Question:
How Could Nurses, Physicians, Nursing Assistants Have Helped You?
This is your chance to change the world. I need info on "sensitivity" issues. I am teaching a Bariatric Sensitivity Training Class to a FABULOUS group of nurses. I know what issues I dealt with in the hospital as a WLS patient but I'm sure there are issues I'm unaware of. Can you share your experiences and concerns with me so I can do my part to guide caregivers in how to relate to an obese patient? I appreciate your help so much. Good Luck to all!! — ronascott (posted on October 29, 2001)
October 29, 2001
Hi Rona...I'm still pre-op so can't offer any insight about hospital stuff.
Just wanted to congratulate you on teaching this much-needed and very
important class. What an excellent idea! Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
October 29, 2001
first of all good luck in the training, it is needed. I was lucky that my
husband was with me 24 hours a day, I do beleive that I was watched by him
better and the nurses took advantage of him being there. He got me up, got
me things, took me to the bathroom. I'd like the hospital staff to help
the patients go to the bathroom, get a seat riser so you do not have to do
deep knee bends to get onto the toilet. Other things like bring you a
clean gown, rub your back. more than just take your vitals. I even heard
of a woman that was in the hospital (like YOU) and was brought a tray of
food. The nurses should have known not to give it to her, and SHE the
patient should have known not to accept it. She ate it and got ill. More
visits from the dietary staff too is helpful.
— Debbie H.
October 29, 2001
I agree with Debbie in so much of this. I wanted help with showers...I
wanted timely responses when the call button was hit. I wanted someone to
help me walk down the hall instead of my mom having to arrange all my wires
and catheters and walk me. I wanted the nurses to listen to my pain or
discomfort and although they couldn't do anything, I wanted them to contact
my dr or tell me it's normal. But, I loved when the nurses and techs would
come in and joke around with me and watch some tv with me. I loved it when
this one nurse actually taught me the PROPER way to get out of bed...and
thanks to her I have had virtually no incision pain. I loved when my mom
went home and I was walking the halls and my favorite nurse noticed I
wasn't feeling good and she tooke me into a private room for a nausea shot
and got me apple juice. I think kindness, consideration and compassion is
what makes a great nurse. Obese, skinny, short, tall, young or old all
deserve the same treatment.
— [Anonymous]
October 29, 2001
This is a great question. The nurses that took care of me were great, but
one asked me (1 day post-op)why I had this weight-loss surgery. Because
"you don't look that heavy". Please ask the hospital staff not to
give their opinion ,especially post-op, because then I felt like I had to
justify why I had the surgery. Also nurses and dietary need to be more
educated about the diet WLS patients should be on. Out of two days I was
offered pop and sugared jello and coffee more than once!!
— Kim M.
October 29, 2001
I felt like the nursing staff and support staff took wonderful care of me.
Just a little bit of history on my hospital stay. I was in the hospital for
10 days. 5 in ICU and 5 on the regular floor. I did not have complications,
but I am one who was on the higher side of morbid obesity and my doc wanted
to be sure I did not have complications. But my biggest problem was I
became a spoiled brat in the ICU. It is nice when the nurses can do 1:1
considering ICU's have the sickest of the sick and patients have every
piece of electronic equipment covering so many parts of the body(LOL). I
think the biggest problem I had was when I went to the regular floor from
ICU, I felt alone until my mom came over. I know the nurses and support
staff are always busy. But if they could have came in for 5 mins after I
settled in and told me their name, what their plans are, reassured me that
they where there and to plz call when I need help etc, it would have been a
great comfort and patients may not hit the call bell as much. Also, have
the nurse be aware about pain medicine and taking it before the pain
becomes severe.
— Jan M.
October 29, 2001
I don't know if you are using this to cover nurses in the surgeons' offices
but I one helluva complaint. I am MO and I am 67 years old; except for my
obesity and obesity-related problems I am one exceptionally healthy woman.
No heart or lung problems, etc. When I contacted the surgeon's office his
nurse told me it was too dangerous to do this surgery on anyone over 60.
Well, there's lots of info around to give the lie to that, so I figure she
was just trying to keep her doctor's statistics pretty clean. It would
have been MUCH more professional to say Dr X does not perform surgery on
anyone over 60 but there are other doctors who do. Which, by the way, I
have found. Nina in Maine
— [Deactivated Member]
October 29, 2001
I think the doctor's & the nurses need to be more cautious when it
comes to the patients medications. Doctor ordered Heparin & SCD's for
husband. Husband was not give either after the first day. Had a leakage and
went back into surgery. Stayed in the hospital for 28 days, 3rd day before
he died, they realized he was not on his heparin medication........or the
SCD's that was on the doctors orders.....I will always feel that it was
negligance on the doctors & nurses that I lost my best friend, my
husband, and the love of my life......Husband did tell me, even with all
the complications, that if it was to do it again. He would do it in a heart
beat, but would never put a spouse thru it. He did not put me thru
anything. This was his dream, and I stood by his side, and I would do it
again tomorrow..............Eventually I plan on posting a memorial in
memory of him. But for the time being. I must remain annonymous........
— [Anonymous]
October 29, 2001
I am sorry, husband died of a massive pulmonary embolus (blood clot to the
lungs).
— [Anonymous]
October 29, 2001
Rona, Let me begin by saying, I was in a wonderful Hospital with a great
group of nurses and aides. My Dr has his own special floor with , mostly,
specifically trained personnel. Even those who were agency or pool nurses
were more than helpful. While extra "sensitivity" training may be
called for in some instances, a good nurse is a good nurse where ever they
are working. Poor nursing, unfortunatly, happens. Pick caring, sensitive
people for your classes and the rest will be easy
— Diane D.
October 31, 2001
Doctor's, nurses,and all staff (including dieticans) should better
coordinate information that is given out. I had alot of contradictions in
what I was told about what I could do and what I could eat and what
medication was ok. Also, medication should be watched more closely.There
were many errors concerning my medication that should have not happened.
— [Anonymous]
November 7, 2001
My sister is 1 week post up and while the nursing staff did a really good
job at taking care of her I have to tell you about an incident that left me
just steaming! My sister and I were sitting in her hospital room; whe was
dosing off and on from the meds and I heard a couple of nurses outside her
door in the hallway chit-chatting. Not needing to "eavesdrop" to
really hear them, I could hear them just fine, I heard one laugh and then
say, "what is this? a wheel love seat?" she was referring the
xlg wheelchair parked outside my sister's room. I went flying out of the
chair and into the hallway and demanded to know if they had ever received
any type of sensitivity training and further proceeded to rip her a new
*one* because it's people like her that make people my sister's size so
flipping self conscious and if more people, ESPECIALLY NURSES STANDING
OUTSIDE A POST WLS PATIENT'S ROOM! were more sensitive to the fact that
just because someone is fat doesn't meant they don't have feelings and it
certainly doesn't mean they're deaf! then perhaps some of the patients
could have found other means than something as drastic as this surgery as a
means to loose weight. With that, I turned around and walked back into the
room and shut the door; a short while later that nurse came in and it was
obvious she had been crying and apologized to both myself and my sister.
So, please, remind those folks in your class that if they MUST relieve
their lack of knowledge and understanding towards WLS patients, to at least
have the decency to do so behind closed doors in a private setting. By
the way, my sister is doing fabulous!
— [Anonymous]
November 7, 2001
I was just thinking about the nursing assistants we had at Holy Cross. I
am sure that Dr Marema has seen to it that everyone who comes into contact
with his patients has received some kind of sensitivity training. But the
aids were just kind. They behaved professionally. We had one night where
no aides came to work and boy could you tell the difference. It was
interesting that no one said things were not their Job. The nurses were so
skilled, but if I needed my bed changed and they were there they did it.
— faybay
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