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.
This might be controversial but I believe that survey forms, like the HCAHPS, played a part in bedside nursing being a not-so-attractive field to remain in the long run.
When I was a child (living in the states), it was unheard of for nurses to be treated like maids. It was taboo to treat a nurse poorly; the town will hear about it, and your rep will be trashed. Nowadays (in the same part of the states), bedside nurses being treated like maids is a normal occurrence around here.
The reason HCAHPS sucks is because it is attached to reimbursement and that is more important to hospitals than neither quality of care nor patient safety. Patient gets an orthopedic surgery or CABG with saws being used to separate bones and expects complete alleviation of pain. Compound that with the notion that the patient's subjective is the true pain with impractical scales like 0-10 to quantify said pain, then it was only a matter of time before the ticking time bomb went off -demanding, ungrateful, and often self-negligent patients who are unencumbered about their own wellbeing. I think HCAHPS is a variable that contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis in America. Patient satisfaction is equated to service at a hotel. You have CHF patients demanding pitchers of water while on Lasix drips with crackles audible outside the room. Don't even get started on some of the diabetic and kidney patients. UGH!!
If the healthcare system in Brazil is like most other countries outside of the US, there is no survey forms. From what little I've seen worldwide, this is an American thing
It was sarcasm. Nonetheless, she can file her grievances with the hospital, in any form of communication she chooses, but it will be of no important consequence. She is the guest at someone's house and wants to not only criticize the food offered, but also defecate without flushing. Entitlement much? Her immediate needs were fulfilled and she should be appreciative.
It was sarcasm. Nonetheless, she can file her grievances with the hospital, in any form of communication she chooses, but it will be of no important consequence. She is the guest at someone's house and wants to not only criticize the food offered, but also defecate without flushing. Entitlement much? Her immediate needs were fulfilled and she should be appreciative.
Sorry that I didn't catch the sarcasm, I just figured someone adding a comment, thinking that other countries healthcare works like US. I've seen a couple suggest lawsuits. In many countries, this wouldn't even fly, and will lead to more problems for OP
Sorry that I didn't catch the sarcasm, I just figured someone adding a comment, thinking that other countries healthcare works like US. I've seen a couple suggest lawsuits. In many countries, this wouldn't even fly, and will lead to more problems for OP
No worries:) I saw the lawsuit suggestions; I thought I wouldn’t dignify such rubbish with a response. Frivolous lawsuits are atop the list of things I find quite contemptible about our system. The process is too convenient from a litigious culture of people fueled by greed and lack of accountability.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Call a couple of lawyers. She maybe CAN SUE for letting her get hurt. She should explore that.
In a foreign country? Because she didn't receive care up to US standards? You have got to be kidding.
9 hours ago, MunoRN said:
I wouldn't describe that as a 'nothing-to-lose' situation since just the initial filing will cost a hefty amount, if she loses, which she will, it could end up costing many thousands of dollars.
I doubt there's any mechanism for a complaint like this in the first place. Plus she's in a foreign country and we know how much Americans are adored in foreign countries.
I'm sorry that it was a traumatic experience for you.
Yes, in some cultures nursing is not as patient oriented as in the USA. They don't hold your hand, they expect family to help out. Your boyfriend is right. Please, be aware next time, and accept that if you live in Brazil this is what you get.
OP, I can’t imagine how awful it would have been to have a major surgery such as a hysterectomy in another country. I’m sure it was scary and you are going through a grief process right now which is why you are feeling the need to lash out. I hope at this point you are starting to process your loss.
I have said on this site before this is why single payer healthcare won’t work, and this is the exact reason why it won’t work. Americans are not ready for all the changes it brings. We are used to a certain level of care. Used to having nurses at our beck and call. That’s not how it is other places. The ratios are so much different. The amount of supplies are different. Even we as nurses are used to going into a supply room and get what we need. That’s not how it works in other countries. People here want the exact same care that they get now, they just don’t want to pay for it.
Is healthcare a right? In some ways yes. But very basic healthcare. Treatment for basic illnesses, antibiotics, women’s healthcare, kids check ups and vaccinations, should all be free. I think all vaccines should be free. The rest, not so much. I like my pt ratios. I like the attention I can give to my patients. I always have meds I need in the Pyxis. MRI needed? We will be there in an hour. But all that costs money.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 2/18/2020 at 4:43 AM, beachynurse said:
This post makes me very sad. I don't mean this in a cruel way, but if you knew that you were going to move to another country, you should research important aspects of the place, like banking, health care, the economy, transportation, etc. Had you done more research for yourself, these events may not have happened, or they could have been avoided or minimized. This is the problem with Americans when we travel overseas. We have expectation that the standards are the same, when they are not.
This is so True - In the past few years I have learned that I have due to my Lineage a possible claim to Irish Citizenship. The idea intrigues me as I was literally raised on tales of Ireland at my grandfather's knee. My firt adventure on the route is to visit Ireland on vacation - I was warned that I should be prepared for how the culture, politics and healthcare differ from what I am used to as a American and to be culturally sensitive and polite when I am there.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
On 2/18/2020 at 4:54 PM, TriciaJ said:
And people think they want single payer health care? They have no idea.
The issue is not single payer. The issue is that you live in a country where people can sue for because they had ribs broken during CPR that saved their life.
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The reason HCAHPS sucks is because it is attached to reimbursement and that is more important to hospitals than neither quality of care nor patient safety. Patient gets an orthopedic surgery or CABG with saws being used to separate bones and expects complete alleviation of pain. Compound that with the notion that the patient's subjective is the true pain with impractical scales like 0-10 to quantify said pain, then it was only a matter of time before the ticking time bomb went off -demanding, ungrateful, and often self-negligent patients who are unencumbered about their own wellbeing. I think HCAHPS is a variable that contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis in America. Patient satisfaction is equated to service at a hotel. You have CHF patients demanding pitchers of water while on Lasix drips with crackles audible outside the room. Don't even get started on some of the diabetic and kidney patients. UGH!!