@Nataliesgramma wrote:
@Puzzle Piece wrote:
I think the OP took the words spoken to mean something else.
I've had recent experience with a late relative and the hospitals gave the care that was needed. I must say many of the younger patients were people who didn't care for their health or welfare in the first place and there were many of them there. Obese, drug users, accident victims due to doing stupid things, etc. The staff was constantly overwhelmed. More 'care' might be given if people weren't so irresponsible with their health and with their lives.
This was my experience in the ER last month....drug addicts looking for a fix claiming 'pain'.....our nurse told us how common it is today...
@Nataliesgramma@Puzzle Piece- I was a nurse for 50 years and still volunteer at our local hospital. Drug addiction is a psychiatric illness with acute phases and addicts belong in an ER when they overdose and/or seek medication because they are sick like anyone else and are in crisis. As a nurse, you don't label or judge them but try to help them physically then, with referral to addictive services for aftercare. Drug addicts require very little actual time. What doesn't belong in the ER are people using an ER as their personal physician for routine and minor illness rather than consulting a private doctor or clinic. Nor does an elderly person "dumped" in an ER and abandoned by family belong there. My husband just had a major health crisis and was never sick a day in his 69 yr life but thanks to a rapid response, sharp ER team and subsequent long hospital/rehab stay, he is well and unimpaired. What I saw was staff trying to care for elderly people with different needs while trying to care for the acutely ill of all ages and that includes the ER. That's what takes lengthy time consumption not the addict. We need better services and options for older people; we are living longer, we are many and occupy a lot of the time in hospitals/clinics.
What I find disconcerting is a nurse discussing that she is "overwhelmed" or talking about other patients at all. I question a nurse who judges people while treating them or one with a bias. Addicts come in all forms, housewives, teachers, doctors and nurses themselves have high rates of addiction. They aren't all homeless people ( not that it matters) or are a stereotypical version of "the addict". Many have been "hooked" by medical professionals and some don't even believe they are addicts.
On the matter of "self imposed illness"...obesity? So you are saying a nurse should not care for or be disturbed by an obese person who has a heart attack? Or maybe resent treating a person with emphysema or lung cancer who smokes? Or face an AIDS patient with a personal bias of say lifestyle choices?
maybe the nurse discussing her patient load or cases she is "forced" to care for should sell shoes.
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