question on care in hospital

[ralika]

I was in hospital for 2 weeks. This is first time i have been in in years. Normally i have a port or picc and do it all at home but because of immune deficiency i can't keep bacteria out of my port or picc. I would call nurse to call respiratory for neb clearly having trouble breathing and they would take an hour or more to show up which would set my progress back. I ended up bringing in my home meds to take if they didn't show in 15 mins. Is this normal in other hospitals across the u.s. or just vegas. I know care here is bad but this was ridiculous. Just like my iv steroids nurse would be 2 plus hours late on them i would have to watch and remind them for everything. Never mind they respiratory had never seen a vest.

 

[nmw0615]

I am a pretty laid back patient when I'm hospitalized. I try to remember that I'm not the only patient these people are taking care of. However, waiting an hour for a treatment you obviously need is ridiculous. I don't wait an hour for treatment even when it is not an emergency type situation. I'm not sure how your hospital works, but for me, every single nurse/doctor/RT has a phone that I can call from my room and speak directly to them. I ask for their number the first time I see them and I do not hesitate to call it. If your hospital has something similar, I would suggest utilizing it.

 

[JENNYC]

I fight this battle every time we get admitted! I now take all of her meds from home except the IV meds of course. I have to sign a waiver and they count and label my daughters meds and then return them to me where I have to keep them locked in the little vault they give you in the room. I also bring her vest from home. I tried to be compliant at first but a 7 year old needs and has a routine. They would try to give her the vest treatment after she ate breakfast which just made her throw up what hospital food I would manage to get down her and then they would try to come at 11 at night when we were both fast asleep for the night time round. So now I politely decline respiratory therapy as well. I think I can hook her up seeing how I've been doing it for years! And then when I got the bill and saw that we were charged double what the meds normally cost and the respiratory bill was outrageous when all they did was come in and turn on the vest and hook her to the nebulizer.....really???!!! You have to advocate for yourself and do what is best for you. You are there to get better not make their chosen job easier. Don't get me wrong I have never been rude to the nurses with the exception of once but she deserved it I just politely tell them how we do things and that is that. Stand up for yourself

 

[Aboveallislove]

Jenny,
thanks for sharing. that is so good to know, although I think hospitals differ in policy. When DS was admitted I did basically the same thing but they refused to allow us to use our meds even though some said "yes," like you said with checking meds, etc. , but you need a waiver' others said "no." So instead of arguing, I just ended up just having our own and doing when i wanted and having them "leave" the extras. And I did the same respiratory care for same reasons--even more so since DS was in for an obstruction and he was having enimas or golyghtly cramping and I had to gauge the perfect moment to try to do treatments, knowing when to stop, start, etc.

 

[SunnyK]

We use Vanderbuilt Children's hospital in Nashville, Tn and receive the best of care. All treatments and meds are given in a timely manner. If you are not recieving good care at your hospital you should report it. Late meds on occasion because of an emergency/situation with another patient is one thing but repeated late doses is never ok. I am so thankful for the care she receives from the nurses and all staff at Vandy!

 

[jmv]

I have this problem literally every time I'm admitted and I go to Johns Hopkins which is supposed to be one of the best hospitals in the country. My IV antibiotics are never on time, the people from the lab are always late to draw levels, respiratory sometimes just skips me and doesn't give me my treatments. It's very frustrating. I bring what I can from home - especially enzymes so I'm not waiting an hour to be able to eat while my food gets cold. Usually I end up having to bother my nurse, which makes me feel awful because I know it's never their fault. But if I remind my nurse that my antibiotic or labs are late, she can call whoever is responsible to get the ball rolling. I have a port so I fight to not be admitted but sometimes it's inevitable.

 

[Iamqueenofeverything]

I fight with the hospital ppl too. Ususally they are good when I remind them about meds. Pharmacy takes forever and I still don't know why. That's there job. I only bring my creon bc I need them before I eat and my hospital only brings them a few at a time when I eat breakfast and lunch or dinner

 

[azdesertrat]

Good Lord!
Reading these horror stories makes me grateful to have been admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in PHX. whenever I had exacerbations.
The only meds I was ever forced to do on my own were enzymes. The respiratory therapy techs were always timely.
The only problems I ever had have been at the U of A Transplant Clinic. Somtimes, being hospitialized there has been a nightmare.
Usually, after I knock a few skulls around they get with the program. (being a little dramatic there)
Seriously, if I bring a problem to the attention of the nurse, she/he usually straightened any problems post-haste. Johns-Hopkins? Who'da thunk they'd be that bad with CF patients?
Sounds like theiy're spending all their time & money on CF RESEARCH & forgetting all about CF PATIENTS!
Sounds like poor priorities to me.