Hospital Nurse Would Not Give Me Pain Meds That Dr Prescribed

I touched on this topic in an earlier post. I just wonder if this has happened to anyone else.

The day after my surgery I was in severe, excrutiating pain. Because I had a TVH as opposed to a TAH, the doctor on call (not my reg doctor) and the nurse wanted me to eat breakfast, get dressed and go home.

The pain was UNBEARABLE! The doctor had prescribed morphine and stadol for my iv, but the nurse would only give me 2 percocet tablets. She said that I wouldn't have the IV when I went home, so I needed to get used to being on oral meds. I crying as hard as I could. I was begging her to help me, but she refused even though IT WAS IN MY ORDERS TO HAVE IV MEDICATION if I needed it.

As it turned out, my doctor made some kind of mistake during surgery and my ureter (sp?) was blocked and had caused my right kidney to completely shut down. I had to be transported to another hospital for an emergency surgery.

It makes me so very angry when I think of how much pain that I was in and to know that the nurse refused to help me.

I hope that no-one else has had to experience this!

girl, I feel for you, I didn't really want any pain medicine, but I had asked for some tylenol, or ibuprofen or something that was not narcotic, and it was about an hour before they brought it to me. Then when they finally brought it, they acted like I had only asked for it 5 minutes ago, I was sooooo suffering. I am just really glad it is all behind me now......................I will pray for you, and I hope you are doing well!!!!!!

Loweswife, what an awful experience. What is wrong with those people?! You poor girl .

I did not have that particular experience, but I did feel a bit judged when I asked for pain meds. They make this big show of checking on your pain level all the time and staying on top of it, but if the pain broke through before it was "supposed to" they wouldn't give the meds.

I'm really sorry that happened to you. Perhaps you should file a complaint--it may make you (and some future sisters) feel better. Good luck with your recovery.



Margot

I would strongly consider reporting this nurse. Every hospital has a patient complaint hotline. Call the main number OR ask to speak to the Director of Nursing. Her behavior is totally inappropriate, in my opinion.

SO sorry you had to go through this...

Hugs from Ohio,
Deb

I DEFINITELY think you should report her. Maybe you can save another princess from having to go through the pain you did. Big to you.

Tina

I plan on talking to my doctor about something that happened in the recovery room.
I have sleep apnea, and when I sleep, I sleep with a mask over my nose & mouth that forces air down my throat so it doesn't close up when I sleep. I made arrangements to have this with me in post-op, so I wouldn't panic while waking up and sleeping, and the doctor promised I would have. When I woke up in post-op and asked for it, the nurse said I "didn't need it", I was breathing fine. Then, I was chilled and shaking, and asked for another blanket. He said, "you're fine...your body temp is normal, you shouldn't be cold...you don't need a blanket". Next when I woke up, I was feeling more pain and told him, and he said "I've already given you some pain meds, it should be enough."

I had this male nurse before (and in fact, posted something over on the preop boards about the differences between male & female nurses...and I really don't have an agenda against male nurses, I had a couple this time who were much more compassionate and helpful than this jerk in postop) and really didn't think the odds of getting him again were really high...but guess what? I did. So I definitely plan on talking to my doctor about it when I go in for my postop visit next week. Maybe I was hallucinating while in recovery...but to be denied three requests...and then my husband said they kept me in recovery longer because I was having trouble waking up and getting stable...makes me wonder if I'd had my c-pap machine for my sleep apnea, and my pain meds., and warm blankets...would I have been out to my room sooner??

good luck...like someone else said, make a report and save another lady the trouble.
Cathi

LAVH, RSO, TVT - Sept. 13, 2004

I am a nurse. Hospitals fear these initials:J.C.A.H..O. , which stands for Joint Commision on Accrediation of Health Care Organizations. It is commonly referred to as Joint Commision or "Jayco." This commision is the one responsible for seeing that health care organizations address pain. That is why patients are asked to rate their pain on a number scale and then asked again after their pain med. It is an expectation that patients have their pain addressed and relieved.

I would suggest that anyone who is unhappy with their care in any area contact the hospital's patient advocate. Remind that person of the Joint Commission's rules on pain relief. JCAHO has their website at www.jcaho.org that you can check out on this and other issues regarding patient care.

Karen

I am soooo sorry you had to go through this ! Thank goodness I had the BEST nurses in the world. I also had a TVH. Anytime I asked for something they would check my chart to see if it was there and if not talk to my Dr. My first night the nurse came in and told me I wasn't pushing my pump enough ! She said push it every 10 min for an hour then when I would need it !
I wish everyone could have the great care I had. They made everything so much easier.

Lisa

unfortunately I did not have a good castle experience either. I had the Nurse trying to give me the wrong meds. I explained to her the med I take and she kept trying to force the wrong med on me. Finally I refused to take it and she went out and told the doc I refused my meds. I spoke with the doc and explained the situation and she told the nurse to listen to the patient, I was right about the meds I take as well as all the information was on the computer and in their records anyway. Another incident, I was supposed to not have anything by mouth, it was even posted over by bed NPO(nothing by mouth) and this nurse brought me a tray and told me to eat. Of course I refused. I also had this nurse yell at me to roll over when I couldn't because I was in so much pain, she kept giving me my demerol shots in the same arm and my arm got swollen as a result. Also, this same nurse and a few others were trying to act very nice while my dh or friends were there(they saw right through it) but when they weren't around it was a nightmare. I know all are not like that but it can be very difficult when you are trying to recover to run into a situation like that and I was there for eight days.

I did have 2 really good nurses, (one even gave me the number to the Director of patient advocate to report the behavior but I didn't bother with it, I was just glad to go home). I did let the 2 good nurses know I did appreaciate them and I made sure I let administration know about how good their care was. I also had a really good surgeon, they were a husband and wife team and they made my stay more pleasant than anything.

I am so sorry that happened to you. s I had a horrible time of it in the hospital and intend to write a letter to the hospital administrator. I was treated with disrespect and witnessed many incidents of unprofessional behavior not only from nurses, but from residents and doctors as well. The discharging doctor wiped his nose on his shirt sleeve for gosh sakes! How disgusting is that? Get a tissue! I was so mad that the hands that just touched my belly were now in such close proximity to his nasty nose fluids. I couldn't help but wonder if he had wiped his nose or even picked it before touching me. ICK!

I hope that when you are feeling strong and more like yourself you will consider reporting that nurse. It is not her choice to decide what medications you do or do not get. She is required to follow doctor's orders. She should be forced to endure the same pain you went through and be told to just deal with it. I swear it is enough to make me feel violent.

I am sending lots of s and prayers.