OK- earlier I wrote that we found out grandma had a heart attack not a stroke. Well, my mom called tonight to see how she was and they said they never heard of her and she was never on that floor?!!! So after 20 minutes of arguing with this nurse they found out she was moved to another room. So mom got a hold of her and found out she already had the pacemaker put in. Meanwhile nobody in the family was notified of any of this. Mind you this is in Delaware.
How nuty is that. You everyone is under enough stress from this, then not to be told. What if something had happend to her?
aliciahelene
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Re: Pacemaker
I wish you could go visit her! Then maybe you could have some peace of mind! Is there a nurse maybe you can speak to specifically about your grandmas situation? Maybe she can be put in charge of things and give you guys regular phone calls. I feel so bad for you and your family..must be very stressful!!!
Imagin916
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Re: Pacemaker
I am NOT excusing the rude behavior of the nurse whatsoever (she could have asked someone about the whereabouts of your grandmother), but if your grandmother left the floor before the nurse your family spoke to got on duty, than its possible that she never knew she was there. People get transferred in and out so often, all day and all night long. She may have been on a Cardiac floor before surgery than went to an ICU after the pacemaker insertion. With the new HIPPA (privacy) law, it puts nurses and others in a strange position because we dont know who is on the other end of the phone. It could actually be the family, or it could be a nosy neighbor or a person from the joint commission testing to see if staff are following privacy laws. Especially since this is in DE, they have never met the family and have no way to know if the people on the phone are who they say they are. Now, if another family member has power of attorney or something like that where they are able to make medical decisions for your grandmother and they never called, than that is a different story. I am glad to hear your story so it can help me be a better nurse. Its hard sometimes to put ourselves in the position of the family, but I always try. I hope your grandmother is doing good, I will pray for her.
mishandgerard
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Re: Pacemaker
They have met the family. She had been on that floor for 4 days! Mind you I did not mention what happend with my grandfather a few years ago. First they said it was a heart attack, then they said it was alot of mini strokes he was having. Finally they said he was having siezures for over a year which went untreated because they were treating him for strokes. I am not putting all nurses or hospitals in a catagory, but I find that particular hospital outragous when it comes to caring for the elderly.
Imagin916
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Re: Pacemaker
Now that I have more info about her situation, I see exactly what the problem is. THEY ARE INCOMPETENT! If she was on that floor for 4 days, than someone would have known where she went. I cant believe that NOONE would know! The real problem was, the nurse was too lazy to go ask someone. I was assuming that she was admitted thru the ER to a bed, and transferred the same/next day to the OR for the pacemaker, than after that to the ICU. This all can happen in one or two days (and often does), so thats what I was assuming. You are right about many places not knowing how to care for the elderly. I worked in the nursing home for 2 years before I started this job in the ER, and I know that many doctors (and nurses) do not know how to treat geriatric patients. I believe they are starting NOW to start teaching med students and nursing students about geriatrics as a specialty, so of course (unfortunatly) it will take a few years before geriatric care is standardized everywhere. Stay on top of them at this hospital! When they know the family is on top, they dont mess around! (if thier smart they dont). Hope your grandmother is getting better, feel free to FM me if you have any questions or need explainations.
mishandgerard
Posted:
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Re: Pacemaker
The worst problem is that they only diagnosed her yesterday with the heart attack...the other days she was diagnosed with a stroke! Then when my mom called today to see when the surgery for the pace maker would be, thay already did it.
mishandgerard
Posted:
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Re: Pacemaker
thanks for the inde info imagine916. at least you are a nurse and you understand my frustration.
Imagin916
Posted:
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Re: Pacemaker
Glad to listen. I always try to keep the family notified of what is going on when appropriate. Try to get a phone call from the doctor! Yeah right! They are impossible to get a hold of, and dont call back when paged (especially by family members). Who do they think they are?? There are some good ones, but some act like thier $hit dont stick and they dont have time for you.
