Annie68,
I do not want to turn the op into a debate but here is one example of the "wonderful" care my mom received at times. I was at work one day while my mom was hospitalized. She did not sound "right" to me when I spoke with her...just off. I asked her if she was in pain, or exactly what she was feeling. She said she could not pinpoint it, but she just didn't feel well. I called her about 45 minutes later, still, not doing well. I called the nurses desk to ask them to check on her...the nurse said they had and she was fine. Half hour later, I talk to my mom again, now I know she isn't right...just a daughter's intuition. So I leave work, drive to the hospital and walk into her room. There is a nurse by her bedside that had been there with her for about 15 minutes talking to my mom(the nurse is my sister in law). I said "mom, what is wrong? To preface this, one of my mothers health problems is pulmonary fibrosis...enough said. I asked her if she was getting oxygen and my nurse sister in law says of course she is...can't you hear it? The floor nurses had been in several times to check my mother before I got there. I said, just because you can hear it does not mean my mother is getting oxygen. Sure enough the oxygen hose was pinned under the wheel caster of her hospital bed and had been that way for several hours; her oxygen saturation level was very low. None of the floor nurses thought to check her sats. Trust me, this is just ONE incident of stupidity and neglect I saw during my mother's illness. I am not grouping all medical staff together but I will tell you that overall, there is not the caring, compassion or dedication to the profession that there once was. I know there are good nurses and bad nurses just like in any other profession.
I will get in the face of anyone that I feel is not doing a good job for a compromised loved one in a medical setting. There were other instances of incompetence prior to my mother's illness when my mother in law was ill also. NO, I am not a nut or a chronic complainer, just someone who expects quality care and treatment for someone that requires it and who cannot fight for themselves while they are ill. I will add that my mother had 2 strokes and lost her vision along with dealing with PF and diabetes and congestive heart failure. She was the most easy going, uncomplaining, patient, loving and understanding person who hated when I would make any type of fuss because there were people who were ill and needed to be taken care of. She never asked the nurses to help her or wanted any extra treatment. I stand by my original post, question, question, question and push to get the answers and help you want.
I will not respond to any more posts regarding this because I do not want to take away from the op.
Nancy
