Wow, that is so wrong!!  I’m sorry you had an experience like that. I was fortunate, first to only spend 2 weeks in the hospital, and second to have mostly very kind nurses caring for me. 

Even after 2 weeks, I could barely walk (I ended up using a walker for a couple months) so I can only imagine how it would be after 2 months. I was super septic too, so that might have affected my strength as well??

I’m glad you are in the mend now!!

That’s so terrible!! If being ill ain’t hard enough. Getting stuff like that of yer chest helps. 

Wow. There are no excuses for how she behaved and I would still consider reporting it - even if just to add closure. 

Laurie,

My surgeon is a rude and arrogant man with the people skills of a rampaging elephant, but he isn't spiteful. It takes a special kind of jerk to do a thing like that, but for every nurse who would do that, there are a million more to whom such an act of cowardly cruelty would never occur. Thank you for trusting us with that story.

It is so terrible to do such a thing when a patient is so weak and worn down, not to mention she should have known better and not be such an unprofessional hag! It was not like you could get around and help yourself! I had a nurse who withheld my bladder pill once telling me it had not come up from pharmacy. I remember well the sound of a tiny important pill hitting the bottom of the sharps container that night after I saw him opened the plastic wrap. Am I wrong to wish karma on such a soul as that bitter person for you and I!? Probably, but know she will get hers someday. Thank you for sharing your story and I know it feels great to get it out in the open. All the best!

Hi Emma ( and welcome),

Thats horrible. Health care people are SUPPOSED to be CARING, right?  People who do that are probably leading less than ideal lives, I guess.

After my first surgery ( where I got my stoma) The food tray was bought, plopped on the rolling tray thing two feet from my bed and the dishes were left covered.  So I had inedible ( as it turned out) food, left out of reach under covers I was too weak to remove.

And, it was the first time I thought I could actually eat without crapping my pants in over three years! Just laughable  ( in hindsight).

There are great people too. A nurse in training  asked me how I was doing. After she saw the food and how it was left for me, she went to the hospital 'cafe' and brought me actual food! A banana never tasted so good! I was and still am grateful for her kindness.

Our place sends us a form on line so we can 'review' our care.  Might be good to leave feedback, both the good and the bad.

@dona and all that replied.

Your responses mean the world to me. I swear, I have never been so angry, upset and gobsmacked in my entire life. I guess a lot of us have our share of horror stories but all in all, most caregivers are thoughtful and kind. She actually told me that if I had one more ice chip my stomach would explode! LOL...I think I must have had no more than 20 small chips in the course of the day.

Believe me, having spent 4 months in the hospital, I think I've seen just about everything lol.

Hi Emma,

Wow, what an experience you had! I agree with Eric, I think you should still report that nurse. What she did to you was deplorable and inexcusable. However, for every mean-spirited nurses and doctors out there, I would say there are at least 1,000 helpful ones.  I have to say that my experience was quite the opposite. All the nurses were very nice. I remember when a nurse had to change my bag, I apologized for the odor, and she told me that she had no problem whatsoever since she changed her grandmother's bag everyday for her. Those nurses made my 12 day stay more tolerable.

Stella

Emma, I also had some horrible issues with nurses and most medical staff.  was in icu for 7 months comma 2 months-- yes one nurse did just throw my cup of ice at me when I asked for it as she out it so far..  I am not at the point that I WILL REPORT AND ALSO give them hell for their rudeness-- just push that nurse button-ask for the head nurse and done--  I also lost mussel and that turned into a forever-- but I did learn how to walk again-- I must warn you all-- THE NURSING HOMES are worse!! But I surived !!!!!!! Lots of hard work on my side--but did it--  I am now back into major weakness-can't even put a pillow care on a pillow without  having to lay down-- so back to 5 years ago-- But before this mess I am in-- I did get up and about and had fun.. I have hope again---- but like us all-there r days------------------------ best. M.

My goodness. I feel that some legal counsel might be in order for some of you who've had inexcusably poor care. Nobody, at any time in their life, should be treated the way any of you have been. 

Eric, thankyou! In  another incident, in my 1 yr. stay...I rarely register fevers  but, I knew I had one at that time. The nurse for our room refused to take my temp. when I told her I felt very hot and nauseated she was very rude about it and refused to take my temp. walking out of the room in a huff.  When the head nurse came, I told her what had gone on &  asked her to  please take  my temp. and why. Without missing a beat, She did, and within min. I was seen by the doctor on duty & the surgeon & blood work was ordered,  and hour later I was in surgery  again. Needless to say I never saw a certain nurse the rest of my stay. Lack of a nurses responsibility is more common then we think, and I would advise anyone  experiencing off treatment and lack of general kindness to report them. Make notes if you can, names, time room and bed number,  and ask roommates if they will also tell on your behalf & tell a family member or two about  the incident. A nurse refusing proper trained care, deserves to be reported for her lack of responsibility. Imagine 10 other patients, same nurse, and you have  an epidemic of another kind.  Say something to the head nurse and your doctor at least. Bad patient treatment deserves to be on their records. Look what has happened in nursing homes to elderly and disabled, these people do not deserve the money they get paid & have earned. Report them. Do not minimize your bad treatment from them or make excuses for them, it may be  worse for the next patient. All the best everyone and thank you all for sharing.

Its clear that some people should not be in the 'caring' professions! 

After my hernia repair surgery I discovered that my call button  had been left far out of my reach ( they should have showed it to me and placed it at hand) and that the call button of the side of the bed didn't work at all. " oh, that one doesn't work", They later said ( too bad no one told me).

SO I spent hours unable to call a nurse while the device that was massaging my lower legs ( to keep blood from clotting) beeped at me every 30 seconds because it wasn't working. Not much sleep. 

P.S. That was the surgery where no one rolled up the bottom of the ostomy bag that they had attached ( badly) to me after the surgery. It was lucky I noticed before anything came out of my stoma . I had about 9 open wounds t that time  from the arthroscopic surgery. Scary. I did tell them about this on a follow up visit to the surgeon. They were horrified.  I think doctors get upset about bad care of their patients.