Had a rough day today.. well last night and today..

[Neo]

So last night im on nocturnal dialysis in the unit, and I get around 3 benadryl shots through the night cuz i have an awful time sleeping but mostly it settles my legs, because they hurt like hell when Im a couple hours into my treatment. The Benadryl has a calming affect on my body( It acts as a muscle relaxer and helps me to sleep for awhile til the next shot. So last night I call for the nurse as i usually do, shes says just a second so i think of well 15 minutes pass so i start to say her name again, well she finally got to me after 30 minutes. What these nurses dont get is I am in such pain when I need that benadryl that i start to get a panic attack. Now I understand if she has other people to take care of and do things for but 30 minutes!?!? Well needless to say after I got off the machine she says," I dont appreciate being harassed like that". First of all harass is not the right word! If i told her what I really thought I'd of been kicked out of the unit..LoL  I just called her name  a few times so annoying would be more accurate if she say anything.Well to diffuse the situation i said sorry wont happen again but I was in quite a bit of pain i told her. But the way this unit is run, i always get the short end of the stick in these situations. Im not wrong here at the beginning of the night they lay out my benadryl shots that im going to get on top of my machine so it takes no more than 30 seconds to come over and give it to me. So I mean why not just come over to  me give it to me ill shut up and then done. But I know tomorrow because this is the only nocturnal unit in town im gonna have to bite the bullet and apologize for being impatient.  Just needed to vent because no one understands. Im dialysing tomorrow night and i know i have to bite my tongue and get back on her good side so how should i go about doing so? It just sucks when you know your right but the system is set up in a way where I have to pick my fights very carefully. 

[G-Ma]

Give this talk to the Unit Director.......is nurse the only person there?? isn't there a tech who could at least come over to see you or let you know where the nurse it??  We have this problem with some of our nurses too...too busy sitting in front of their computer typing something..don't watch alarms......talk to your Dr about letting you give yourself the shot??? I'm just throwing out thoughts but you should definately NOT have to go through this

 

[Neo]

My mother and girlfriend are coming with me tommorow night and my doctor who is a close family friend will be there. So my nerves are calmed becasue i think this will get settled. I am going to try and see if i can give myself the benadryl injections. Does anyone know if there is a rule against letting patients push there Benadryl into the port??

[okarol]

I would probably have gotten up and got the shot just to make a point. I understand what you're say about being careful so you don't lose your nocturnal status, but damn, what a bitch. Some people just should not be in the position of caring for people, they just are unkind. I hope you get some resolution, bringing in family is a good idea, and a doctor too! Please let us know how it goes.

[monrein]

I too would suggest that they lay the shots out where you can reach them and teach you how to do it in the port.  Not that it's rocket science or brain surgery by the way, nothing to it.  Then you can just let her know when you do it so she can chart it.  Ridiculous rubbish are my two words for her attitude.

[Sluff]

I would talk to her before treatment and not apologize, I would be sympathetic to the fact that she may be busy at the time you called her name but tell her you would not wish this pain on your worst enemy. I would thank her for the work she does, but ask her for an alternative way to get the shot when you need it. I think you can draw more bees with honey. I would rather hire a sniper and shoot her in the leg and let her know what the pain feels like.   But you unfortunately only have the one nocturnal clinic so, I would get on her good side so she prioritizes you. 

[Zach]

I would talk to her before treatment and not apologize, I would be sympathetic to the fact that she may be busy at the time you called her name but tell her you would not wish this pain on your worst enemy. I would thank her for the work she does, but ask her for an alternative way to get the shot when you need it. I think you can draw more bees with honey. I would rather hire a sniper and shoot her in the leg and let her know what the pain feels like.   But you unfortunately only have the one nocturnal clinic so, I would get on her good side so she prioritizes you. 

[MandaMe1986]

I am sorry to hear how bad it was.  I have found that the night shift nurses tend to be worse then the day ones.  Its like they know the nurs sucks so they sick her on at night.  It pisses me off.  There is no reason why you should have to put up with that. I hope you get it all worked out. Good luck.

[Stacy Without An E]

I've found that if talking to the employee at the clinic only results in them being defensive and turning it around to make the villian, you need to go directly to the clinic manager.  He/she is responsible for all the pateints in the clinic and does not want any complaints on file at the clinic.

This doesn't happen at my clinic fortunately, but I've heard from friends who had to bring up an issue, it went to the clinic manager and then that individual took it out on the patient.

Use your own judgment and good luck.

[petey]

I'm with Stacy -- talk to the clinic director/manager about this.  This should NEVER have taken 30 minutes.  I'm so sorry that you had to suffer through that.

If you don't feel like talking to the director gets you anywhere, try Sluff's solution...

I would rather hire a sniper and shoot her in the leg and let her know what the pain feels like.  

It makes me mad when patients are treated like you were.

 

[breezysummerday]

I'm trying to run through my mind all
possible scenario's that stopped her
from attending to you for 30 minutes.

Did they have another client near death?

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the
part where she claims  'harassment'.  And
I can't do it.

How'd last night go?

[Neo]

Well, my mother doesn't go to bed til late at night anyway so she is coming to my treatments to serve as an advocate for me. Well last night was the first night of this and it worked great and it was actually quite satisfying. When my mom walked in at 8pm you should have seen the surprised look on the nurses face.. But basically my mom just pulled up a chair and surfed the net on my laptop while i slept. And what do you know? I got all my benadryl shots within 2 minutes of me calling for the shot..LOL I never really thought i needed someone to be there being as i'm quite knowledgeable about dialysis on both sides because im in school to be a physician assistant and ive worked as a Patient care technician in hospitals while i had my transplant. And im pretty independent minded and think i can handle things on my own. I really have always known this and dont know why it just dawned on me but every hospital i worked at or nursing home. The patients whose family members or friends were there always got more attention from the doctors and nurses. But being the stubborn guy that I am, I thought i dont need my mom to watch over me. But I realized in certain situations its good to have an advocate there. I cant tell you how satisfying it is when you can gain an upper hand like i did just by having someone there with me so i look forward to many more satisfying nights...   THANK YOU so much for the advice and kind words, as usual you all got me through another crazy dialysis crisis, and im sure youll get me through many more..lol..........Matt

[MandaMe1986]

Neo, I am so happy to hear how well it went for you.  And yes patients who have family members around always get better treatment. It isn't right, but it is true.  I worked at a nursing home for a little over a year and it used to piss me off so much.  Its wrong.  But I am happy it helped you.  But you shouldn't need someone there to get the treatment you need.  30 mins isn't good enough you need it sooner.  I hope it stays this way.

[willieandwinnie]

  Matt, I am so happy to hear that things went well. When Len went to the clinic, I was there everyday, every minute. They did not screw with him. I say a pray that everything continues to go well. 

[Neo]

hey i needed to put this thread near the top because I need some continued info..IM having more problems with the unit.

[keefbeer]

I do 3x5.5hrs night shifts ( just raised from 4.5hrs) and complained to the unit manager about low staffing levels after I puked on myself and was helped by an early shift patient passing through the unit on his way to the waiting room as the two duty nurses where attending other patients, there would normally be five.
Did it help? not one bit as two of my next three sessions was in the one bay of twenty five that has no TV!
It what we refer to in the unit as the naughty step.

[Neo]

This is totally ridiculous. And im definitely not going to take this lying down what there trying to do to me. Im also seeking legal advice at this point because this just isnt right. But for now im just going to lay low at dilaysis so they dont have anything to use as ammo saying that i was being noncompliant. I think this is the best way for me to go about this. any more advice is appreciated

[twirl]

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