
My feelings are so hurt at being treated like this. I would never in my life let a patient fall. I would never let a patient sit in bed and cry. I have always made sure to tell my patients to call me if they feel anxious, upset, or need to talk. I hold my patients' hands and say I am here for you.
I feel like these nurses hated me. My boyfriend, who is Brazilian, says this is normal here. He says it is his fault for letting me fall because the family is supposed to do all the patient care, the nurses are just there to give medication. I am beyond offended at this idea, that nurses are just pill pushers. I am having a lot of second thoughts about living in a place where anyone would act like this, to me it's just common decency.
I was discharged to home yesterday and honestly terrified of having complications and having to go back to the hospital. I also feel like I need to find out what the governing body is for hospitals here and file a complaint against these people.
I'm an OR nurse in the US. I would never tell a patient that everything will be okay, because I don't know that for sure. Even the most simple of surgeries can have serious complications. I tell my patients that our team will take good care of them, but I'm careful not to make guarantees about outcomes. Also, the nurses at your facility may not have had the luxury of time to give you in terms of staying with you "and holding your hand." It also may be a difference in culture there-meaning that kind of interaction may be seen as crossing boundaries. I don't know enough about Brazilian culture to say more than that.
The care you received was appallingly bad in comparison to the US standard. But if this is the standard in Brazil, I don't know who you plan to report them to or what you expect will happen as a result.
This may be food for thought for you as it relates to wanting to continue to live in Brazil.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I was dizzy my first time up from my surgery I had 2 years ago thank god I didn’t fall. I have never worked in a foreign country but I have heard some stories it is definitely not like the US. I guess you know what to expect if you have to go again. Try to stay healthy. I pray you have a good recovery without complications. if u go to work there you know what it’s like maybe u can be a inspiration to them.
I am sorry for what you are going through. Culture shock can be brutal. I'd highly suggest maybe researching more of Brazilian culture so the shock effect is lessened. You should have done this before moving, and also your boyfriend is somewhat responsible for not telling you what to expect. I do hope you are starting to feel somewhat better.
Being tossed out of the hospital after a couple of days post surgery isn't abnormal. Even after a C-Section you're only kept a couple of days. Perhaps they didn't give you better pain medication simply because they assumed your pain was controlled or minimal and that's why you were ready to leave. I honestly don't know; perhaps make a follow up appointment with a doctor and discuss your pain if it's not controlled.
All that said; it feels like you have a very fairy tale perspective of US nursing. Maybe that's the hormones, or the drugs, or just being homesick; but honestly... depending on the setting, you're going to be hard pressed to find a nurse to pull up a chair at your bedside and hold your hand while you sob because you're scared. I'm sorry. I'd love to give you that amount of console, but my other patient's can't afford it. I have you and five or six others and they are entitled to the same care you are. Doesn't mean I am not sympathetic, and can't take a few minutes to try and east some fear... but I can't give you much more than that. As someone else said; I would never tell a patient everything would be okay. I don't know that. Complications happen all the time. Never tell a patient they are going to be just fine, or okay, or "oh don't worry you're not going to die, we're gonna take care of you".
Now, why did you attempt to ambulate by yourself? I don't understand this. You are a nurse, right? Even in the US, this is the number one thing we are constantly drilling into our patient's heads. I can't fathom that you actually attempted to ambulate yourself, on your own, after surgery. Especially when you say your boyfriend was there. So, even if you did call, and no one answered.... you didn't wake him up until you were on the floor? If you had woken him up, he could have explained that's not the nurses' job it's his, and he would have helped you. He is basically your point of contact and familiarity in his new country you're living in. You should be relying on him and asking him all the questions to make sense and understand the culture you've thrown yourself into.
Lastly, and I hate to say this. I hope you and him are taking the time currently to discuss your future together after this. A hysterectomy is a life changing thing to endure. It can damage relationships, even in the strongest of ones where someone is absolutely certain it won't matter. If he was ever under the impression you two would have a family together you need to address all this sooner rather than later. Yes, there is adoption, surrogacy, and other options but you need to make sure he is on board with all that. You need to make sure you are on board with it too.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Your problem is apparent.