How many have went to the ER AND WERE TREATED BADLY!

[JAVISI]

Dear Friends,
I am just curious how many have been treated badly in the ER? I did just yesterday and it was not the first time! I am so tired of being treated like I am a drug seeker, a chronic ER visitor!

I find so many assume things about you before they have even met you! I kind of lost it yesterday. He had to stand thnere and listen to9 me belittle him for his asumptions! I did not ask for a narcotic! They do not help me with my pain! Besides the fact that I didn't make any mention of any pain medication. And just because you were here the last time I was here doesn't mean I chronically use your precious ER. I had only been in that ER on my own accord otherwise I have arrived nby ambulance, 45 miles. I was trying to save money by going there! 2 other times I had to make that trip by amjbulance and that is not cheap! 4 times I have been directly admitted by a Dr. I would have went to the Dr if I could have gotten in.

He came in with this look like what are you so upset about! I treat you like I do all of patients here. Well that is too bad because they are not getting good care then!

I guess I have heard the saying when you assume, you make an A** out of you anhd me! I guess I have read a lot of complaints similar to mine. The anger came out of sadness, I would trade one day with him if I only could!

Why do people in general have to be so rude! I am not asking for sympathy, I am asking for respect which is something that all people deserve. Usually I am embarassed after I complain about somethin g but yesterday I was thinking about all of us on this site, being treated in a way an avereage person would be treated!

Thanks for the vent!;)

[highupizme]

I can relate to this that ER staff are generally rude and do assume an awful lot about people before even getting close as to the reasons for the visit. For one, I really hate the entire atmosphere of the ER. The staff believes they are superior to patients and treat them like immature little kids. This they instill in people almost upon arrival. But once you walk through them doors and into their domain it feels like you have no rights. Oh, I know about all that big list of patient rights they have posted in all of them. Don't pay mind to them though. You lose your rights once in there. It's do as they say or else, like some prison. The patients are at the bottom. No one in there truly cares for you as a human being. It's just another pathetic day on the job. Yup, nurses are not caring, nice people as most of us are led to believe. They all sit behind that counter space pretending to be busy on whatever. Don't try and ask any questions or you're told "go back to your room." I feel especially sorry for the older folks who have no one and they may even be in a wheelchair..unable to physically do anything. Hosptials are terrible places and I sure hope I don't ever end up in some ER to die. Oh, and nurses are paid plenty enough and get more praise than they deserve.

[highupizme]

This is a continuation about my dislike of ER's. I kinda figure if enough nurses read my last post I'll receive more nasty mails than this forum can handle. I'm not against nurses because of any personal reason..like a lousy reltionship, whatever. I'm just a astute observer of human nature. I've observed this behaviour in just about every single ER ever visited. I've never been hospitalized for anything thank God. But these nurses do believe themselves to be far superior to the general public. They pretend they care for others. MAYBE for a few this might be true. But it is a scant few. It's mostly about how much money they can pull in and then take their aggressions out on unsuspecting patients. I don't know too many jobs people can get away with this on a daily basis. The doctors are the only ones who deserve praise, if any is to be meted out. There still are enough of them cocky ones out there also. But at least they earned their credentials. You have these hospitals filled with lots of wannabe RN's today. Most of today's nurses are only good at a couple duties. Anyone could do this if given the chance to learn. Technicialn fall well into this category. You know, like MRI and X-Ray ones. They don't know anything. They can't interpret the reports. They're usually very snobbish too.

[JAVISI]

Highupizme,
I agree that their are a lot of Nurses that think that they are above everything. I will admit I was an R.N before becoming disabled. I loved my job. I worked in the ICU, I worked mainly there but I would get pulled to work down in the ER. It was a tptaly different atmosphere. I would hear how the Nurses were, most of them cold and heartless. Maybe it is a coping mechanism but that is no excuse!

I was raised in an alcoholic family, I was beaten by my ex. I have made many mistakes in my life, we all have so we need to treat eachother with kindness and not judge other by how much money they have, why they are there ect.

I hope and pray that I treated all of my patients with all of the kindness love and respect that I would want for me or my family. So often the days were long and hard but if you are working the job because you have the compassion to help others and not for a paycheck like so many do.

For me it has been Dr's that have treated me disrespectfully and they can get away with it! The Hospitals cater to the Dr's and are allowed to behave in awful manners. I hear people say "The Dr. has a bad bedside manner but he is good!" I beg to differ, I want a Dr that has apassion for his work, is willing to listen and investigate, wanting to learn thje reason that you are on all of the meds that you are on or why you are there.

As a Nurse I am not offended in the least, everyone has different opinions and experiences, that make a person feel the way that they do.

Thanks again for sharing! Javisi:)

[Violet]

:mad: I hadn't spent much time in ERs until I got married early in 2005. We visited the ER 4 times at 3 different hospitals in the course of a couple of weeks because my husband thought there was something wrong with his shunt and he was in a great deal of pain. The ER doctor he saw the second time we went to one hospital asked him if he came to the ER every time he had a headache! I overheard some ER staff talking about him and saying that he didn't look that bad off, apparently because he was talking to me and not holding his head and moaning.

The last time we went to the ER, about 6 weeks ago, we went to the hospital that is supposed to be the place to go in Atlanta if you have hydrocephalus. While the staff was a bit better (they actually called in a neurosurgeon when the majority of the other hospitals didn't think it was necessary), all they accomplished was making him hate hospitals and doctors even more. They wanted to check his CSF for a possible shunt malfunction but couldn't get any fluid out of him despite multiple tries. Now he has what appears to be more permanent damage and pain from their attempts. :mad:

He says he'll never go to the doctor again because all they do is hurt him and make him worse than he was before. I can see why he feels that way.

[michael178]

I recently went to an ER for a headache, and would go again if the headache came back. I went because I felt that going to an ER was the one way I could draw attention to some of the problems I was having. I got tired of calling into my neurologist, and discussing my problems (usually three of four) and having the nurse call me back after she conferred with my doctor, relaying what I should do about one of the things I mentioned, forgetting that I had also complained about the headaches. After having this happened three or four times I decided to go to the ER.
The ER was great. they were sympathetic and understanding, and I felt good about having gone there. I also got more attention from the nurse and neurologist afterwards, so I accomplished what I wanted.

[JAVISI]

Michael,
What a nice thing to hear! I find it so sad when people are not treated with respect and often times not truely listened to. I am very suprised that more Nurses have not joined in. I have found that most of the time when you are admitted to the hospital, most of the tome the nurses seem to care!

Un fortunatly the Nursing shortage has put patients in harms way, by not getting all of the attention that they deserve. You can definatly tell the Nurses are in the career that they chose, and love compared to the Nurses that are only there for a paycheck!

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars! Javisi;)

[kathy macintyre]

Hi all
Sorry if this sounds like a whinge but I am going nuts!!
I spent last night in the comfort(NOT!!!) of our local emergancy unit of the hospital. my main symtopms were numbness that was in my face spreading from the left side of the top of my head across my left cheek and eye area then acros to the right side and across my mouth area to my lower chin.. kind of feels a bit like when you have a dental injection that sort of feeling?? and also a hive type rash that looks like scabies but they say it's not that either...I was sort of thinking stroke??? They assure me it's not but they don't know what it is and sent me home about an hour later with a sugar pill .. telling me it wasn't related to hydro also. I still have the symptoms now so it's hasn't gone away... Please any one help????

Going nuts here

Kathy Robson
Lithgow
Australia

[JAVISI]

Kathy,
Thank you for sharing, I am just sorry that you had to deal with the experience that you did:mad: . What you describe does sound like a stroke. Did they do a Cat Scan? Sometimes you can have mini strokes that do not show up on a CT.:confused:

Have you went to see your family Dr. If not please do! I wish you all of the best of luck and please keep us informed!:)

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars, Javisi

[Cry Tears]

Well...they're all different...every hospital, ER's are all different.
They can change in one shift change!
You've got to read the bottom part...about the nastiest doc in Oregon!

Its the luck of the draw in visitng an ER.
If you're EVER not happy with the diagnosis or treatment and you feel you really need help, tell them you want a different doctor and not be seen by the one who'd treated you.
My mom was an RN...she worked very hard...never got any tips, but she did get a lot of thankyou cards and boxes of candy...(Thanks mom!:p )

I watched the way my mom treated her patients...always with respect and dignaty. Many times she was berated and verbally abused by some doctors AND a few patients...one PT was freinds with hospital CEO..she wrote a scathing letter about what a sloppy pig my mom was. It made my mother sob, she was so hurt by what this woman wrote.
She'd received the first bad mark against her 35 year pristine record!:mad:

The 40 Y O PT had had a historectomy....you should hear this woman talk about it. She tells how horrible her pain was...like she'd had open heart surgey without anesthesia!...shes a nut job!
Anyway...she played this surgery up to the hilt.

This was on day #5 for this patient:eek: (money does buy....!)
Had a squeeze bulb to call the nurses...crying for pain meds round the clock.

She'd asked my mom to clean her room in the middle of the night!:eek:
She'd dripped blood from her K-Pad on the toilet.
She wanted my mother to clean it up right then and there!:mad:

My mother told her she was sorry, would call housekeeping, she was NOT allowed to clean such because of Bio-hazzards.
My mom had 9 other patients, hadn't had any BREAKS and no one to help her! No nurses aids or other help.
She had loads of charting to do and many other much serious PT's to deal with and one very ill PT who'd really needed to be a one on one! (Private nurse)
She'd called housekeeping, STAT, but they weren't quick enough for this be-aw-chie! And were talking 3 AM...not visitng hours!

She kept squeezing her little bulb...in a whiney voice, begging for help, complaining to central call ctr the nurse was not helping her!

She was about to call 911 she was THAT upset:eek:
Then she claimed she did NOT get her pain meds on time...
was documented differently...she had, but was just too stoned to remember!

So after she was released from the hospital she wrote this ugly letter!
This woman is head of a ministry for married couples,
"Love takes time" for the Adventist Confrence.

She told of her traumatic experience while nearly dying in the hospital and the nurses wouldn't help her.
She went on and on about how painful a historectomy was...
and how it nearly killed her...that she needed Morphine via IV for entire time (one full week, unheard of with regualr people) in the hospital...

and how the nurse refused to clean her very bloody room...
that is was knee deep in blood she was hemoraging so bad.
Ha...if was true...why no blood transfusions?

What a total idiot! Squeeze bulbs are for the elderly and very infirm PTs!
When she gave her speech in front of huge audience she had people come up front to talk to her...she was talking about how horrid her experience was, the pain, the traumatic surgery she'd had, nearly died:cool: OMG! Idiot!

I thought I'd never stop rolling my eyes!
That did it....I confronted her...told her my mom had NEVER EVER recieved such a nasty scathing letter in her 35 years of nursing...and HOW could she dare treat my mom this way and claim to me such a holy christian!

I did this in front of everyone standing around!
I then told her I too had a historectomy, took them 4 hours to remove all the adheisons, tumors and endometriosis, my 2 overies and partial bowel obstructions AND bladder repair AND repair my torn anus!

That I had about 4 Percocetes (Pain pills) after surgery...that yes,
it hurt a little, but I stayed only 3 days and
2 days after I'd gotten out (5 days after surgery)
I drove our Motor home 600 miles south so could meet up with my husband and continue driving south to see our families for Thanksgiving!

I told her she'd used her position within the Conference and freindship with the CEO of that hospital to hurt my mother who did NOT deserve such treatment...just look at my mothers pristine record...
now ruined because of you, a self righteous B!...I spared no words!

This woman cried...but I didnt give a rip!
She is part of the reason some doctors get tired of hearing whiners who play illnesses up to the top!

I'm not infering your pain or situation is like this...but just goes to show you how people get on medical staffs nerves!
I've had horrible ER treatment...read my next posting here.

I was a medical Phlebotomist for 10 years in same hospital....
I never saw anyone with this type pain for historectomy...sure it hurts!
But comon, not THAT much! But she was an only child...it shows! and she put herself on a pedistal having this "high" position within the church!

I was really upset by what she'd said to the audience...how uttlerly deathly painful that was when is NOT! yes...it does hurt, but come on!
Later she realized how much she hurt my mother...she contacted her and asked forgiveness.
Not too long ago...I told OUR doctor...she see's him as well...

I told him about what she'd done to my mom...he knows my mother thru work for 20 years and adores my mother and knows she a very good nurse!

He rolled eyes said that Hystorectomy pain could NOT have been THAT bad....he rolled his eyes and said "Some people just use their status to make themselves look important when they're not!"
see...he knows what an idiot she is/was...but glad not many people like that.

When working as a Phlea...I saw it all...I went all over the hospital into every area except surgery suites.
There are wonderful doctors and there are total jerks who should be doing autopsys, not living patient care!
They're nasty to everyone!
I've seen one...the nastiest doctor in Oregon!

He took his finger, pointed just half inch from nurses face belittled her saying he'd have her fired.

Everyone HATES this mans guts and NO one respect him! 3 of the doctors I now see say he's the laughing stock of that hospital and most all the docs detest him...but when you bring in revenue!!! money talks! something walks!

Nasty doc went to the airport, parked his new Mercedies in no park zone right our front. Security asked him to move it. He refused.
Security guard, is a black female. He called her racial slurs.
She ordered him to move it...he continued refusing so she ordered it be towed. He made more ugly remarks at her, told her he was so rich he could own "blanks" like her any day he was so wealthy!
They ended up in a brawel...she was injured!
So...long story short....she ended up in court.
Judge asked him how rich he was...He boasted "I'm worht $30 Million!"
OK said the judge...gavel hit the bench...then give her 10% of it AND pay all court cost for all of this including her lawyers.
Wow...$3 million dollars for a scrapel! Ha!
See...there is justice afterall!
I'll try and find the news article, then post it...but I do hear he's a good back surgeon...no thanks! I hate errogant docs!
Blessings

[Cry Tears]

I had on-going symptoms during the summer of 2002.
I didn't seek medical help until my dizzyness became too much.
I'd been secretly "sniffing' shoe polish. I'd get up in middle of the night to sniff it...a few times even chewed some.
For me this was downright oddball behavior and I didn't want to tell anyone.

What I didn't know was I had "Picca"...
you're driven to eat minerals due to a mineral deficiancy or severe anemia.
Some people eat dirt, some eat ice...
but is usually something one would never think of eating or be driven out of bed to get some.
I was freezing cold all the time despite this being mid August.
I would shiver, turn blue, I was that cold.

My husband took me to the ER, it had been over 18 years since my last visit to this ER....so its not like I abuse going to one.

I didn't tell the Dr of my shoepolish ordeal, good thing I didn't...she would have put me in the looney bin.
Then perhaps if I had, she would have known I had Picca, which is usually signs of severe anemia.

She diagnosed me as having inner ear virus and panic attack.
I was given Valuim via an IV...and other meds to treat ear virus.
The Valium only made me feel like I was going to die...this furthered confirmed the diagnosis of panic attack.:(

She refused to do even basic blood work...I begged her, felt my symptoms warranted one...
I also had chest pains too, so she ordered EKG. Was normal.
You can have a heart attack when your're that anemic.
I was on the verge of having one, but and EKG wouldn't pick that up.
My body was deprived of oxygen from the lack of Red Blood cells that carry oxygen to your brain and body.
My Hematcrit was 12%....deadly low! Normal range for female: 37-47%...so I was about 1/4th what should be.

When she was satisfied that her diagnosis was right, she rudly discharged me without ever checking my blood.

2 weeks later, my feet were swelling, shoes wouldn't fit, I just felt was the heat,
but I was still very cold all the time and my shoepolish "fettish" was getting worse!
I'd prayed hard to stop this compulsion and managed to stay away from it for some time, but my dizzyness continued.
I also began showing other signs, confusion, crying, always sleeping and combative...
I fell asleep driving home after dropping off my grandkids, went across 2 lanes of busy hiway,
woke up as I hit the gravel on the other side.
Wow, what a close call. My gaurdian angels drove me between the oncoming cars!

So I was taken to a different doctor...he said I looked just fine, nothing wrong, didn't agree with the diagnosis of panic attack,
But puzzeld by my symptoms did not look the way I looked...I looked just fine, not pale or dusky as one would expect for severe anemia.
But he did take basic blood samples, then sent me on my way.
Would call me when they came back...good thing he ordered them STAT, to be done asap!

On my drive home, I fell asleep every 10 mins. I stopped to pick up a few groceries.
As I stood in line, I fell asleep standing up, nearly hit the floor.
People saw this, thought I was drunk...yeah I WAS drunk! Was like I'd drunk a case of beer I was that unsteady, confused etc.
I had no business driving, but my brain was very deprived of oxygen and didn't have the where-with-all to understand this.
I even fell asleep at the bottom of our very very long driveway...my cell phone rang, was the doctor who'd done the blood sample.

Asked where I was, said I was driving home...he advised I pull over, asked my location...
was going to send an amublance that I was deadly anemic and needed about 6 units of blood to bring me up to normal...
I was missing over 2/3rds of my blood!:eek:

He said I was in grave danger of dying at any moment, could faint and crash my car...Oh yeah! Is JUST a panic attack...yeah right!
We live way way out in the boonies so they called my neighbor to watch over me till help arrived.
My husband had forgotten his cell phone that day!
When he got home, just in time for help arriving, he was shocked...I really WAS ill, not panic attack!

I spent the next 9 days in the hospital as they searched the cause of my anemia...
I had every test they could think of...
then realesed me after I'd had enough transfusions to keep me alive.
This went on for another 2 years....receiving over 25 blood transfuions....would hospitalize me for 24 hours each time.
I was "living" in a virtual nightmare...I have a needle phobia on top of all this.
They finally opened me up because of Crohns disease...I'd gotten that swolloable camera, but it got stuck inside me.

The very skilled surgeon went searching further in my intestines after removing a few feet of small intestines...
He felt was not my source of bleeding and took the chance of opening me up further,
spending another half hour searching my entire digestive tract.

What a blessing this man is...he is a sweat heart...Dr Ted Mackette...and he IS a Teddy Bear!....soooo sweet, kind, just awesome!
Even his wife sent me several get well cards after I'd gone home. You don't see many doctors like him,
but he knows sadness...this makes one humble, compassionate.
His only son died in his sleep, was only 30 YO.
He was an RN, was type 1 diabetic. This broke his fathers heart.

During his search, he found a baseball sized Arterioveinous malformation (aneurism like mass)
in the upper region of my small intestines....
He removed that section of intestines and that was the end of my anemia saga...
I had lots of post surgery complications...spent 17 days in the hospital then.

And was the begining of worsening health issues brought on by vitamin and mineral deficiencies...
but at least I wasn't having those darn panic attacks!
Yeah...you'd panic too if your hemaglobin was 5.1 hgb!:eek: ...is not condusive to life!
Normal for female: 12-14 hgb normal range...I was about 2/3rd too low...

The doctors were amazed I was still walking around looking and acting normal!
They did send the first ER doc a very well written letter,
suggesting she go back to medical school to learn the difference between an anuerism and panic attack!:D

So when ever you're unhappy about the treatment you've recieved by an ER doctor...
don't just silently go away! Stand up for your rights as a human being!
You deserve to be treated with dignaty and find the cause of your symptoms...
do NOT allow them to just placate you just to get you out the door! Demand a different doctor....
then tell them exactly how you feel.
Never allow errogance to intimidate you...they are NOT Gods...
They're human beings, subject to mistakes...
But too often, Education and money gives them a sense of power...
and power is often abused. Don't be a victim!
DEMAND what is coming to you as a living human being! Basic health care and not allowed to suffer, especially pain!
Dont let them intimate you into labeling you a drug seeker.
If you have pain, you have a right to have that treated!
And if money is an issue...you still have a right to be treated no differently than a wealthy person.
Just ask them this "Do you know who my FATHER IS?" You wouldn't treat me like this if you did!
Thats all you need to say!...you don't need to tell them its your heavenly father! :D ...
and that if your Father knew you'd not recieved the best treatment possible...
his job may be on the line if He finds out about this!
Blessings, cheryl
Panic attack? yeah right!

[JAVISI]

Cheryl,
What an awful thing to have happen to you! I am glad that you continued on with your quest to get the help that you despiratly needed! Your story happens all of the time. Every once in awhile we can find that perfect Dr. for us that will listen and truely care. They are in the busness of helping others not just working for the big paycheck!:( .

Their are many Dr's that have a God Complex. It is sad and unfortunate. I have ran into many rotten Dr's in dealing with a chronic illness, but every once in awhile you meet that special Dr that takes the time to listen to you and not be so judgemental! No one knows what you feel unless you tell them and they have no reason to not beleive what you are telling them is true but for their arrogance. I have found if I suggest something out of stubborness they will not do the test or prescribe the medication. They don't like to have anyone tell them how to do their job. As a nurse I encouterted that many times!

I am happy you found your teddy bear, I have a couple of them myself!
Dream Big and Reach for the Stars, Javisi;)

[J. Thomas Jeans]

Dear Friends,
I am just curious how many have been treated badly in the ER?

I went to the ER in 2005 because my back was beginning to bother me so badly, and I didn't have the money to see a physician. They turned me away, wouldn't even let me in to talk to a doctor. Instead, they told me to go to the Family Health Clinic across town.

The doctor at the family health clinic proceeded to misdiagnose my problem, which caused me further pain, and then once the problem was figured out, he sent me on my way without treatment (because it's such an expensive procedure and I lacked insurance, he lost interest in me.)

I haven't been back to the ER since. I've had friends encourage me to go to the ER because my pain has gotten really severe, but what's to stop them just turning me away yet again? It's a long, inconvenient, painful trip into town (I love 30 miles from the closest ER, and can't drive myself)... the idea of going there and being turned away at the height of my pain is just too much to even think about.

Take care,
-J.

[JAVISI]

Dear J,
I can see why you wouldn't want to go back. You should not be discriminated because of lack of insurance but for profit hospitals seem to get away with it! I am so sorry that you were treated that way.:(

I had a similar situation happen in my family. My dad had a cerebral aneurysm that had ruptured and was leaking. A hospital took him 1 hour away. Since he had no insurance they had me drive him there. He could have easily died on the way. When he was admitted at the hospital not one neuro surgeon wanted to clip it. He layed there for 2 days in agonizing pain and the hospital doing nothing!

The 3rd day they were going to transfer him to the mayo clinic butr they would not accept him unless he /we came up with $3,000 dollars up front:eek: ! My parents nor I had that kind of money available on such short notice! So essentially they put a price tag on my dad's life!:( .

The sad thing is this happens all of the time. I wish I had an answer to the health care systems problems. It is sooo frustrating. None of us asked to be sick!

One Dr at the hospital that he was in came in and finally said he would do the surgery.:) . He came through it with flying colors, I am very happy to say! I understand what you are going through, I hate going to the ER and I do not at all costs unfortunatly I have had to too many times to count in the last year. I have had more crappy Doctors than good ones. When they become judgemental I want to scream "You are no better than I am, The rich do not deserve better care than the poor and uninsured, live in my shoes for even one day and see how it feels to be judged and descriminated against!"

Wow what a vent! But sometimes it just feels good to get things out! I wish that all of the ER Doctors would have to read this!

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars, Javi:)

[Stetson]

I went last week for neropathic pain and all they were going to give me was tramadol because I fell asleep for 20 minutes.I told the the nurse I been up for over 48 hours plus worked and if she didn't give me something stronger
I assured her I would be back.All the time she coping an attitude! The doctor
finally gave me an injection of fenytal so I could sleep.I told the nurse look at my chart and see what I take for meds.After I got on the internet and checked out what the doc did he just patched me up and got me out of there. I went to my doc he purt me on 150 mg lycrica it works!

[JAVISI]

Stetson,
I can totally relate. No one wants to give me anything because I am on so many meds. When I was hospitalized a couple os weeks ago, the hospitalist took me off a lot of meds because I too slept a lot in the hospital. I was sick! I felt awful and had been up most of the night for 2 days and nights due to pain.:rolleyes:

Some of the things that I was taken off of, you should not be taken off of cold Turkey like that. The thing that really got me is that they did not even ask wh6y I was taking the meds that I was. I was taken off of Neuront5in. I have been on it for over 3 years. I have trigeminal neuralgia, and Nurve pain due to my back. Beleive me I wouldn't take it if I didn't need it. It is expensive even if you take the generic form.:eek:

I was stubborn and took some of the meds that I knew that I needed and stopped the ones that I didn't need. I was appaulled and wondered why they didn't take the time to ask me what I take the meds I take for! My internist kept me on the ones that I kept taking even though they stopped them. They also took me off an antidepressant. You are never supposed to stop taking most of the meds that I was taken off abruptly. Even I kn ow that but the internist that was only 22, thought he knew everything but yet never took the time to really talk to me and ask me questions. He was young and cocky. I left there angry.:mad:

I am sorry that we seem to be judged without question! I wish it would never happen to others but unfortunatly it happens everyday:( !

Dream Big and Reach for the Stars! And always be your own advocate! You know what is going on with your body better than any one else does!
Javi;)

[tink]

I have read all of your posts about your treatment in the ER. I think it is very sad that you all were treated that way. It makes me ashamed of my profession. I am an Emergency Room RN, and I want to clear up some HUGE misconceptions right now. I don't know where you ever got the idea that ER nurses make "alot of money". NOT TRUE! Maybe if you have been at it for 20 years or so. I made enough money to pay my bills, which included apartment rent of $555, utilities, car payment, insurance, etc. I have minimal credit card debt, maybe $200. My medical insurance is taken out of my pay every 2 weeks and each year the amount the employee pays gets higher and higher. Starting the first of the year I will have $229 per pay, (every 2 weeks) taken out of my pay, I will have money taken out for Dental, and Eye, and Life Insurance. I have to pay $30 a month to park my car. I pay for my own uniforms--I get NO uniform allowance! I might be scheduled to work 12 hours, but I can guarantee you that will ALWAYS turn in to 14, 16 hours. I rarely get to take a lunch break, and I have had numerous bladder infections because I hold my urine for hours. Most times all of my rooms (4 ER rooms) are filled with sick people, plus I might have several people laying on carts all over the hallways waiting for rooms. I try to keep an eye on them and see to their needs too, while taking care of my patients in the rooms. I have family members screaming at me because mom or dad doesn't have a room. Like that's my fault. Then there are the fighters that come in that you have to wrestle with. This happens just about every night. I have been called everything but a human being, I have been spit at, kicked, you name it. Nurses today are paper pushers, not hand holders and that is NOT the way we want it to be. We are way OVER WORKED, we are UNDER STAFFED, and we are UNDER PAID! When a mechanic makes more money then the person with the college degree and numerous certifications and special credentials that is saving your life, there is a problem!!!! No disrespect to mechanics. Nursing schools are closing all over. Places are begging for nurses. No one wants to be a nurse today for all of the reasons I just explained. THat is no excuse to be rude to patients, but I want you all to know what being a nurse is REALLY like! Hope this clears things up.

Lori

[JAVISI]

Lori,
I agree whole hearted with you! You are/or were a Nurse desiring to care for others. I was a ICU Nurse and worked in many areas of the hosptital in cluding ER. I completely understand what you are syaing about the low pay and working so understaffed that it is scarey. I hope these posts did not offend you. It is not anything that you have done and yes the Doctors dictate your every move. I have been in the ER when it is ful and have had 2 codes going on at the same time and people are complaining that they are not being treated fast enough and when you try to explain they do not seem to care!

I am ashamed of the Nurses that are in it for the pay and control not for the patient. To many Nurses are critical of patients and get hardened in the ER. I strived to be kind and have compassion to all of my patients when caring for them! I loved my job and it showed in my work. I feel like I was born to be a Nurse. I don't know your age but it seems that the younger Nurses are their for the pay and only the pay.

I also know many Nurses that have gotten hardened and lost their love of the the job. I also know what it feels like to give until yopu feel like you can give any more of yourself but it seems that most of the time I could muster up the strength and treat mypatients with care and understanding. I strived to do my best and that is all that you can do!

Please don't be ashamed of your proffesion. I am proud to say that I was a Nurse before I became ill. Not every ER or Nurse is bad but when you are sick and in the hospital a lot you are bound to run into some bad ones. So please I meant no disrespect to you personally!

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars, Javi;)

[tink]

Hi Javi! I didn't take anything personally. I am like you. I cared about my patients and their well being. I am 41 and I was a nurse back when you could actually be a nurse and spend time with your patients. Now all management worries about is that the census is higher then last year! There were times that things just were not even safe. I too have had ER staff blow me off and be nasty with me. Sad isn't it? We aren't there because we have nothing better to do that day. We're sick and we need their help. I too have been wrongly judged although not by ER staff, but by my own doctor. I think the way medicine has gone is a shame. I do love the ER though and look forward and hope and pray that one day I will be well enough to go back. Take care.

Lori

[JAVISI]

Lori,
This is so ironic, not just that I am a RN but I too am 41 and my name is also Laurie! I too loved my job and would give anything to be getting ready for wok right now. I made more than double what I am makining on disability. But it is not the money it is the self gratification I got each day that I worked. I am ashmed of the Nurses and the way that they behave! It is not the patients fault that they are short staffed. Everyone deserves to be beleived and treated with respect and dignity.

I dread everytime I have to go to the ER. I have been treated so badly in the ER by the Nurses and the Doctors. I want to take it with a grain of salt but it is a hard pill to swallow. I was taught to always beleive your patiets and that pain control should always be treated. I also know the drug seekers and unfortunatly they hurt things for the people that are there for valid reasons. I wish the Dr's and Nurses should not become so critical of every one that comes through thje door. Most of the time I do not tell them that I have a degree in Nursing. I feel that it makes them even more critical/

I wonder who in their right mind would want to be sick. We all know that it is not fun! I think that everyone that posts here would give almost anything to go back to the way they were before they became sick! I am happy that you did not take offense to my post. I would never try to intentionally offend another especially here. We come here for support not cririsism.

Have a great day! Dream Big and Reach for the Stars, Laurie:)

[tink]

HI Laurie. We do have a lot in common. I think health care in general is a shame today. Nurses are overworked, units are under staffed and the ones that are there are working themselves to death! Still, that is never a reason to mistreat a patient! When you go to the ER, NEVER tell them you're a nurse. Right away they think you're a know it all or a drug seeker. How sad is that? Tell them you're an attorney and see how they bend over for you. They will serve you anything you want on a silver platter! LOL. Better yet, tell them you work for JHACO or OSHA! LOL. I do miss my job sooo much! I worked with the best group of people. We had a lot of fun. In the ER it can be so stressful and we would joke around to cut the stress. I would give anything to be able to go back and work with them again. Hopefully someday I will be able to. I am so sorry that you and others have been so mistreated in the ER. I hope and pray that I never treated anyone like that but the sad thing is that maybe I did not meaning to. I wish I could go back and do it all again. I hope you never have to go back to the ER, but if you do--BE TOUGH! Stand up to the doctors and nurses being mean to you, and don't be afraid to ask for a different nurse or doctor. Good luck. Take care.

Lori

[Cry Tears]

I want to say something about nurses.
My mother was an RN, as is her sisters.
My mother worked hard...way too hard!
She worked Post-Partum graveyard...she got $2 shift diferential for staying up all nite taking care of 9, sometimes 10 patients
who'd just had gyny surgery or had a baby.
She was ALWAYS working...usually 6 days week, often double shift.
She drove a clunker old car, lived in shabby rentals, always depended on my husband and I for extra help.
She NEVER took a fancy vacation unless my husband and I took her along with us....always "our treat"!:( :mad:

She never got tips for good job...she did get boxes of candy, sometimes a floral arraingments patients not wanting to take home.
She rarely got enough sleep...usually only 4 hours during the day, then short nap before leaving @ 10PM.

One time a very nasty errogant wealthy church leader patient wrote the nastiest complaint ever against my mother because she didn't clean this womans bloody mess up immediatly (Hospital policy, NOT a nurses duty...is ONLY for housekeeping is bio-hazzard, she'd dropped her bloody K-pad on the toilet seat)....this nasty woman was my mothers first and last "bad mark" in her 40+ years perfect record nursing carrer.
This "woman" was "freinds" with hospital CEO, and used this to "ride on".
She turns my stomach whenever she gets up front huge audience to tell of her very traumatic hospitliazation and near death experience...oh gag!
I finally confronted her for what she'd done to my mother...that she had the nerve to do such, then stand up in front of everyone and act so "holy", that she was a hipocrit and a phoney "X-tian"...she told me she'd apologized to my mother, but was really no apology, was just excuses for her bad behavior, saying she was just so weak and ill...BS!:mad:

The whiny hag "just" had a vaginal historectomy...
I also had historectomy but by laparotomy (cut on my abdomon) plus much much more, had both overies removed, bladder repair and complications!
I never had pain like what she claims...give me a break!:eek:

She sobbed/screamed for pain meds...needed a squeeze bulb for alarm, claimed was that weak....OMG!...idiot!
She kept calling every 10 mins..was out of control.
Very few patients like this...maybe one other like this in 40 years!

My mother was treated very shabbily only a few people...
but for most part her patients loved her and she them.

My mother was a different person while at work...her work was her life.
She gave to "them" so much...they were like family.
She always worked holidays, usually double shifts so others could be with thier familys.
Because of my health, Crohns and 2+ year saga with severe anemia I've spent alot of time in the hospital.
So I know how hard the nurses work, I've been careful not to "bug" them unless I was really needy....was usually the nurses aids who are hands on with caring...
RN's these days seem to be too rushed, needing to charts and oversee the aids. They are the ones who calls the doctors to ask for changes in medications and makes recomendations...most doctors appreitate this as they cover for them when mistakes are made...they catch them as well as make them!...they're only human!...but there are some who are careless!

I too have worked in "medical feild" as a Phlebotomist, hospital and laboratorys drawing blood samples from patients and performing other blood related testings.
I've poked tiny babies and very old grannies!
I even poked the hospital President and CEO's, Police Cheifs, prisoners, crazy people,...just anyone needing blood test!
My funniest experience was drawing blood on this big burely man!
He was terrified of needles, told me he'd probably pass out.
He was a big baby, worried about my tiny little needle! :D
But I too have a needle phobia...but only while on recieving end.
You'll never beleive what his profession is...mobil slaughter!
He goes around to slaughter your meat cows/bulls...deals with gallons of blood, guts and gore!...and he's freaking out over my little needle!
I spent long time talking him into giving me an arm, took a lot of soft talking this big guy into this...but I did it!:D
Poor guy...had to lay him back then give him a soda afer he'd come back around after he nearly fainted.
Oh was a good laugh we all had in the lab then.
For that job...todays pay is about $22 per hour...
Really not worth the pay because of the threat of Hep B, hep C and AIDS....and exposure to God knows what!
Same with other hospital staff.
I have a nurse freind who worked in ICU, she contracted deadly form of Pneumonia...it nearly killed her. It usually kills you in 3, 4 days...(Jimmy Henson guy who invented the Muppets died from this).
She was a patient in her own unit over 2 months she was THAT ill...
she'd contracted this from one of her patients...
is a real threat for anyone working in a hospital or clinic.
Years later she's almost back to "normal" but will never be the same healthy person she once was.
Her nurses career nearly killed her and is a very real threat to any nurse.

And now with this resistant Staph infection....
Is scary to ever go near a hospital unless seriously needed....
could just go in for ER visit, get something much worse that what went in for!...

Any medical procedure carry's a risk such as this...you just never know.
I'm not advising NOT to visit an ER if you're serioulsy ill....
but is something to think about next time you consider a visit to any medical facitlity...but always practice good handwashing!
Keep hands away from your eyes, nose, mouth!....and open all doors with a paper towel...especially a bathroom door!
I think entry level nurses with 4 year RN degree is paid $25-40 per hour here in Oregon. Not bad wages, but not that good either for the hard work they do and the exposures they're subjected to.
Then the stress of having such responsibility for patients....
These Nurses are the ones who're doing most all your care...the doctor only
oversee's your case and makes decisions from what the nurses observations notes/chartings say.
But if you are making $40 per hour, this puts you in higher tax bracket, you end up having more than 30-40% of your pay taken out depending on your deductions/dependants.
The more money you make, the more money they take!
And most doctors dont make all that much money, really unless they're in a special feild.
My mother retired, but the cost of years without proper sleep has taken a toll on her body.
She's been diagnosed with Alzheimers and lives on meager retirment income.
It also took a huge toll on our family as we never spent a single holiday together celebrating like "normal" familys are supposed to.
Thanks Giving often meant my putting a bunch of those little pot pies in the oven while our mother was off caring for others.
Her patients were blessed as she truely loved her profession.
Blessings, cheryl

[tink]

Hi Cheryl! I just love your saying at the bottom of your posts. I'm gonna make history! YIPEE. I too am an RN and I can so understand what happened to your mom. Sometimes you have patients that no matter what you do for them--it's not good enough. It also breaks my heart to read the other posts about how awful the others were treated in the ER. If it makes any of you feel better, I will tell you my story. I woke up one day with the worst headache I ever had in my life. Took advil and didn't get any relief. Continued to take more Advil as the day went on because it was my day off and I had a million things to do. I had dinner with my family that evening and at dinner I told my mom we needed to stop at the drug store so that I could get something else for this headache. We did just that and when I was leaving the store, I felt a "pop" in my head. By the time we got home to my moms house I started to vomit and my left side got very weak. My mom wanted to call the paramedics, but I said (are you ready for this) no! I socialize with them! A neighbor drove us to the ER where I worked and I was diagnosed with a migraine. I told the doctor that I never had a migraine in my life and asked would he please do a head CT. He refused, pumped me full of drugs and sent me home. I continued to work with this horrible headache for the next 12 days until the aneurysm that was in my brain ruptured, my brain hemorrhaged and I had a stroke! That migraine was a sentinel bleed. I was treated like crap and I was one of their own. That doctor nearly cost me my life. I did see my PCP after the ER visit too. It turns out he was an idiot too. MORAL OF THE STORY: I SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH THE PARAMEDICS! LOL My mom reminds me of that ALL the time. So I thought I would share my ER horror story with you all. Take care.

Lori

[JAVISI]

Dear Friends,
I just got out of the hospital & am peparing myself for another stay. My bowel is just not wanting to work. My last ER treatment was good My hospital stay was due to my bowel but I found out a few other things that were going on!

I have a cyst on the only ovary that I have left, Maybe that is what is causing some of my abdominal pain issues?? My Thyroid level is low, so I am now taking a thyroid replacement medication. I had a 24 hour urine so I had a catheter.

I know have a raging UTI that has worked its way up into my kidneys. I had a UA done yesterday I had 70% of white cells in my urine and a gross amount of blood in my urine so I am now on another antibiotic but sufferung burning with urination and terrible back pain that Tylenol is not even touching the pain! I am going to call the Dr tomarrow to see what I pain it is more tham=n I can take I have been up since 12:00am due to the pain!

My bowel has stopped worling again I am trying to stay positive ut it is hard partly due to the pain and the unknown of what is left to do to kick start my bowel, my option ins are slim, thjey are running out of options and to top it off I am having more severe break through with my tremors! Sorry for the negativity of this post I guess I am just tired and a little burnt out!

Dream Big, Javi!;)

[joy]

Hi Javisi. It is past time for you to get a break in the health department. I hope things do an about face and start working "right" for you. I know this is a very scary thing to have to consider. I hope that they try every option before they decide to do drastic steps that will leave you no other choices later on. I know of at least one woman that lived a very good full life with a colostomy. They lived on a beautiful lake and she continued to swim and do many things. I had not a clue that she had all of this wrong with her.

I know you will think things through and do what you think is best for you. I will continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I am looking forward to the day when I read that you are home and have not had to have any more hospital stays. You deserve that dear lady and I want nothing less for you.

[Jenne]

How appropriate that this is in the Anger Management file!

I recently LOST IT at our local ER! I was with my husband who was there for severe migraine and psychiatric condition. After waiting through 4 shift-changes, and about 4 1/2 hours, and being told that our nurse had left for the day, I went ape sh*t.

They kept telling me to "calm down" or I'll get my husband excited. Long story short, I ended up being escorted out of the ER by a police officer (who was like 12 years old.) I told him that I have MS, could barley walk, let alone wreak any havoc...

It wasn't just us that were kept waiting, a little old lady with a BROKEN HIP was for some bewildering reason still not admitted...her mild mannered daughter kept asking the nurse for some pain relief for her mom. Can you imagine? And this is in a small town, on a weekday, when maybe 6 patients were waiting. Grrr.....

[joy]

Hi Jenne. That experience sounds horrible. I can understand why you'd get a tad upset and maybe MORE!!

Javi that started this thread is an awfully sick lady and in hospitqal more than we all like for someone such a young age. She started another very popular thread in Forum for Emotional Support about name 5 happy things. A bunnch of us like to keep it going. I have to say it has been great for me to have to stop and think just how many things I do have to be happy for. And then there are other posts by other names that are really gpd too.

Maybe you could join us there? We'd all like that. Take care and I hope your husband's troubles get better. Used to have the migraines frequently and now don't. And any time my spouse is troubled, so am I. Hope to hear from you and that things are better. Like no more hospital visits needed.

[JAVISI]

Dear Friends,
I have been due to being in the hospital so much. I am so tired and weak but I wanted to pop in to say HI!

I WILL ADMIT SOME OF MY HOSPITAL STAYS WERE TERRIBLE BUT FOR THE MOST PART I THINK THAT THEY FINALLY GOT THAT HINT THAT I AM REALLY SICK!

I switched to a different5 internist, he really listens to me and does not think that I am a drug seeker. I am now on pain medication, oxycontin and oxycodone for break through pain. My pain is at least not one of my major problems!

I have a Gastroenterologist,a lung specialist ( sorry I can't think of the proper name)a Rheumatologist, a kidney Dr, My memory is terrible today, I just can't think of the right words! I also have a neurologist.

I like them all they all respect me and listen to what I say! It is nice for a change. The Er still stinks at times but I grin and bear it until they call my internist or one of my specialists, then they realize that I am not a drug seeker, I really hate that lable. To many people that visit the ER are treated that way!

If I had A magic wand I would wave it so the Dr's and Nurses would be able to really see into people and see what is truely going on inside to get a glimpse of the pain and suffering so many of us are going through!

Dream Big and Reach for the Stars, Javisi

[Lil E]

I had problems at the ER when I first started going there. The "drug seeking" thing. My contract says I have to stick to one ER so when I had to go I would just tell them to call my PM. They were very nice but suspicious. After being admitted from the ER a few times and explaining to them what was going on they don't question my need for a large dose of dilaudid anymore. There was one doctor, a new young guy who took one look at my chart and refused to treat me. I left and came back when a doc I knew was on and told him about it. He said he would look into it.

I must have picked a great place, I've never been treated badly either in the ER or after being admitted. The nurses there are all real nice and very competent. Some of the docs are uncomfortable with my meds but do not refuse to give them to me. I've been there a lot this year with no problems.

[JAVISI]

Hi friends,
I came here to rejuvinate this thread!. I am happy to say I have been out of a hospital for i think 3 months now, anyway it has been a while. Thank heavens. I am now on a duragesic patch, it is helping as long as I don't over do it!

I sure don't miss the ER visits. My sugeon whom I know well, asked my parents if I am depressed? Who wouldn't be?? When you have a job you love ripped away from you in a day. I sure do miss my nursing job! After all this time you would think I would be over it but I am not, It is a career that you take to heart.

Tink,
I love the idea of telling the ER staff that I am an attorney!(LOL) Most of the Nurses that work in the ER are all different. I have a power port for fluids, I had to tell the Nurse what to do! Now that is a bit scarey and pitifull!

Joy,
Thanks for the update on me. I didn't want people think that I forgot them because you all were always on my mind! You are my saving grace! I am so glad that I have gotten to know you! It is funny how people so alike are drawn togeather?!

To all my friends, lets keep this post flowing, I know that we are not the only ones that have been treated badly in the ER or during a hospital stay!

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars, Hugs, Javi

[houghchrst]

I went to the ER with what I knew was gastroenteritis from an NSAID I was having a reaction to and they blew me off gave me some Tagamet and sent me on my way and I wound up going right back the next day and they actually ran some tests. I was right.