Welcome to the Re-christening...
Greetings Everyone.
It certainly has been a long time since I've posted. I was hoping to have a more pleasant subject to begin with, but the Universe had it's own ideas, it seems. When something affects you as much as the following has, ya just gotta let it out. I'm hoping to get some feedback in terms of how to make people aware of this issue, since it is serious. I promise, my next post will be more upbeat : )
It's been two days after being told I have something I'd never even heard of. I'm taking a medication that makes the original symptoms better but has side effects. I haven't been outside except for the doctor visit. I am pissed off.
I was in the ER at the facility I work in two weeks ago. They drew blood, but never ran the tests and I am thinking I might not have progressed to this state if they'd done their job. This rant is about doing the right things, having understanding or compassion for the patients trusting in the care of the professionals we place our health (and lives) in.
Working in health care myself for many years, I can say with a clear conscience that I NEVER discounted a patient's words or evident symptoms. I do not see this happening around me. I watched what was done to my father, heard what was done to my friend's father, and now, to myself. The two people mentioned have passed on due to medical mismanagement or downright negligence. As for me, I think I will be making an issue over how I was treated, or rather, not treated. No one looked for an underlying condition when I went to the ER. What kind of people are hospitals employing? Why is this ok?
When I walk past patient rooms and hear them calling for a nurse, my impulse is to go and see what they need. I am not employed in this role currently, so by law, I can't intervene except to tell whoever is at the nurse's station that someone needs assistance. "OK" is the response I get, and regardless of the reasons, it takes considerable time for that patient to be looked after. Why is this ok?
I've listened to my manager spouting off about how the patients are our priority, and how we have to do things right, etc. When I tried to explain to this person that I was truly ill, the response I received was "you are doing this to yourself". Where is the compassion? I now have to be concerned that I will be unemployed or that a trip that's been planned for nine months will no longer be allowed.
Having panic disorder and having people know about it put me at a serious disadvantage, since everything that goes on medically is attributed to that, or, because I am female, PMS or peri-menopause. It isn't right.
Staff-to-patient ratios are awful across the board, but nursing homes are the worst. 3 licensed people plus if you are lucky, 3 patient-care assistants for 40+ patients. Most of these poor folks are on cardiac meds and are diabetic. They need proper monitoring, but do not get it, because if you take too long to crush up all of their meds and put it in applesauce and try to administer, the next person is late with their meds or finger-sticks and/or insulin. Never mind the nurse getting vitals when someone is on blood-pressure or other cardiac meds. No time. I watched people treated like cattle. It wasn't what I was taught, it isn't who I am, so I left a $30/hr job to save my sanity because I alone could not fight "the machine"
My mother had her surgery in the facility where I work. When I met the OR staff as an employee, I was appalled. These are the people that took care of my Mom? It's a wonder she's still here. I watch my own department and see how challenged they are, work-wise. Why? My manager has anger issues, and has a multitude of actual sins with potential unpleasant ramifications, but takes issue with me for getting upset at things I know are wrong, or for getting upset with individuals for their behaviour. This individual delights in up-ending everyone's life and schedule and enjoys the reputation of being a tyrant. Again, why is this ok?
Folks, if you are in health-care, don't just be in it for money. A calling is imperative. Compassion is a must. A desire to help others is what is supposed to drive us in this business. I'm sad to say that I don't know how to fix the system, anymore than I know how to fix the mess that the world-at-large is in. I've tried getting in touch with various agencies, like AARP for starters, the state board of nursing, and have not received answers. Someone, somewhere has got to start caring about this because the percentage of elderly people has increased dramatically, and with the lifestyles we live as Americans, with our fast-food, hectic schedules, lack of physical activity, we're ALL in position to end up in places like I've worked in as we age.
It certainly has been a long time since I've posted. I was hoping to have a more pleasant subject to begin with, but the Universe had it's own ideas, it seems. When something affects you as much as the following has, ya just gotta let it out. I'm hoping to get some feedback in terms of how to make people aware of this issue, since it is serious. I promise, my next post will be more upbeat : )
It's been two days after being told I have something I'd never even heard of. I'm taking a medication that makes the original symptoms better but has side effects. I haven't been outside except for the doctor visit. I am pissed off.
I was in the ER at the facility I work in two weeks ago. They drew blood, but never ran the tests and I am thinking I might not have progressed to this state if they'd done their job. This rant is about doing the right things, having understanding or compassion for the patients trusting in the care of the professionals we place our health (and lives) in.
Working in health care myself for many years, I can say with a clear conscience that I NEVER discounted a patient's words or evident symptoms. I do not see this happening around me. I watched what was done to my father, heard what was done to my friend's father, and now, to myself. The two people mentioned have passed on due to medical mismanagement or downright negligence. As for me, I think I will be making an issue over how I was treated, or rather, not treated. No one looked for an underlying condition when I went to the ER. What kind of people are hospitals employing? Why is this ok?
When I walk past patient rooms and hear them calling for a nurse, my impulse is to go and see what they need. I am not employed in this role currently, so by law, I can't intervene except to tell whoever is at the nurse's station that someone needs assistance. "OK" is the response I get, and regardless of the reasons, it takes considerable time for that patient to be looked after. Why is this ok?
I've listened to my manager spouting off about how the patients are our priority, and how we have to do things right, etc. When I tried to explain to this person that I was truly ill, the response I received was "you are doing this to yourself". Where is the compassion? I now have to be concerned that I will be unemployed or that a trip that's been planned for nine months will no longer be allowed.
Having panic disorder and having people know about it put me at a serious disadvantage, since everything that goes on medically is attributed to that, or, because I am female, PMS or peri-menopause. It isn't right.
Staff-to-patient ratios are awful across the board, but nursing homes are the worst. 3 licensed people plus if you are lucky, 3 patient-care assistants for 40+ patients. Most of these poor folks are on cardiac meds and are diabetic. They need proper monitoring, but do not get it, because if you take too long to crush up all of their meds and put it in applesauce and try to administer, the next person is late with their meds or finger-sticks and/or insulin. Never mind the nurse getting vitals when someone is on blood-pressure or other cardiac meds. No time. I watched people treated like cattle. It wasn't what I was taught, it isn't who I am, so I left a $30/hr job to save my sanity because I alone could not fight "the machine"
My mother had her surgery in the facility where I work. When I met the OR staff as an employee, I was appalled. These are the people that took care of my Mom? It's a wonder she's still here. I watch my own department and see how challenged they are, work-wise. Why? My manager has anger issues, and has a multitude of actual sins with potential unpleasant ramifications, but takes issue with me for getting upset at things I know are wrong, or for getting upset with individuals for their behaviour. This individual delights in up-ending everyone's life and schedule and enjoys the reputation of being a tyrant. Again, why is this ok?
Folks, if you are in health-care, don't just be in it for money. A calling is imperative. Compassion is a must. A desire to help others is what is supposed to drive us in this business. I'm sad to say that I don't know how to fix the system, anymore than I know how to fix the mess that the world-at-large is in. I've tried getting in touch with various agencies, like AARP for starters, the state board of nursing, and have not received answers. Someone, somewhere has got to start caring about this because the percentage of elderly people has increased dramatically, and with the lifestyles we live as Americans, with our fast-food, hectic schedules, lack of physical activity, we're ALL in position to end up in places like I've worked in as we age.
posted by kacey at 10:23 AM
1 Comments:
First of all, I'm so sorry to hear about your condition. I hope you find a therapy that works. Of course, first you have to find someone competent enough to understand it all.
As for the rest of your post, it's one of the reasons I scream at people to save their money and stop spending like there's no tomorrow. Because if you do wind up debilitated, you will wind up at the hands of the very people described in this post. Of course, folks will immediately say "I don't have money to save!" but they do. Buy one less Xbox game, eat one less McDonald's meal in a week, go to one less movie a month, buy one less pair of shoes you don't really need (but really want) a year. In time it adds up. And if you can do this much, you can do more! It's not to say that if you can afford "better" care, you will get better care. But at least give your kids a chance at suing the idiots that killed you. Did you ever read this one? http://www.wftv.com/news/6253589/detail.html
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