Comments on: A New Roommate

By: cker

cker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:26:45 +0000

Ok, so you tried the nice approach. Now you need to talk to every regulatory agency you can find. Turn their butts in. They are violating so many codes it is too many to count. Don’t bring them any lobsters. Your son deserves more than this. I wish I could do more. Bring him to IL and I’ll care for him in my house. Hang tight, Sister. Keep the faith and I’ll ask some people at work this w/e who you need to contact. Ruffle some feathers and get what you need.

By: fashionherald

fashionherald — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:45:16 +0000

Donuts and lobster dinners for dirty syringes? God, the inhumanity. This is so appalling, my heart is going out to you every day he’s in there. And hoping soon he’ll be in PT and home.

By: Sister Wolf

Sister Wolf — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:16:32 +0000

Jean – Thank you again! Your patients are so lucky to have you.

dust – Oh, dust. I would love a pretty dress. I want one! I will even brave the horror of taking measurements. xo

WCGB – Fuck! IS there more?? I will go and look.

cker – You ICU nurses are the very very best. Max was in neuro-trauma for 4 weeks. Turned every 2 hours and most of the time treated so tenderly!

I have brought not only donuts but Starbucks patries to the nurses station. Maybe they need lobster dinners?

Thank you for being here, xo

By: cker

cker — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:53:14 +0000

Sister Wolf,
I am a nurse of almost 17 yrs. Follow Jean’s advice but you may want to consider taking this to the state board of health and Joint Commission of Health Services. They oversee all hospitals and nursing facilities in the US. They write the protocols for care in facilities. Failure to pass a Joint Commission review can result in pretty hefty fines for the facility. It is worth looking into. I will ask some friends who the go to agencies are.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep complaining. Loudly. Another approach is to kill them with kindness. A dozen donuts to the nursing staff (RN’s and CNA’s) can go along way in ensuring good care. I know it sounds like bribery and perhaps it is but the staff remembers that you gave them a gift and are more apt to take care of your son. The staff I work with is always jazzed to get food from families. A couple of bucks may buy you a bunch of humanity. Try it.

I work in a neuro ICU. My patients are frequently comatose or unable to move of their own accord. I have to turn them every 2 hrs. Period. A decubitus ulcer (bed sore) costs about $20,000 in health care cost to fix if it bad. Much better to turn the patient.

I will keep you in my thoughts. I am so sorry for all your heartache.

By: WCGB

WCGB — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:25:19 +0000

I posted a link to this post on my Facebook page and WOW…what a discussion.

The staff making references to Jesus is a prime example of “using the Lord’s name in vain.” Meanwhile, the title of this blog is not.

By: dust

dust — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:02 +0000

I have no clever advice and I serve the helpless. All I can do for you is make you a pretty dress, just send me measurements. And when Max gets better send him overhere to Holland for a long summer trip.

By: Jean

Jean — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:52:23 +0000

Fuck, 10 per nurse is pretty grim. When I was working in the Bay Area last year, our union contract specified a no greater than 1:9 CNA staffing ratio, and most places up here in Oregon are 1:7. The ombudsman number should be readily available (as in, up on the wall in big writing along with up-to-date state survey results.) Here’s what I found through google; the statewide 24-hour crisis line is 1-800-231-4024, and there’s local numbers for individual counties.

Please don’t become a CNA, it’s hard on your back and the shoes are fugly. The helping the helpless aspect and the slightly better than retail wages are the only reason I’m doing it. Good luck!

By: Sister Wolf

Sister Wolf — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:01:59 +0000

Jean – THANK YOU SO MUCH. I have requested in writing that the roommate be placed with someone who is hearing impaired. We all know about the repositioning every 2 hours: They simply do not care. There are 10 patients per nurse. Most are very elderly, and in terrible condition. So they can’t complain about anything. I saw one nurse pick up a syringe full of saline that she’d dropped on the floor hours earlier, and then flush out Max’s IV with it.

The religious shit is just totally our of order. It’s usually the night staff. Every single day, I fight several battles. I will find the ombudsman. And I am thinking of becoming a CNA, just to serve the helpless.

By: Jean

Jean — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:41:26 +0000

Sister Wolf, I’m a CNA and I’d say at this point you should think about calling the Ombudsman. Nothing makes nursing facility higher-ups get their shit together like a state investigation. At the very least, it would probably result in the nursing staff getting some in-service training on basic patient care that they should already be doing, like the tray within reach, oral care, and repositioning. Also, they sure as shit should not be talking about ANY religious whatnot unless you instigate it; they could be fired for doing so.

Arrrgh, I wish I could give you tips for coping in a “hospital”….1) The machine is called a concentrator, it makes oxygen out of air, and it probably is not only loud when it runs, but also makes a horrid beeping sound when it’s turned on and off. It would be better if that guy roomed with someone who was hard of hearing. 2) If Max is not able to get out of bed at all yet, he should be turned every 2 hours to prevent pressure sores. 3) CNAs sometimes have “regular” assignments, so it might be possible to request one or two CNAs to have Max whenever they’re on the floor. The better they know him and his needs/routines, the better care they’ll be able to provide.

By: Sister Wolf

Sister Wolf — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:40:49 +0000

OMGGMAB- Oh god, he would be at home if only. Too many issues requiring acute care, so far. Soon as he can stand on the hurt leg, on to physical rehab and then home. Counting the days.

Andra – This is sounding better and better!