Re: [QUAD-L] Need Advice

[Stacy Harim]

Wow Steph,   I can certainly sympathize with you.  When I was first in the hospital and coming out of the coma, I couldn't talk or move and was pretty much out of it.  I do remember only one person, Jessie, who I will never forget for the rest of my life.  His name is the only I remember.  I do remember another nurse, who was kind, but never very well or her name.  I remember him complaining with his partner about the amount of bowel movements I had on in one night and getting very frustrated that I couldn't pull myself over.  I had x-rays of my lungs done every day that I was on the ventilator through my mouth for almost a month and after being removed and put back in twice, my throat was very raw and I was in a lot of pain from it.  I choked a lot and he helped pull me up to put the slab behind my back but was never gentle, actually, far from it.  I complained to whoever was in charge one day.  I hoped that would take care of it, but he did come in.  Since I couldn't really talk, when he came in my room a couple of weeks later, at that time, I could at least shake my head and he left.  My Mom came in shortly later and did the complaining for me and he was never seen again.   I went back to visit with the nurses in the nuero critical care unit when I had my doctor appt. at Hopkins specifically looking for him to let him know that he couldn't treat people like that.  Unfortunately he wasn't there, but I did run into that special nurse, Donna is her name, to pass on that I forgive him but he did make me angry and I was embarrassed enough and Just because a patient can't move or talk doesn't mean that aren't aware.  The couple of times that I did stop in there, he wasn't there, but I do hope he got the message.    I'm sure by now, you have gotten some good advice but I want you to know that I have had some difficult nurses and aides and sympathize with you.  I wish you the best in getting this resolved.   Stacy ----- Original Message ----- From: S. Dial To: quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 4:43 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Need Advice Hey Gang, I'm having a problem and need to know what you think I should do. During my first year in this nursing home I had a problem with an aide named Poochie who I ended up filing a grievance on for neglect and refusal of care who was from then on not assigned to me, she was later caught sleeping on the job and let go, but has been hired back in recent weeks. Since her return I've been told of comments from her such as "You know I don't go in Stephanie's room!" regarding answering my light or coming in to care for my roommate. This doesn't bother as I prefer her as far away from me as possible, but today she and her partner, a young man named Jeremy, were assigned to my hall. An aide from another hall had to come feed me and informed me that Poochie had been assigned to feed me and do my care and had refused so that was why she was feeding me. Between having Poochie and this male aide on my hall I would have been effectively without care if it wasn't for the kindness of Meagan who fed me and then after finishing her people's care came back and got me up. I did complain to the charge nurse, Adam, and tell him what had transpired in the past and today and that basically I'd rather not have any dealings with this person and he said he'd file a grievance against her. I also tried contacting my social worker, Bambi Barber, to see if she could help my situation only to discover she isn't in today. I'm feeling really stressed and vulnerable over how my care is going to be managed over the next 2 weeks which is how long she'll be on my hall, if management won't agree to switch her. What can I do to solve this situation without undue drama that keeps this person away from me? Scared & Sad, Steph