When the nurse becomes the patient

Nurses Relations

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It is amazing the things you notice. Perhaps my expectations were too high? I was admitted for observation and it was not a good experience. I had a nurse admit me to the room. Then I was hooked up to machines and left for 5 hours. I met the aide when I called to go to the bathroom, it took her 25 minutes to come. Never saw her again, the things that stood out to me as a patient? No one introduced themselves or told me their name. No one told me what they were doing or monitoring. No one showed me where the call light was or how to use it. I was there from just before 10 until after 3. I was starving. No one checked on me. I ended up unhooking myself the second time to go to the bathroom, then calling the dr myself to see if they were letting me out ever. I called the nurse but she never came. I literally did not see her again until I was discharged. I asked what my lab results were, she told me to ask my dr.

I think it was good to see the other perspective. I was scared, alone, and just left there. Not pleasant. I will remember that feeling every time I go to work. I'm happy to say on my floor we round hourly.

I've had the same experience as a patient at one hospital. I wanted to write management but never got around to it. I just can't imagine going into a patients room and not stating my name and what I'm going to do. I'm sure to always keep my patients updated and even though my facility don't do hourly rounds I still do. We have these GPS thingies that is why we got away from rounds.

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Yeah, having one bad experience really reminds you what it feels like as the patient. Regardless of a patient's age, education, or anything else when you are truly sick you want to feel like someone is truly taking care of you. It's hard to feel that way when nobody is coming to check on you and see if you need anything. Being in this profession makes it worse because you don't want to be "that"patient.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I had gone for elective outpt radiology as prep for medical clearance pre- ortho surgery. I need a walker for ambulation and support even when I stand. (My knees are soooo bad!) I was using a whchair as I was zipping around various hospital depts.

As I'm at the desk in radiology with my sister, the gal behind the desk wasn't really talking to me, just my sister ----- like I wasn't there! When I speak up, I'm using my NURSE language of 30+ years experience but yet I felt SO ignored & inconsequential. I finally had to stand up so the gal would talk to ME. I had to identify myself with my RN just to be spoken to personally, adult-ly, and professionally.

Boy, that was an eye-opening experience!!!

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Just tell them you're a nurse and then they'll be more careful around you since you know the ins and outs.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Just tell them you're a nurse and then they'll be more careful around you since you know the ins and outs.

^Me stating that I was a nurse did help...still saw the good, the clueless, and the careless.

The clueless and the careless thought I would "understand", but I'm one of those A-type nurses...so that was NOT an option...the only saving grace was I slept through most of my hospital stay.

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When I was in last year with a duralumin space tear, I didn't get a bed change (not even the draw sheet) or a wash for 3 days! I asked the doctor if I could have 15mg of morphine and a dose of maxalon just to have a shower...he gave me 30mg of morphine...lucky mum (an RN) was there coz I fell asleep in the shower, but I was sitting up and I was clean!!

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When I was in last year with a duralumin space tear, I didn't get a bed change (not even the draw sheet) or a wash for 3 days! I asked the doctor if I could have 15mg of morphine and a dose of maxalon just to have a shower...he gave me 30mg of morphine...lucky mum (an RN) was there coz I fell asleep in the shower, but I was sitting up and I was clean!!

As a nurse why would you take that much morphine then get in a hot shower? You know what could go wrong. Don't complain about t now when you knowingly do something dangerous.

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