Hello Comeback Kid, You are so RIGHT. I remember my father stating, more than once, that staff should walk in his shoes, or sit in his chair. This is part of the problem with delivery of care, lack of empathy, compassion as well as general knowledge that is demonstrated in many facilities.
As many have said, including you, if you are sick, don't feel well, want to do something special on a certain day, you can't omit your dialysis as staff can call in sick to work, etc.
I remember my father, even when he did not feel well, he had to go to dialysis, When he was invited someplace on a certain day, or an event was happening that he wanted to attend on a certain day, he could not go because he could not get another day for dialysis, etc. Staff just don't understand this concept.
Years ago, I was told, staff would be trained and have to sit in a dialysis chair for a certain period with their arms in the position of a patients, etc. I was also informed that due to money/time, this was stopped. Staff need to have that experience to understand what the patient experiences. The staff, during initial training, even during inservices, need to sit in the chair and not be able to get up. I found it interesting one day where two staff were sticking needles in each other's veins to practice. (not with large needles). Providers do not understand this aspect of care and the more I see the more I realize the widespread nature of this thinking.
For years, I, as well as others, have stated that staff need to walk in the patient's shoes to fully understand. Just as my father was a dialysis patient, experienced preventable errors with some negative outcomes (including hastening his death, which I believe) and major retaliation from staff and arrogance from his nephrologist, I observed such and felt his pain. But, even as a devoted daughter, I still can never fully feel what he did or experience such emotionally --- ((I must say there were some staff that were very kind and caring, but one bad apple spoils the bunch often)
Roberta Mikles, RN BA
www.qualitysafepatientcare.comRoberta
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