After swallowing a very salty soup in the hospital, my stomach was very painful. My nurse called a doctor, who decided to consult with a specialist. I asked my nurse if she would please bring me a hot pack to place on my stomach. She did, and the pain went away. My doctor came back 2 hours later and stated that it might be my gall bladder and maybe he'd have to do a couple of tests.
It wasn't my gall bladder and I told him that I was feeling fine now.
Another nurse, after my left leg was broken in 8 places came to see me and asked if I had been bathed and if my long hair had been washed yet (I had been in the hospital for 3 weeks by that time, and I was undergoing debriding every day) I said no. She took my bed with me on it to the showers room and washed my hair and that was my first sponge bath since being hurt. I still cry sometimes when I think about it.
After being given some antibiotics, and with my leg still in a cast, I became terribly constipated. After half an hour of trying, I gave up. 2 nurses then came to my room, put on some gloves, rolled me over gently on my side and yes, proceeded to liberate me from the fecal matter that just would not come out.
Another time, I had a lump in my breast and the doctor told me to just wait while he consulted with a specialist. Two hours later, I was crying my eyes out, sobbing uncontrollably, my imagination running wild, seeing myself dying and my 2 children growing without a mother. My nurse was privy to the discussion between my doctor and the specialist. She came and told me that she had heard that no, it wasn't cancer and they would tell me soon. She added: "Don't tell them that I told you or I could lose my job".
The system to get a bedpan was complicated: I had to ring a bell, wait for a nurse to be available, then get placed on it while she was sometimes waiting for me to be done. (This sort of cuts your inspiration, if you know what I mean). I asked her to leave a clean bedpan by my side instead, and this way, she would only have to come once. We both agreed it was better and she did. Able to poop privately, I started feeling lie a human being again.
I will be eternally grateful to all these women who knew to help and console me in my hours of need. Their dedication to the well being and comfort of their patients just can't be matched by a doctor, although I've had very good ones. These nurses deserve everything they are requesting.
Obviously, none of the executives at these hospitals care about optimal patient outcomes. They care about extracting wealth for themselves while delivering soft focus marketing BS about patient care.
The health care crisis in America often focuses on what care patients can afford to receive. They don't include the staffing crisis that effects that care, nor the toll it takes on nurses to have to care for too many patients at one time. As a nurse, retired but still working, I have experienced the fear of the possibility of making a life threatening error due to rushing to care for seriously ill patients. It's why I left med-surg all together.
This is a really good point — the healthcare crisis is felt by patients and providers alike, especially those on the front lines. I’ve spoken with so many nurses who were simultaneously taking care of patients and worrying about shifts, rest, and overtime. Traveling nurses are constantly worried about their next contracts, too. It’s a horrible system for everyone other than executives.
Hospital pharmacist here (specifically in the ICU/ED.) I can tell you that, without my nurses, I can't effectively do my job. Based on my experience throughout my career, I can say with confidence that giving nurses the resources, time and space to do their jobs effectively allows us to do the same. I can't imagine that isn't also true of my physician/advanced practice colleagues.
The team effort and precise coordination between nurses and pharmacists and doctors in the ICU, where the stakes and complicating factors are so high and margin for error is so low, always blows me away.
I have always had the greatest respect for nurses and that respect was recently reaffirmed after having two family members hospitalized the same week. The nurses were, literally, life-savers. Their knowledge was incredible and their patience was remarkable. They deserve anything and everything they are asking for.
I was thinking how great the economy will be this year when healthcare was the only sector that added jobs last year and the cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare are gonna kick in
When we late wife was in a hospital as she battled lung cancer, I gained a whole new level of respect for both the doctors and nurses that cared for her. She was in the hospital for 21 straight days and had two surgeries: one to remove part of her lung and another to remove a tumor that had metastasized to her brain. THERE CAN NEVER BE A PHRASE "WE NEED FEWER NURSES!"
Nurses are the lifeblood of the system.
After swallowing a very salty soup in the hospital, my stomach was very painful. My nurse called a doctor, who decided to consult with a specialist. I asked my nurse if she would please bring me a hot pack to place on my stomach. She did, and the pain went away. My doctor came back 2 hours later and stated that it might be my gall bladder and maybe he'd have to do a couple of tests.
It wasn't my gall bladder and I told him that I was feeling fine now.
Another nurse, after my left leg was broken in 8 places came to see me and asked if I had been bathed and if my long hair had been washed yet (I had been in the hospital for 3 weeks by that time, and I was undergoing debriding every day) I said no. She took my bed with me on it to the showers room and washed my hair and that was my first sponge bath since being hurt. I still cry sometimes when I think about it.
After being given some antibiotics, and with my leg still in a cast, I became terribly constipated. After half an hour of trying, I gave up. 2 nurses then came to my room, put on some gloves, rolled me over gently on my side and yes, proceeded to liberate me from the fecal matter that just would not come out.
Another time, I had a lump in my breast and the doctor told me to just wait while he consulted with a specialist. Two hours later, I was crying my eyes out, sobbing uncontrollably, my imagination running wild, seeing myself dying and my 2 children growing without a mother. My nurse was privy to the discussion between my doctor and the specialist. She came and told me that she had heard that no, it wasn't cancer and they would tell me soon. She added: "Don't tell them that I told you or I could lose my job".
The system to get a bedpan was complicated: I had to ring a bell, wait for a nurse to be available, then get placed on it while she was sometimes waiting for me to be done. (This sort of cuts your inspiration, if you know what I mean). I asked her to leave a clean bedpan by my side instead, and this way, she would only have to come once. We both agreed it was better and she did. Able to poop privately, I started feeling lie a human being again.
I will be eternally grateful to all these women who knew to help and console me in my hours of need. Their dedication to the well being and comfort of their patients just can't be matched by a doctor, although I've had very good ones. These nurses deserve everything they are requesting.
Obviously, none of the executives at these hospitals care about optimal patient outcomes. They care about extracting wealth for themselves while delivering soft focus marketing BS about patient care.
The health care crisis in America often focuses on what care patients can afford to receive. They don't include the staffing crisis that effects that care, nor the toll it takes on nurses to have to care for too many patients at one time. As a nurse, retired but still working, I have experienced the fear of the possibility of making a life threatening error due to rushing to care for seriously ill patients. It's why I left med-surg all together.
This is a really good point — the healthcare crisis is felt by patients and providers alike, especially those on the front lines. I’ve spoken with so many nurses who were simultaneously taking care of patients and worrying about shifts, rest, and overtime. Traveling nurses are constantly worried about their next contracts, too. It’s a horrible system for everyone other than executives.
Hospital pharmacist here (specifically in the ICU/ED.) I can tell you that, without my nurses, I can't effectively do my job. Based on my experience throughout my career, I can say with confidence that giving nurses the resources, time and space to do their jobs effectively allows us to do the same. I can't imagine that isn't also true of my physician/advanced practice colleagues.
The team effort and precise coordination between nurses and pharmacists and doctors in the ICU, where the stakes and complicating factors are so high and margin for error is so low, always blows me away.
Honestly? Me too.
I have always had the greatest respect for nurses and that respect was recently reaffirmed after having two family members hospitalized the same week. The nurses were, literally, life-savers. Their knowledge was incredible and their patience was remarkable. They deserve anything and everything they are asking for.
Hope everything is okay with your family and that you’re resting easy after a rough week!
Like you, they are getting better. Thanks for the well wishes!
Eloquent, and a much needed analysis.
I was thinking how great the economy will be this year when healthcare was the only sector that added jobs last year and the cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare are gonna kick in
When we late wife was in a hospital as she battled lung cancer, I gained a whole new level of respect for both the doctors and nurses that cared for her. She was in the hospital for 21 straight days and had two surgeries: one to remove part of her lung and another to remove a tumor that had metastasized to her brain. THERE CAN NEVER BE A PHRASE "WE NEED FEWER NURSES!"
I’m so deeply sorry for your loss, and absolutely agree with you about the respect gained for nurses when you or someone you live is in their care.