Hospital Care...Not!

Where I am right now is not where I'd like to be and I would be sure to say neither would my mother. Right now, we don't have a choice. My mother awoke me this morning with right lower quadrant pain (for all you future nurses, you know what that means and for those who aren't it basically means right lower stomach pain) which can be typical for appendicitis. We arrived at say about 5:45am and as we arrive I was greeted by the security guard who went and got the nurse. After they assessed her quickly at the window they were taking her back into triage, I was going to follow until the security told me I couldn't go without a visitors pass. Are you kidding me?! My mother is in a wheelchair doubled over with pain, can barely speak, out of breath and about to throw up everywhere; and you want me to not accompany her into triage, so that I can stop give you my license and check in as a visitor? Hmm I guess this isn't an emergency and I must be a high risk to security in my sweats and pale sleepy face. I was appalled by this, had to comply because he kept arguing with me. After she was traiged we were put in a room in the ER where all the nurses came in quickly to asses her. Over all this process went smooth, until I noticed the time 6:30...that means closing time for the night nurses and opening for the next shift. With this being said I should've expected what came next. They never put her hospital band on and when her breathing became labored and her blood pressure was dropping with her heart rate, the machine kept beeping and no one came in until I said something. When I asked questions as to why this was happening no one answered, they simply dismissed it as it's the pulse oxygen meter. I checked it, it was fine.

This is when I put my medical experience to use and let them know that there non chalant attitude was not okay. The issue was rectified once I started speaking politely yet firmly with the nurses and the Nurse Practitioner. See with the whole schedule change we had to start over. Not a fun process.

Needless to say the staff we got now are caring and nice, but the one before wasn't. No wonder so many people complain about hospitals. So many nurses don't care and treat patients like they're ALL drug seekers or that their pain doesn't matter. After my mother being admitted for what turned out to be a massive kidney stone we were moved to a floor where the room is private, yet it's walls are dirty and the cabinet that's made of formica is falling apart. I don't care about the cabinet, I care about the wall. Cleanliness is important as is the staffs level of caring. I am going to school to be a nurse and I know I may be only one but, I do care, I've always cared being a medical assistant for 11 years in many fields, has not stopped me from delivering outstanding customer service and care! Where is the professional ethics? Where is the cleanliness? Where is the compassion? I've heard nurses say give it time you won't care either and I do not agree. You don't just get up and stop caring one day, you CHOOSE not to care. I'm seriously saddened and appalled. Where does the money go for the hospitals? And to boot, the children's playground is right next to a waste management dump, the only thing that separates it is a wooden gate....now I'm convinced that our healthcare system is going to hell in a hand basket. 

Here's a picture if you don't believe me..