Pain Part II

Last Friday I was finally able to speak to the powers that be at the hospital where I had surgery. The condensed version...I wasn't out of my mind. I was treated poorly and the records reflected it.

The supervising nurse had pulled my chart and was very dismayed at what was not in the file. You know that question, "what is your pain on a scale from one to ten?" All charts are supposed to have a number reflecting that score not once, but multiple times depending on how many times the patient is asked.

My chart had no such number post surgery. Why? Because I was never asked the question. Even though my first conscious words were PAIN, I was never asked the question and consequently got no pain medication and that's where things went bad.

The results of this conversation: the supervising nurse had already had a 'discussion' with the nurse who was my caretaker. I was assured this same nurse would not have anything to do with my husband when he had his surgery. I was also assured I would be permitted to stay with my husband from the time we arrived until he was taken to surgery (not usually permitted).

While my main concern was the care my husband was going to get, I am also concerned for those who come after me. This woman, who is supposed to be a professional in the care of people who are sick, in pain and unable to advocate for themselves, failed me miserably.

I hope this 'discussion' she had with her supervisor taught her something. It is not her place to decide someone else's pain. It is her job, her duty to ease it. I hope it taught her that there is at least one person that was not willing to be treated poorly and that she will think before she decides to do it again.