Have you, or someone you know, ever been a hospital patient? It's highly unlikely any of us could answer "NO" to that question. Well, did you see any nurse during that time who looked like the picture above? I doubt anyone would say "YES" to that. Most nurses try to present a professional, yet pleasant, attitude to patients and families. It would be very surprising to know that a lot of times we {nurses} feel like we could use a skateboard or skates or a clone or more hands or ANYTHING that would help us help our patients. We are aware of the serious nature of our job and are dedicated to helping, but sometimes we could use a little help, too. I'm very happy to be a nurse, it's a rewarding profession. It's also a thankless one at times. All nurses deal with death, terminal patients, hurting families, irate doctors, self-doubt, and the need for just ONE more hour in the day to do that "little something special" for the patient in room ???.But, that's what I went into Nursing to do...to teach, to fix, to hold a hand, to laugh, to cry, to bolster. TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES I TOUCH! My wish for all of you is that you are as content with your job as I am with mine. I could wish you nothing better.
Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in
yourself. That is why some
people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with
vastly superior talent.
~ Sophia Loren ~
Being A NURSE Means...
You will never be bored.
You will always be frustrated.
You will be surrounded by challenges.
So much to do and so little time.
You will carry immense responsibility
and very little authority.
You will step into people's lives
and you will make a difference.
Some will bless you.
Some will curse you.
You will see people at their worst--
and at their best.
You will never ceased to be amazed
at people's capacity for
Love, Courage, and Endurance.
You will see life begin--and end.
You will experience resounding triumphs
and devasting failures.
You will cry a lot.
You will laugh a lot.
You will know what it is to be human
and to be humane.
Melodie Chenevert
IF YOU HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS FACING NURSES, TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE EVENTS REPORTED ARE NOT UNCOMMON NEITHER ARE THEY INHUMANE. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THIGS WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN THERE TO UNDERSTAND. SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT LIKE YOUR PARENTS OR AUNT OR COUSIN OR FRIEND YOU MAY HAVE KNOWN. SOME ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING SAID TO THEM AND THINK THE STAFF IS THEIR ENEMY. SOME ARE SUFFERING FROM DIFFERENT FORMS OF DEMENTIA AND CAN'T REALIZE YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP NOT HURT. I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF FORCING ANYTHING ON ANYONE BUT, IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, TRY TO RECALL A TIME YOU HAD TO FORCE SOMRTHING THAT WAS NEEDED TO HELP YOUR CHILD THAT HE/SHE DIDN'T WANT BUT YOU KNEW THEY NEEDED. IF YOU COULD HAVE MADE THEM UNDERSTAND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, RIGHT?
WELL, DID THAT STOP YOU FROM DOING WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE OR DID YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE ISSUE AND TAKE CONTROL FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHILD. REMEMBER, THE PHRASE 2nd "CHILDHOOD" HAS A REAL MEANING AND HAS TO BE DEALT WITH EVERYDAY IN NURSING HOMES EVERYWHERE. In my review of some legal information, I came across this case I thought it might be of interest. While this is an NY, it sets a precedent here that has not been overturned as of this date. Case law is just as binding as statute.
For background, M. Haughten, an RN, had her license revoked for "patient abuse." She appealed this determination by the board of nursing and the commissioner to the NY Appellate courts. she is petitioning the appellate court, (petitioner) they are responding (respondents) and it has come before the appellate court of NY.
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Commissioner of Health of the State of NY, Director of the Office of Systems Management, Respondents, to determine action with respect to M. Haughten, Petitioner
Supreme court of NY, appellate division, 4th Dept.
166 A.D.2nd 913; 560 N.Y.S.2d 573 (1990)
Opinion:
Determination unanimously confirmed without costs and petition
dismissed.
Memorandum: Upon our review of the record, we conclude that the
determination of the commissioner that the petitioner (HAUGHTON, RN) had been guilty of patient abuse was supported by substantial evidence. (they agree with the commissioner that she \has committed patient abuse)
The records support respondents (the commissioner) findings that the Petitioner (Haughten, RN) forcibly administered medication to the patient;
that there was no order directing petitioner (RN) to administer said medication forcibly; and that there was no convincing evidence that the patients refusal to take the medication constituted a medical emergency justifying the forcible administration of medication.
The evidence shows that the after the patient refused to take her
medication, petitioner (RN) held the patients chin and poured the medication down her throat.
The commissioner properly held (decided) that the notation in the record that the *"staff are asked to please, make every effort to make sure that she [the patient] takes them [the medications]" does ~not~ authorize the forcible
administration of medication.
The court continues and says: This is particularly so when the notation was NOT made by a a medical doctor authorized to prescribe medication(another nurse wrote it) and when the written policy of the facility was that the head nurse was to be informed if a patient refused medication.
The commissioner properly found that there was no convincing evidence of a medical emergency. Although the patient had refused medication many times before, no prior action had been taken to force it upon her. Instead the refusals were noted in he patients record.
Further, petitioners medical expert testified that the patient could miss one dose without adverse consequences and the record shows that the patient had not missed her medication for any substantial time prior to this incident.
SUMMARY:
Patient refuses medication
RN: sees notation in the medical record, requesting every effort be made she hold the patients chin in hand, pours the med(Liquid) down her throat.
The court and board of nursing found this to be abuse, and as the
"please make patient take meds etc.. " Notation was made by a Nurse, and not a MD, the nurse had no order to stand by.As well, it was termed forcible, and therefore abuse.
Interesting. An attorney I discussed this case with, said us crushing pills into applesauce unknown by the patient falls into this category as well.
Thought provoking to say the least....
Carolyn Beniveg wrote this from her heart to make it easier for other women to
"read" their own bodies and take control of the kind of Health Care they receive.
Take heed to the message and understand the meaning. You can be in control,
but first you must be informed.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************
I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer has only recently been
identified as its OWN type of cancer; but it is, essentially, Ovarian
Cancer. Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way (with the
"tumor marker" CA-125 blood test), and they are treated in the same way
(surgery to remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol
and Carboplatin). Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save
others from the same fate.
That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will print it
and give it or send it via e-mail to everybody you know. One thing I
have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL responsibility for our
own health care. I thought I had done that because I always had an
annual physical, had my annual mammogram and PAP smear, did monthly Self
Breast Exam, went to the dentist at least twice/year, etc. I even
insisted on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone density test last year.
When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought that I did not have
to worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ cancers.
LITTLE DID I KNOW! I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY when they
were removed!), but I have what is essentially ovarian cancer. Strange,
isn't it? These are just SOME of the things our Doctors never tell us.
ONE OUT OF EVERY 55 WOMEN WILL GET OVARIAN OR PRIMARY PERITONEAL
CANCER! THE "CLASSIC" SYMPTOMS ARE AN ABDOMEN THAT RATHER SUDDENLY
ENLARGES AND CONSTIPATION AND/OR DIARRHEA. I had these classic symptoms
and went to the Doctor. Because these symptoms seemed to be
"abdominal," I went to a gastroenterologist. He ran tests that
were designed to determine whether there was a bacterial infection;
these tests were negative, and I was diagnosed with "Irritable Bowel
Syndrome." I guess I would have accepted this diagnosis had it not been
for my enlarged abdomen. I swear to you, it looked like I was 4-5
months pregnant! I, therefore, insisted on more tests. They took an
X-Ray of my abdomen; it was negative. I was, again, assured that I had
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was encouraged to go on my scheduled
month-long trip to Europe. I couldn't wear any of my slacks or shorts
because I couldn't get them buttoned, and I KNEW something was radically
wrong. I INSISTED on more tests, and they (reluctantly) scheduled me
for a CT-Scan (just to shut me up, I think). This is what I mean by
taking charge of our own health care. The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid
in my abdomen (NOT normal!). Needless to say, I had to cancel
my trip and have FIVE POUNDS of fluid drawn off at the hospital (not a
pleasant procedure, I assure you, but NOTHING compared to what was
ahead of me). Tests revealed cancer cells in the fluid. Finally
finally, finally, the Doctor ran a CA-125 blood test and I was properly
diagnosed. I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER AND, YET, THIS
SIMPLE CA-125 BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME ... NOT AS PART OF MY
ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAM AND NOT WHEN I WAS SYMPTOMATIC. THIS IS AN
INEXPENSIVE AND SIMPLE BLOOD TEST!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, P-L-E-A-S-E TELL
ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO INSIST ON A CA-125 BLOOD TEST
EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS. BE FOREWARNED THAT
THEIR DOCTORS MIGHT TRY TOTALK THEM OUT OF IT, SAYING "IT ISN'T
NECESSARY." BELIEVE ME, HAD I KNOWN THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW, WE WOULD HAVE
CAUGHT MY CANCER MUCH EARLIER (BEFORE IT WAS A STAGE 3 CANCER)!!! INSIST
ON THE CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DON'T TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER. THE NORMAL
RANGE FOR A CA-125 BLOOD TEST IS BETWEEN ZERO AND 35.
(MINE WAS 754 ... THAT'S RIGHT, 754!) IF THE NUMBER IS SLIGHTLY
ELEVATED, YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER ONE DONE IN THREE OR SIX MONTHS AND KEEP
A CLOSE EYE ON IT JUST LIKE WOMEN DO WHEN THEY HAVE FIBROID TUMORS OR
WHEN MEN HAVE A SLIGHTLY ELEVATED PSA TEST (PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGENS
THAT HELPS DIAGNOSE PROSTATE CANCER. HAVING THE CA-125 TEST DONE
ANNUALLY CAN ALERT YOU EARLY, AND THAT'S THE GOAL IN DIAGNOSING ANY TYPE
OF CANCER-CATCH IT EARLY.
I hope I haven't bored you with all of this. But I hope I HAVE scared
you enough to motivate you to action. Do YOU know 55 women? If so, at
least one of them will have this VERY AGGRESSIVE cancer-and maybe, just
maybe, it will be YOU. I hope not.
Please, go to your Doctor THIS WEEK and insist on a CA-125 test and have
one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life. And forward this message to
every woman you know and tell all of your female family members and
friends. As the Nike ads say, "JUST DO IT!" Please don't think youth
will protect you, either. Though the median age for this cancer is 56
(and, guess what, I'm exactly 56), women as young as 22 have it. Age is
not a factor. Thank you for your time. My best wishes for your
continued good health.
I have just recently been given the invitation to join a very helpful on-line group called Med Site Forum. If you have medical or emotional-related questions, please take advantage of this service. Remember...the service and information are free, you may remain anonymous, and the service may prove to be very helpful, even life-saving. Any comments may be E-Mailed to me, but there is an address on the Forum page for questions. Try the message board, it's neat.Go To the Forum
Anyone interested in ICQ...My UIN is 15972425. You can contact me now, if I'm online. If not I'll get back to you as soon as I recieve your message. You can use this now, even if you don't have the program yet. E-Mail ME
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