I've spent a good portion of my time this week in a hospital room at North Kansas City Hospital. I've been reminded, once again, that nurses are just like any other segment of society: there are great ones and mediocre ones. And even lousy ones.
My sister had major surgery this week. I'm sure my readers all agree that our family members are special, and we want the best treatment for them.
The day nurse yesterday insisted my sister take a walk with her. She made sure that, with her help, my sister got a nice shower. The wonderful night nurse who followed her explained why she was giving each medication my sister received after she began vomiting, and went out of her way to assist her in any way.
Then the new day nurse came on this morning. She never offered to take a walk with my sister. She never offered to help her shower. The most she did was to stick her head in the door twice and say, "Do ya need anything?"
I wish there were some way to tip good nurses, the way we tip a good waitress.
By the way, I'd say there are at least two good nurses for each lousy one.
Showing posts with label nurses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nurses. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Moving right along....
Figuring it best to get that rather questionable Wordless Wednesday moved on down the page, I'll do a "this-n-that" entry.
First of all, my husband and I are a little miffed at the staff at our local doctors' office.
Cliff recently had a bit of a minor physical problem. We saw the nurse-practitioner about it, and got the problem fixed. She asked that he come back in two weeks and get a blood test to make sure his good-bad cholesterol ratio was where it should be (to see if the recent addition of Niaspan is doing its job), and to make sure his blood count was in the proper range; recent tests showed him to be slightly anemic. Also, she said, it was time for the every-three-months blood test to make sure his liver is standing up to the Lipitor he takes.
The nurse came in first, of course, asking why we were there. We told her, including the fact that Cliff hadn't eaten since the previous night.
Then the nurse-practitioner entered, asking, "What brings you here today?"
Duh. You told Cliff to come back in two weeks, lady. For a follow-up, and for the blood work. We mentioned that he was fasting.
Enter another nurse, and blood was taken.
Unfortunately, not all the blood vials that were needed were taken, evidently.
When we got back home, there was a message on our answering machine asking Cliff to come back, that they needed a "fasting blood test".
He was fasting when he was there!!!
I guess nobody's perfect. But in these times of high gasoline prices, I wish they'd be a little more vigilant and listen to their patients; it's over fifteen miles, one way. We should have made the appointment with Cliff's actual doctor, who has had heart issues himself and pays very good attention to what we tell him.
Yeah, so he's going back today, just to have blood taken.
We have learned lately not to tell Cliff's siblings every little symptom he has, even if they ask. They get on the telephone, diagnose him, decide he's dying, and get all worked up about things. Then he gets a phone call from his brother in Kansas, saying, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Tell him what? Geesh.
In other news, looks like our heat wave is over. And there's rain in the forecast. So far all we've had is sprinkles, but at least that settles the dust a bit.
I can smell autumn in the air.
First of all, my husband and I are a little miffed at the staff at our local doctors' office.
Cliff recently had a bit of a minor physical problem. We saw the nurse-practitioner about it, and got the problem fixed. She asked that he come back in two weeks and get a blood test to make sure his good-bad cholesterol ratio was where it should be (to see if the recent addition of Niaspan is doing its job), and to make sure his blood count was in the proper range; recent tests showed him to be slightly anemic. Also, she said, it was time for the every-three-months blood test to make sure his liver is standing up to the Lipitor he takes.
The nurse came in first, of course, asking why we were there. We told her, including the fact that Cliff hadn't eaten since the previous night.
Then the nurse-practitioner entered, asking, "What brings you here today?"
Duh. You told Cliff to come back in two weeks, lady. For a follow-up, and for the blood work. We mentioned that he was fasting.
Enter another nurse, and blood was taken.
Unfortunately, not all the blood vials that were needed were taken, evidently.
When we got back home, there was a message on our answering machine asking Cliff to come back, that they needed a "fasting blood test".
He was fasting when he was there!!!
I guess nobody's perfect. But in these times of high gasoline prices, I wish they'd be a little more vigilant and listen to their patients; it's over fifteen miles, one way. We should have made the appointment with Cliff's actual doctor, who has had heart issues himself and pays very good attention to what we tell him.
Yeah, so he's going back today, just to have blood taken.
We have learned lately not to tell Cliff's siblings every little symptom he has, even if they ask. They get on the telephone, diagnose him, decide he's dying, and get all worked up about things. Then he gets a phone call from his brother in Kansas, saying, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Tell him what? Geesh.
In other news, looks like our heat wave is over. And there's rain in the forecast. So far all we've had is sprinkles, but at least that settles the dust a bit.
I can smell autumn in the air.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Doctor's and nurse's blogs
I'm fairly new to Blogger, having journaled on AOL for years. I set this blog up just in case AOL disappears at some point. However, through this site I've found some interesting new people. Yeah, just what I needed, in addition to the fifty or so journals I already read on AOL.
Some of my favorite new reads are by doctors and nurses; these give me a whole new insight into the lives of people that I normally see only in their professional capacity. I'm enjoying reading their opinions and their patient stories. I like being reminded that they have lives outside their offices.
I'll drop a few links here for those readers who might be interested. All of these have many links to other medical blogs, and you can hop from one to another for hours, if you so choose.
Maybe it's just me who finds these so fascinating.
Nurse Ratched's Place
In My Humble Opinion
Kevin, M.D.
oncRN
NHS Blog Doctor
(He's in Great Britain)
Some of my favorite new reads are by doctors and nurses; these give me a whole new insight into the lives of people that I normally see only in their professional capacity. I'm enjoying reading their opinions and their patient stories. I like being reminded that they have lives outside their offices.
I'll drop a few links here for those readers who might be interested. All of these have many links to other medical blogs, and you can hop from one to another for hours, if you so choose.
Maybe it's just me who finds these so fascinating.
Nurse Ratched's Place
In My Humble Opinion
Kevin, M.D.
oncRN
NHS Blog Doctor
(He's in Great Britain)
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