New nurse and being rough with needles

[Mimi]

JP, so sorry you got such a cold response at the center.  I wish you luck in finding a new center and more caring
people.

Love, Mimi

[Joe Paul]

I was thinking the social worker at least would have tried to help me out here, but nope, she helped to push buttons during the meeting with the supervisor. I called to talk with the nurse practitioner, and we decided that I stay on for now and try to work around this situation. I did some checking around, but most of the centers close enough to me do not take my insurance, and if I were to change insurance, that would mess me up at the transplant center where I am listed, as they do not accept the insurance I would need for the other centers Doctors.

[CW]

Hey JP,

I am sorry it did not go well. I do have to say I have dealt with this many times throughout my time as a patient. When medical staff - be it hospital, clinic etc. is responsive and caring these issues do not come up. However when medical staff is irresponsible, thoughtless, lazy, stupid, unprofessional or abusive these issues come up regularly. I see it like this - you do your best to come to an agreement and you make sure you voice your opinion on the situation clearly and concisely (if you need help take someone with you to the meeting). If you do not get an acceptable response you protest maturely and with emotionless precision - otherwise they will label you a "unstable emotional patient" and ignore you altogether.

Personally I never leave when there is an issue if I cannot get satisfaction at the clinic level I will write, call and complain in person to anyone who will listen. My friend told me that you should just "kill people with kindness"; but some people will just think you are a pushover and continue to be inconsiderate and abusive. I  obviously cannot tell you what is best for you; but I do not inconvenience myself because of medical staff. Conflict can get tiresome so you have to weigh if it is worth it to you. I also consider the staff's view of patients - if they get away with it with you they will attempt to abuse more people until someone stands up to them.

I am far from a normal patient. My tolerance for nonsense is zero and my ability to advocate for myself has been honed through defending myself against advocates for my clients (whom I serve very well). So please be mindful of your situation and be careful when you proceed.

Keep us posted
also I always wanted to start an advocacy service for patients - for little issues because I know that there are organizations for big legal issues. Just so you do not feel alone and ganged up on in these situations like JP did. Also so that staff knows you are not alone. Totally volunteer all would be welcome  patients, relatives, professionals etc. and develop a training course and guidelines and encourage those with experience to help develop the program. Just thinking out loud what do you guys think?

We should not have to be prepared to fight when receiving treatment - dialysis is difficult enough without extra cr*p

[Joe Paul]

Hey JP,

I am sorry it did not go well. I do have to say I have dealt with this many times throughout my time as a patient. When medical staff - be it hospital, clinic etc. is responsive and caring these issues do not come up. However when medical staff is irresponsible, thoughtless, lazy, stupid, unprofessional or abusive these issues come up regularly. I see it like this - you do your best to come to an agreement and you make sure you voice your opinion on the situation clearly and concisely (if you need help take someone with you to the meeting). If you do not get an acceptable response you protest maturely and with emotionless precision - otherwise they will label you a "unstable emotional patient" and ignore you altogether.

Personally I never leave when there is an issue if I cannot get satisfaction at the clinic level I will write, call and complain in person to anyone who will listen. My friend told me that you should just "kill people with kindness"; but some people will just think you are a pushover and continue to be inconsiderate and abusive. I  obviously cannot tell you what is best for you; but I do not inconvenience myself because of medical staff. Conflict can get tiresome so you have to weigh if it is worth it to you. I also consider the staff's view of patients - if they get away with it with you they will attempt to abuse more people until someone stands up to them.

I am far from a normal patient. My tolerance for nonsense is zero and my ability to advocate for myself has been honed through defending myself against advocates for my clients (whom I serve very well). So please be mindful of your situation and be careful when you proceed.

Keep us posted
also I always wanted to start an advocacy service for patients - for little issues because I know that there are organizations for big legal issues. Just so you do not feel alone and ganged up on in these situations like JP did. Also so that staff knows you are not alone. Totally volunteer all would be welcome  patients, relatives, professionals etc. and develop a training course and guidelines and encourage those with experience to help develop the program. Just thinking out loud what do you guys think?

We should not have to be prepared to fight when receiving treatment - dialysis is difficult enough without extra cr*p

CW, I like your idea about the patient advocacy service, I am sure there are many people out there, who are just plain scared to stand up for whats right. I appreciate your reply, and understand I should not get emotional, but cornered and on dialysis, it puts me in a fight or flight state of mind, and yes, I am afraid this is, and will be used against me, my buttons exposed 

[CW]

I am truly sorry you have to go through this JP. 

I do understand that this is a stressfull time and I want you to have feelings about the situation, but if you show them those feelings they will use it against you. Maybe iHD should start to practice engaging in letter writing campaigns for issues that concern us and in defense of our members. I would really not know where to start with that ? ?. It is frustrating knowing you have to go there and face them after they treated you poorly . 

The best to you, and please do what is best for you.

CW

[kitkatz]

I have found if you put your need and wants (complaints) into written form the center has to deal with it.  They cannot just round file a written complaint. It has to be dealt with, if it is not you can take it further up the food chain.  Good luck.

[Joe Paul]

I have found if you put your need and wants (complaints) into written form the center has to deal with it.  They cannot just round file a written complaint. It has to be dealt with, if it is not you can take it further up the food chain.  Good luck.

Thanks Kitkatz, I will try that as my next step.

[MyssAnne]

Oh man JP. Let us know  how it goes tomorrow at clinic.  Kit has a very good point, they can't ignore a formal written letter, with photographic proof.

[KT0930]

JP, does your center offer home dialysis options? Would it be something you could (or would) consider? There may still be some issues with the staff, but not the day to day stuff you're dealing with now.

[Joe Paul]

JP, does your center offer home dialysis options? Would it be something you could (or would) consider? There may still be some issues with the staff, but not the day to day stuff you're dealing with now.

Just PD, and I was told that I cant do PD, because of surgeries and the mesh  in my stomach area. Last year, I tried to have them look into NxStage, but the director shot the idea down.

[2_DallasCowboys]

JP,

I have been away, and just read this thread.  I am so, so
sorry you had to go thru this!  I do hope your blood sugar
is better- and as far as what "Rhonda" put you thru with
your fistula, I cannot believe some of these workers can be
so callous!  I so wish that just once, they can be the patient
and have someone jabbing them so carelessly!
So glad you have that pic, and do hope everything is much
better

Anne

[Roadrunner]

Hi,
I don't know where you live in western PA but here are some centers that have NxStage.  A long daily drive is a killer but in the long run it would be worth it. 

A bad center is why we changed from in-center to home dialysis. 

DaVita - Pittsburgh (PA)
4312 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

DaVita - Elizabeth Dialysis (PA)
(724) 998-1472
201 McKeesport Rd
Elizabeth, PA 15037

DaVita - Zanesville at Home (OH)
(740) 454-2911
3120 Newark Rd
Zanesville, OH 43701

DaVita - Strongsville (OH)
(440) 238-9270
17792 Pearl Road
Strongsville, OH 44136

DaVita - Erie Dialysis (PA)
(814) 454-0480
350 E Bayfron Pkwy, Suite A
Erie, PA 16507

[okarol]

  Hope you find a solution you that will improve things JP. 

[KT0930]

JP, does your center offer home dialysis options? Would it be something you could (or would) consider? There may still be some issues with the staff, but not the day to day stuff you're dealing with now.

Just PD, and I was told that I cant do PD, because of surgeries and the mesh  in my stomach area. Last year, I tried to have them look into NxStage, but the director shot the idea down.

What is the "mesh"? Scar tissue or something you had implanted for some reason? I did PD very successfully and had two previous transplants, a c-section, tubes tied, and a previous PD cath insertion and removal (in the early 80's before laproscopy). Don't give up just because of some surgeries. If it's something you might be interested in, have your neph look into it. It's certainly better than dealing with Rhonda!

[Joe Paul]

KT, For some reason, I was prone to ruptures, 2 of which were umbilical. They put the mesh in to "hold" my insides, in. Way before I started dialysis, I had my Neph check into PD with the way my belly is with the mesh, no good.
Roadrunner, the Davita in Pittsburgh is where I went for orientation on NxStage when I first started dialysis, and found out they did not accept my insurance. Again, changing insurance would mean dropping off the transplant list, as the hospital where I am listed doesn't accept the insurance I need to go to Davita, and their doctor. Thanks for the address's though.
Todays treatment went really well, they had a nurse from another unit come in, NO RHONDA!! I think calling the nurse practitioner, and talking things over with her may have straightened things out - so far so good! Again, thanks for all the replies and suggestions, it means lots to me 

[Psim]

I'm so glad things were better today. Good for you for keeping on looking for a better resolution. Hope your persistence continues to pay off.

[CW]

Great Job JP I hope it keeps going well! 
CW

[rose1999]

We moan about the NHS in the UK but hearing all the problems you have with insurance JP, well it makes me grateful for what we've got. I'm so glad things went well for you and I hope they continure that way. WELL DONE for having the courage to speak out, sadly a lot of patients don't through fear of retaliation, you are a brave man. 

[Joe Paul]

Again, thanks for the replies 

[KT0930]

Glad things were better, JP. Continue to take care of yourself, and by extension, all those in your clinic! 

[MyssAnne]

JP, I had been gone a few days, I am glad there was no Rhonda, I hope she's not gonna BE there
to do the needling.  Hang in there, I've been thinking of you!

[kitkatz]

Do you need to borrow my big stick?

[Joe Paul]

Thanks MyssAnne, for keeping me in your thoughts    Kitkatz, if things go sour again, not only would I want your stick, id want you to be on the swinging end of it, nobody knows that stick like you do!! 

[Ohio Buckeye]

I'm glad things went better for you JP and hope it continues to stay that way.

[lovearenalcaretech]

My arm is really aching this morning. What makes me upset is when I asked to do buttonholes a year ago, the fistula was nice and undamaged. Now that its beat up, they want to talk to me about buttonholes! I am trying to get a picture to show what I am talking about - Also, for "evidence" tomorrow when I see the head nurse, as I heal quickly. Got it, here is what it looks like this morning

My goodness I'm so sorry you had to go through that!  It looked like your arm was slightly infiltrated and caused trauma to your access.  I hope your BS gets lower soon and I hope you won't have to go through any agonizing cannulations again.