Help! Now I've done it

[pigletwillie]

Likewise Alice, I am a qualified RGN and still have my pin, but got out in the late 80's to finish my electrical apprenticeship. It is not the profession I was proud to be part of. Its not allowed to be.

[Alice]

I want to add a PS to my above post. There were people who were wonderful in the critical situation I found myself in and my husbands life depended on . People in the street, taxi drivers, hotel staff, travelling salesmen, a charity called HEARTSWELL, the people of Cornwall and the Citizens of Plymouth. I thank them all.
To our grapes who live in Cornwall and Plymouth areas, I can only say, please support the Charity called Heartswell. I can't tell you how much they did to help me, and I just don't know what I would have done without them. They were all the face of kindness and humanity in a sea of indifference and the providers of practical help that I really don't know how I would have managed without. PLEASE SUPPORT HEARTSWELL.

[Alice]

I don't want to labour this, but I do know what you are saying Piglet. Again I say the good citizens of Cornwall and Plymouth moved heaven and earth to help me and my husband in an emergency situation. Having got to a big teaching hospital there wasn't what they now call a nurse , anyone, who could see that anyone needed a place to sit down, or a drink of water - or that anyone needed washed, toileted, fed or anything else. I know that the system works against them, but if people in the street can see what is required, what the hell has happened to the professionals.PS My husband has made a wonderful recovery, but everything could have been so different.

[Peter]

From visiting my mother in hospital over the course of an entire year I can see three problems, which I stress are not displayed by all nursing staff, but sadly by too many.

1/. Nurses nowadays "play at doctors", not in a derogatory meaning just reflecting how the job has changed, they draw up care plans and administer drugs. They no longer "nurse" patients, feeding those who cannot feed themselves, etc.

2/. The office chat has arrived on the ward. Patients want something, no nurse in sight, ah there they all are sat in a huddle discussing Kylies plans for the weekend, Big Brother, or what should be on Agnes care plan.

3/. Ageism, old people do not matter. It show in little things, to alot of elderly people the use of their first name by strangers is undignified, they prefer formality "Mrs Smith" not "Agnes". Funny thing here is those displaying this unconcious discrimination seem to forget that if they are lucky they will be old one day.......

[keeperofthecorn]

nothing we ever do is a mistake , earthbabe, we are only amassing new experiance, so it is said...jolly good luck with your new job adventure!

[Earthbabe]

Thanks all. Strangely I'm not saddened. I came out of the interview with a strong suspicion I hadn't been successful even though I was first in and by the time the Interviewer phoned I was quite accepting. A first for me. I do work on the basis that something better will be along and that all these things happen for a reason/experience etc.

Alice, PW and Peter I am saddened that you have these experiences. In my time I have worked with some extremely good, caring nurses. I hope that I am a good role model to the students I work with. I like to spend time with my patients, feel deprived when I can't do the things I have been trained to do like help with washes, feeding etc. For the nurses and ex-nurses out there I subscribe to the Henderson definition that the nurse is there to fill the gap and do what the patient is unable to do for themselves while they recover from illness/surgery or not. I don't want to be a mini doctor so I don't venesect or cannulate or print out specimen forms etc.

I don't like having a bay and taking the ward these days because invariably it is impossible to do both well. The majority of my colleagues are very good and would be horrified by, as I am, by Alice's recent experience of the NHS.

I won't comment further on my ward manager though. Nuff said.

I've put lots of feelers out so I will see what comes back.

[Alice]

Good luck Earthbabe, I'm sure if you keep looking you'll find just the right niche for you.
And off course you're right. There are still some excellent nurses and carers out there. My father in law spent the last few days of his life in a hospice when his care at home became impossible, and everyone was faultless in the way they went about things. But sadly I think that standard of care is in rather short supply.

[Alison]

Whilst I am fully aware that things aren't exactly perfect they are not always as bad as made out, certainly not everywhere. One of my best friends is a nurse who trained after an unfulfilling career managing a call centre. Her and the colleagues which I have met, are caring and hard working and actually find it quite demorolising when people feel the need to make generalisations about their profession. From the relatively small group I know, at least one of them has stated this as being one of the reasons that she has left nursing, so I ask people to think carefully before they make negative generalisations based on a bad experience with a few.

PS - glad Mr Alice is OK and good luck with any future career moves to EB.

[ugly gourd]

[UG I really hope you have a good time tomorrow and starting back is not too hard. How is your son?? All the best[/QUOTE]

Sorry lost track of days its Monday I go back sons back to school half day so I can finish work a little early and pick him up hes getting better he lost a stone when he was really ill and put 13lbs back on in 13 days so his appitite is back!!

[Earthbabe]

Glad he is on the mend UG. I'm sure you'll be fine back at work although I find it daunting after two weeks off so I've got an idea how you feel. Just try and relax and enjoy it. You'll soon feel like you've never been away Don't know if that is a good or a bad thing though.

[madderbat]

Best of luck. Just remember: 'Keep breathing'

[ugly gourd]

Well I survived my first day back nothings changed!!

[madderbat]

Things could be worse then .... ???

[Alice]

Hello Alison, you may have missed earlier posts. I was a nurse myself and loved my job. Somewhere in the 1980's everything changed so that it was impossible for people to do their jobs properly. I left then as I could not lend my name to what was happening. I do know there is still excellence in some situations and from some individuals. I feel truly sorry for nurses committed to providing care in a professional way. They don't need criticism, and demoralisation.They need better training in hands on nursing care, better working conditions, better facilities , better back up and better appreciation of what they do. Until then I fear the present situation will prevail. With a nurses eyes, I was truly shocked at what I saw when my husband was admitted to hospital. Not nit picking little things - just the total lack of any kind of basic care or compassion for anybody. I don't know whether that drifts in at the bottom and filters up, or whether it comes from the top and is driven down. But there is a big problem. I'm off my soap box now and will say no more.

[JennieAtkinson]

Following a horrific road accident, my husband has spent alot of the last five years in hospital and we both have nothing but praise for the nursing he has received, but feel so aggrieved that nurses are not given the time to do what they want to do, and that is nurse. When you spend 24 hours sitting by a bedside you realise how much they have to achieve in a shift, how few of them there are, and how extensive their knowledge has to be and yet they still manage to smile and make you feel at ease. As I say nothing but praise for all we have come into contact with. We really do appreciate you all!