What should i do? Need some advise!

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jo jo
jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
in Breast Cancer #1
This is kind of an update from a post i wrote earlier "venting after surgery". The hospital called me for there after surgery survey thing and i breifly told her my experience this time around. This lady got so upset she wanted me to give her names and any other info i could give her on the whole matter. She told me someone higher up (?-dont know who) would be calling me on this matter cuz it needs addressed imediately and in the mean time they were going to be investigating who all cared for me ect ect.
Now i know it wasnt a great experience but i just feel awful that people are going to be getting in trouble over this...or cuz of me, this is not what i wanted...i just want them to be better nurses if they are going to be in the feild. I really need advise or some other opinions cuz im confused about it. Should i try and drop the matter or keep up with it?

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  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #2
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    health care professional
    JoJo,
    Hopefully, whoever is handling this is making an effort to find a solution, not just punish people. I, personally, like to know if I have done something offensive or not up to patient standards. I like to think I can learn from finding out a patient isn't happy with my services.
    If you keep that in mind when the higher up person calls to follow up, your responses should reflect that. With any luck it could help improve the experience for the next patients.

    Cindy
  • gagee
    gagee Member Posts: 332
    #3
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    You did right.....
    I didn't read your previous post. Seems like what you did will or maybe will make it better for others who come after you. Some times people need a wake up call. I would continue and follow through with your complaint. But.... don't if it causes you anxiety. Wish I could be more help to you. Diana
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #4
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    I had a similar situation at
    I had a similar situation at my hospital. It was just as difficult for me. The way to handle this is to think of the future patients who will experience the same - if not worse - things as you. Would this stop them? There is a better chance if someone put out the red flag, it will. Of course, its not easy to be that person. But if it means it would improve the care of patients going through any serious medical matters, then it is worth it.

    Will you be going there often? Can your opinion be private - not exposed to those nurses? As the other pink sister says, if this adds anxiety to you, then reconsider. But if this is a place where you won't be going back to, or not as often, I would proceed.

    Let us know what you decide and how all turns out please.
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #5
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    I guess the question I would ask myself
    would be "Would I want anyone else to experience what I did?" If the answer is no, then you're just being honest in the survey THEY provided.

    There is actually a tactful way to complain :)


    Hope this helps,

    Sylvia
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #6
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    Just remember......you are
    Just remember......you are not getting anyone in trouble. They did it all by themselves!
  • SamuraiMom
    SamuraiMom Member Posts: 295
    #7
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    bad experiences
    Hi JoJo,

    I had some bad experiences myself. By you reporting the problem it will hopefully help the next survivor in your shoes.

    No worries.

    xxoo,
    SamuraiMom
  • newlife2011
    newlife2011 Member Posts: 40
    #8
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    You are right
    Hi Jo Jo, you did and are doing the right thing. First off, having worked in surgery myself......nurses are so beaten up by surgeons. Some warranted, some not so much. Not only is there a lot of demands on nurses, they tend to forget what it may feel like for the patient. Trust me....it is worth straightening out because you don't know why it happened and in medicine our best lessons came from getting our butts reamed out. If you saw mistakes and you were treated like an inconvenience to a break, then you have to complain. It won't get "fixed" and someone else will be hurt. You.....YOU are that hospitals boss......are you satisfied?.......then go help set our employees straight! I would welcome it if I made a mistake and could potentially harm someone. Your not to be a punching bag.....you deserve the compassion that seems so hard to find these days. Please be a part of it's success and not it's failure.

    My best wishes to you.
    Wendy
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #9
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    jo jo, I think you should
    jo jo, I think you should keep up with it. I speak selfishly as if I was a patient who had surgery at the same hospital following your surgery and was treated the same way. This is an opportunity to make things better for both patients and staff - not out of anger, but in a sincere effort to help make the world a better place. It's good karma. xoxoxoxo Lynn
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #10
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    lynn1950 said:

    jo jo, I think you should
    jo jo, I think you should keep up with it. I speak selfishly as if I was a patient who had surgery at the same hospital following your surgery and was treated the same way. This is an opportunity to make things better for both patients and staff - not out of anger, but in a sincere effort to help make the world a better place. It's good karma. xoxoxoxo Lynn

    If you don't keep up with it, I fear
    it will just keep happening and happening and someone may be seriously injured, get the wrong surgery or even die. You are not being vindictive by pursuing this--you are doing the right thing. After all--if you performed this way in your job (even if you were not in the medical field) would this be okay? I think not.

    I know how you feel--I hate feeling that I've gotten someone into trouble---unless, of course, they deserve it and could do harm to others.

    Hugs, Renee
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #11
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    JoJo
    I haven't been on lately and don't know what happened. But, if I felt I answered a hospital survey honestly, no regrets. It will help many in the long run if they are able to stop bad practices and get everything as it should be. Hope it all works out.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #12
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    I read your first post
    Chances are you are not the first to be unhappy with the service. If you don't want others to have the same experience, then be honest with the higher up. Maybe they are putting pressure on the staff to get them in and out, maybe they are short staffed.... maybe the staff needs a refresher on how to treat patients.(this is a given)! But I bet others will not be getting the same treatment that you received, and knowing this would be enough to let the higher ups know what is going on in their or!

    Don't feel bad, one bad report will not get someone fired, if they really get in trouble over it, then there were more bad reports. If this is the first then it is a learning tool for all of them.
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #13
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    camul said:

    I read your first post
    Chances are you are not the first to be unhappy with the service. If you don't want others to have the same experience, then be honest with the higher up. Maybe they are putting pressure on the staff to get them in and out, maybe they are short staffed.... maybe the staff needs a refresher on how to treat patients.(this is a given)! But I bet others will not be getting the same treatment that you received, and knowing this would be enough to let the higher ups know what is going on in their or!

    Don't feel bad, one bad report will not get someone fired, if they really get in trouble over it, then there were more bad reports. If this is the first then it is a learning tool for all of them.

    JoJo,
    As I posted in your latest post I asked about a follow up survey. If I were you, I would first of all let the person who calls you "from higher up" know that this is an uncomfortable decision for you to make because you are not about getting people in trouble and then if your heart allows it plead to this person to go lenient on those involved because we all have "bad day's".

    With that said this person must know all that happened to you. You are doing the hospital a great deal of good by sharing your concerns and you can prevent further "law suits" in the future. Makes me wonder if deep down inside they are wondering what your intentions are? Maybe they feel the need to comfort you so you don't hire an attorney down the road yourself. I know there are procedures that hospital staff must follow and definitely somebody slipped up here. Where I go, I have to verify my name, the doc then has to come in and initial the area on my body where he has to operate. Usually by the time you hit the OR room you should be mostly sedated. On one rare occasion I wasn't because the Anesthesiologist couldn't be found to sedate me in pre-op so I got to see the inside of the OR room. It kind of was cool because I got to help transfer myself to the OR table and got to meet the staff that would be tending to me. My experience was pleasurable and I feel terrible that you had to be in such trauma before being put under. I can't imagine an elevated blood pressure was good for surgery. If your PS had known I bet he/she would have blown a gasket.

    So yes... you need to follow up for the good of those following in your footsteps. But you can also do it with dignity and grace which I am sure you are all about.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #14
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    lynn1950 said:

    jo jo, I think you should
    jo jo, I think you should keep up with it. I speak selfishly as if I was a patient who had surgery at the same hospital following your surgery and was treated the same way. This is an opportunity to make things better for both patients and staff - not out of anger, but in a sincere effort to help make the world a better place. It's good karma. xoxoxoxo Lynn

    I think you should report
    I think you should report them, not only because of how you were treated, but, think of others. These people might get even worse! I hope you decide to. Let us know.


    Hugs, Debby
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #15
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    I would continue because it may save
    someone else.
    I had an unpleasant interaction with one of the rads techs which really upset me...I was in pain--very sore after 23 radiation treatments and lying on the table getting into proper position. My usual tech was off for the day so her assistant sees my discomfort (I was actually in tears) and says to me, "my sister had breast cancer twice--at least you still have your breast!". I answered that "I can't listen to that now" not wanting to even consider a recurrance. But she didn't understand and went so far as to repeat what she had said, louder and more distinctly. I continued to cry through the 2 minutes or so and then dressed and left. My husband was furious when I told him. I went back for another 8 days and then had to "share" my experience with both techs. The "insensitive tech" said "I was just trying to be re-assuring". I answered, that it didn't help! She apologized to me and we all ended up in tears. I hope that she thinks before she speaks next time.
    So, but telling about your experience, it will prevent others from having to go through it!
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #16
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    You Did the Right Thing
    Dear JoJo,

    I think the hospital needs to do an investigation. The way you were treated was unprofessional and disrespectful. It's in the best interest of present and future patients to get these medical providers to CHANGE their ways. You were honest and should be commended for telling the hospital your hellish ordeal.

    If they treated you this way, they have also treated others with such disregard. They have record of who was there at the time of surgery. Don't sweat not knowing names and don't feel guilty, the hospital can and should do the footwork to find out who was responsible.

    No one should be treated in such a manner, JoJo. You didn't get them in trouble, they had it coming. You did the right thing and should hold you head HIGH! It's terrible to think of how long this disgraceful behavior has been going on. You can bet the hospital is going to seek out these staffers and correct the situation. After all, the hospital's reputation is on the line and they sure don't want legal issues falling on their lap.

    Hugs to you.
    Ines
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #17
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    joannstar said:

    I would continue because it may save
    someone else.
    I had an unpleasant interaction with one of the rads techs which really upset me...I was in pain--very sore after 23 radiation treatments and lying on the table getting into proper position. My usual tech was off for the day so her assistant sees my discomfort (I was actually in tears) and says to me, "my sister had breast cancer twice--at least you still have your breast!". I answered that "I can't listen to that now" not wanting to even consider a recurrance. But she didn't understand and went so far as to repeat what she had said, louder and more distinctly. I continued to cry through the 2 minutes or so and then dressed and left. My husband was furious when I told him. I went back for another 8 days and then had to "share" my experience with both techs. The "insensitive tech" said "I was just trying to be re-assuring". I answered, that it didn't help! She apologized to me and we all ended up in tears. I hope that she thinks before she speaks next time.
    So, but telling about your experience, it will prevent others from having to go through it!

    I would let some higher up
    I would let some higher up know what happened. You aren't going to get anyone fired, but, they might be told to shape up, which would be right.


    Let us know your decision.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #18
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    cahjah75 said:

    JoJo
    I haven't been on lately and don't know what happened. But, if I felt I answered a hospital survey honestly, no regrets. It will help many in the long run if they are able to stop bad practices and get everything as it should be. Hope it all works out.
    {{hugs}} Char

    Yes, you did the right thing
    Yes, you did the right thing Jo Jo! I would have done the same thing, as, I think most would have.

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