I have to say the staff at Duke is absolutely the best I have ever encountered. When we did the pre-op check-in, they told me it was all about my hubby. That he came first, and if they said I needed to leave, then I needed to leave. And they did exactly what they said!

He got overwhelmed right after surgery when all of his family was in there and they said, “That’s it. 1 at a time.” And they stuck to it. And I was so grateful. I hope I don’t ever have to go back there again, but I can tell you, they were phenomenal!! I’m sorry your experience wasn’t as comforting.

Big hugs to you and your daughter!

I’m certain that being a nurse is a hellish experience, but, as others said, it’s people’s lives being affected. Also, as others said, when a familymember/friend is in the hospital, please watch out for them. I didn’t have anyone doing it for me (ex continued to drink), but, I was just lucky my brain never disappeared, so, I could escape.

Thanks to all the nurses who never forget these are individual patients, not just people.

&, ev, hope you & daughter are doing OK. Must have been scary.

Patricia

I have had really good experiences with my surgeries–which makes me very lucky, I know. The nurse for my most recent surgery was a total hoot and had me laughing right up until I was about to be brought into the surgical suite.

Stacie Mc- training isn’t a substitute for compassion. I understand what you mean and nothing is more important than quality health care. But like Julie said, part of doing the job is compassion, IMO, and when its a child or an adult in PAIN, I do think compassion is in order. Just IMO. LOL.

I did find one nurse trainee when my dad was in the hospital who did set my teeth on edge, and it wasn’t her so much as it was the nurse who was in charge of her. She came into my dad’s room one morning while I was visiting (early, but I was from out of town and heading home, so they didn’t mind) and was taking out the garbage, straightening up his bed, etc. She the proceeded to change his IV- using the same rubber gloves she had one when she did the trash. I immediately stopped her, asked what she was doing, and then questioned her trainer as to why she didn’t remind her to wash her hands and change her gloves before she even thought of trying to change the IV. ick.

We did have one resident when hubby was in the hospital, who insisted I leave the room while he talked to him. Mind you, at the time hubby was out of it, had no idea how long he had been sick, or even what day it was. Yeah, like that was going to happen. Filed a complaint on that one. Idiot.

Off my now

Carly, I am glad that your daughter made it through safely…yeah I know it is foot surgery, but it’s still surgery…

I have beenin the hospital for extended visits a time or two, and I know what you mean about ther focus being on others besides you…however, I have been in some places where there was just too much focus on me…I felt like I was under a microscope…I love anonimity, and it scares me to be in the spotlight…

I might actually have to have surgery on my shoulder soon…I go in for an MRI tomorrow, and I am hoping to hear some good news…

The scrubs look good on you btw…I immediately thought of plotlines with a woman in scrubs…crazy huh? I am a little…

I have to go, but I will check in again tomorrow…it is good to be back…

Peace and love,
Paula R.

Oh, and on the breathing thing…I didn’t know, of course, until the next nurse came in that I should have been doing those breathing exercises every hour. Actually, it was my father who noticed.

Several of the nurses I had were pretty abrupt and not at all friendly…but I could have cared less so long as they did their jobs, which they did.

Basically, You are saying that compassion is mandatory in nurses. I have been a patient (lots of times) and am a nurse. Believe me, I would much rather have a nurse who is capable of doing her job – which includes a lot of things you don’t see – than have one who is compassionate.

I’ve worked with some very sweet, caring nurses who were very dangerous. I’ve also noticed that the more time a nurse spends in a patient’s room reassuring or just visiting, the more things go undone. Like looking up important lab and test results, reviewing medications to make sure no errors are made. I’ve seen a lot of medical errors and patients whose condition worsened because the nurse spent time she didn’t have interacting with patients. I’ve even seen patient’s die because of this tendancy.

As a nurse I am in a position to know. A nurse without empathy may be irratating but it’s not life threatening.