My grandfather has been hospitalized at two hospitals: Mercy Fairfield and University Hospital and is now at the Drake Center for rehab. I can tell you thing, there is a reason why license defense attorneys who represent nurses are extremely busy even in this economy. My grandfather is receiving good care overall (especially in the ICU at Mercy and the SICU at University Hospital) but when you are a nurse you notice things, you know when the ball has been dropped and punted, and you recognize those nurses who are just clocking in for the next paycheck and going through the motions. Are you just going through the motions at work? Now everyone has good and bad days at work but this is something more than just having a bad day at work. Do you know nurses who are having a bad year at work already and its only April?
To say it bluntly instead of saying "My name is X and I will be your nurse today from 7am to 7pm" some of the nurses I have encountered in the last three weeks should be saying Welcome to Walmart, how can I assist you? or punching a time clock on an assembly line.
Where is the socialization into the professional practice of nursing that is based on solid knowledge of ethics and standards of practice?
I caught a major medication med mix-up on my grandfather at the Drake Center. The nurse attempted to explain it to me and rationalize the mix-up but I explained to her that I am also a RN and I represent nurses before the State Nursing Boards who make these same types of errors. I actually imagined if I were representing this nurse how would I defend her. In my mind, I drafted the Legal Services Agreement and explained the payment options to her for the representation.
Do you think its a conflict of interest for me to report a nurse to the Ohio Nursing Board and then represent the nurse before the Ohio Nursing Board? LOL, just kidding.
I smiled to myself because I could easily see the admitting nurse who failed to conduct a thorough initial assessment and all the nurses who cared for my papa afterwards over 2 days and who did not "catch" the error being termed and reported to the Ohio Nursing Board for failure to practice in accordance with the standards of safe nursing practice especially in the event of harm to my grandfather.
No "harm" because "I" caught it but damn; I do this for a living (and I do it well I might add) and its a smack in the face when its actuality and reality and not a case file coming in from my law practice. Its my personal life and its my papa. I like to keep my professional and personal lives separate but you are personally what you are professionally and vice versa, so I read once on a bubble gum wrapper.
Maybe I should tape my business cards up in the nursing station or hang a flyer in the staff restrooms and start chasing those ambulances baby because there is money to be made and pumpkin, I am money hungry :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambulance_chaser
Comments