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I am I the only one that wants to smack the next person who acts like we are stupid about bladder cancer, I'm talking medical staff.
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No patience (no pun intended.
- By mycopper
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:03 pm · 18 replies
- In Caregivers corner
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- By roadrunner
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:24 pm
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Welcome to inspire,,,
Johnstown Ohio,I am on the west side of Cleveland,,,Avon to be exact,,,
Yes,we all get cranky at the medical field at times,,,depending,,,how your treated,,,is it personal,,,
or are we just a number,well,we have to demand our day in the sun,,,,whats your particular complaint?
or which area ,diagnosis,,,treatment,,,,test results,,,they don't call you back,,,,,leave you hanging,,
personally our treatment was at The Cleveland Clinic,no issues with them,,top notch establishment.....,but the first at our local hospital,much to be desired......
Ginger
- By Cheyenne
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:31 pm
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Well, there is a long line ahead of you. My big beef is that some of them just treat us like we're stupid. In fairness overall though, they do come across some really strange people. But you would think they could make an assessment in 10 seconds about whether a person if stupid or not. I hate condensation.
- By mycopper
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:50 pm
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Mostly nursing staff. You Can tell them and tell them and they just don't listen. I had to call and tell them my husband did not like sitting in a chair while they discussed his test results. it was inside an open area of the cancer clinic. I also told them they need to talk to both of us we are a team. That way noone is out of the loop. I had a major discussion with his surgeon and his nurses. When my husband is having procedures done. give me time limit or come out and tell me why its later than they said.
- By 15yrsurvivor
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:50 pm
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Cheyenne, I think you meant "condescension." An easy typo to miss! Spell check would not catch it.
I suppose a lot of medical workers are burned out and maybe they have the knowledge, but not the personality, for this line of work. It probably is emotionally draining and takes a certain type of person to deal with it! Most doctors likely need to detach themselves to a certain point to remain effective, but it is a fine line between professional and coldhearted. A difficult tightrope to walk!
- By mycopper
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:56 pm
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This time though I called them ahead and told them. There is stuff he won't tell me unless I ask. It's the way he copes with the cancer. I want to know everything they are doing to him and why. We've been married for almost 38 years and stupidity is not taking him from me without a fight.
- By roadrunner
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:56 pm
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I understand,,,you may get that nurse,single,looking at the clock,,,when can I leave,,,yes,I had one of those,,and my husband was having a reaction to phengran,,,seeing burning walls,lots of people in the room,,,,I had to practically drag her in his room by her hair,,,,and say, SEE....somethings not right....
yep,
we have to be smarter than them
ginger
- By jmch
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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we did learn one tactic from a relative (who's spent a lot of time at MDA and other places as she's lost multiple family members to cancer (not bc though)).
we brought in a bag of cookies when craig went in for last turbt. the staff was very attentive. even let the Dr have one. (They put one in a baggy and hung it from the IV pole for him). It might not deal with the condescension (or condensation) but ... i think i might bring chocolate next time.
- By mycopper
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 9:06 pm
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It does help to be able to talk to you all. My husband is so afraid of some taking their anger out on him. My husband knows what veins they can get blood out of and instead of starting on that vein they poked him 7 times and finally went to that vein. That was at his last turbo I was waiting to go back and sit with him and an hour later a nurse walks by and i asked her what was wrong and she said oh yeah we had trouble getting an iv started. I finally got in to see hime for about a minute before his surgery. Talk about hot. when i finally talked to the surgeon he tried to defend his nurses. I asked him if i should smack him instead. Next time we seen him he made sure i was included
- By nancynursez637
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 9:07 pm
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It is my opinion, that docs do not handle bad news well. I realize that is a blanket statement, but from 40 yrs of observation it is dominant theme in my mind. So they will not comment on more than they have to, some believe that we don't want to know unless we ask, others don't like questions. Some are wonderful, answer questions, encourage questions, lay out their approach and treat us like intelligent folk.
Others make huge assumptions about what kind of care we want, some do not follow the standard protocols because "they" don;t think it is necessary. Even though the industry may have recommendations. it is an option. But then we have the option to vote with our feet.
One of the areas I think patients are remiss, is in the feedback of why we left or why we are unhappy. I think it is important to close that loop, even if just by a quick note. Some of my most important lessons in nursing were from patients or their families, or watching interactions with patients and docs. I did grand rounds in neuro 3 x a morning for 5 years, it was an eye opener. And learning went both ways.
I remember watching grand rounds where residents were saying a 17 yr old in an inexplicable coma was dying. The chief of the service turned to the nurses present and asked if we had any input. We indicated we did not want to see him die because of his inability to handle secretions in his comatose state. The chief ordered him trached. (tracheostomy) The residents were furious with us, until the boy was discharged home recovered. Their sheepish apology was the feedback loop that empowered the team to speak up in the future. Learning was powerful for all of us.
So when you vote with your feet, and seek care elsewhere you might want to explain in a short note what drove you to do it. Even if you do not hear from them they will read it, I know from managing an office of 7 docs. They read them all!!
Nancy
- By 15yrsurvivor
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 9:35 pm
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Nancy, that is a very powerful anecdote about the dying teenager. You played an integral part in saving his life.
It must be a wonderful feeling!
Jmch, I love your idea of cookies, and especially chocolate!! That would totally work with me.
- By roadrunner
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 9:39 pm
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There is no reason for you to be asked to leave for any reason,or to wait outside,,,some nurses are just not good at finding veins,,,2 tries and your out,get me another,,,when my husband had his bladder removed,they said he will be in romm,,,7-- in about an hour,but you can't go there until we tell you,,,OH YEAH RIGHT,sure,I will sit and wait for the high sign,,,,I was outside the room waiting his arrival,,,so here he comes on his guerney,,,I suppose we sholud follow the rules,,,,its our husband ,,,for petes sakes,,,
so I stood by his side until the room was prepared,,,I did stay out while they got him situated,,but then a crane couldn't move me for 6 days,,,protect your own,,
its necessary..........
- By mycopper
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 11:15 am
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It was her attitude that made me the maddest,
- By jmch
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 12:05 pm
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At Kaiser Permanente they have a rule that 2 tries yer out.... another nurse takes over trying to find a vein. I know because i have little veins and this has happened. there is no shame to the nurse for turning it over to another, and you don't have someone who is rattled sticking you over and over. Good rule, i think.
- By DebbieMP
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 6:51 pm
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We were very fortunate with our nursing staff at the cancer center. Our frustration after my husband's RC and neobladder was the home healthcare nurse. She had no experience with neobladders so was unsure what they were, thought we could re-use irrigation kits (big no-no), never did an irrigation, and filled her entire hour at our home after 5 minutes taking blood pressure and temp standing at the end of the bed talking about her other patients and telling my husband to eat more fruits and vegetables. Not a good experience and at times, even a tiring one.
- By rockandroll
- Posted October 19, 2009 at 7:05 am
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I always tell the doctors and nurses that my wife will be sitting in all discussions about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Only one time did a doctor not want her there and I refused to talk until they went and got her. I also insist that she be kept in the loop at all times. At Froedtert Clinic in Milwaukee, there has been no problem at all.
- By loonym
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 5:31 am
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My stoma stitches were torn by a clueless ER nurse shortly after my surgery. The result was permanent scarring and extremely uneven scar tissue on one side. This has cause much difficulty as far as my appliances staying attached, leak free for a reasonable amount of time.
- By nancynursez637
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 6:28 am
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You need to contact teh home health agency and ask for a nurse who knows something about this. you also need to tell them she spent most of the time talking about other patients which is a BIG NO NO. Lastly, I would drop a note to the Board of Nursing in your state to comment on her unpreparedness to handle your health issues, and that she spent the whole time talking about other patients.
Your insurance was charged a big sum for her visit, it sounds like to me, you and your health insurance got ripped off. You need an ostomy nurse to visit you at home, not this Sairey Gamp. (a character from Dickens, The Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewith) hope I spelled that right. But while in University and Nursing School, we were constantly admonished not to be a Sairey Gamp. Please consider following through, and send a copy of your letter to your insurance company, noting the visit was not worth the money or call their patient care advocate.
This kind of lack of care and lack of ethics is appalling.
Nancy
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