Comments on: Advocates aren't born, they're created

By: Heidi @ ggip

Heidi @ ggip — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:54:07 +0000

I agree that it is so important to BE THERE at the hospital (or to call all the time) to advocate. Even in the best children's hospital in the nation (which I love, btw) there were small errors made or things that we, as parents, were able to see that the staff didn't.

Also, I wish everyone knew that they have the right to see their chart (or your child's chart) whenever you want to.

By: gail

gail — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:45:27 +0000

i haven't had to be a warrior mom, in the medical sense, but i have much admiration for you and other moms who have had to travel that road. every time i do have to go to the hospital and be with my son or my hubby i always wish i knew what to ask for. thankfully we have had good outcomes, and i agree with the post above that mentioned that the ICU or special unit gives the best care. my husband was in the ICU at a trauma hospital and had great 24/7 care. good thing as he tried to "flatline" several times! once he was transferred to the main floor it was a nightmare. thankfully he wasn't there very long before being released to a rehab hospital, which again, was much better.

By: Rickismom

Rickismom — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:15:18 +0000

As a nurse, I agree totally with the opinion that there has to be a change in patient-nurse ratio. Can anyone understand how scarey it is to work on an overcrowded floor, and if you make a mistake, it can be tragic?

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:35:15 +0000

The part I want to emphasize is from what the ICU nurse said above – the system has to change. Those are the fewest words for meaning the most to the most people. And the least likely to happen in the near future.

Every role I play in my life has contributed to my opinions about the healthcare in the US (the see the list of posts on my blog).

Potentially, a critical care or specialty unit is only place in any hospital where real care is consistently provided.

In all other places in hospitals a great deal of care and demands for care must come from the patient and the their family. Those without the ability or family are left to the consequences of circumstances or the minimum of services.

My apologies for the rant, but I think I will post this anyway. PeytonsMom, do not even think that medical care will improve by any moniker called universal care. It will be more of the same, with fewer escape routes for anyone who knows better how to nurse or how a nurse should nurse.

By: Alicia @ Experiencing Each Moment

Alicia @ Experiencing Each Moment — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:16:39 +0000

And I hope your sister understands it now too!

By: ICU nurse for 5 years

ICU nurse for 5 years — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:08:41 +0000

I found this post interesting. As an experienced ICU nurse I can tell you that regardless of whether your mother had one pulmonary emoboli or multiple the treatment would be the same so that fact is somewhat irrevelant. I understand your frustration, however, with the quality of care that people sometimes recieve. More often than not, however, the problem comes from nurses who are unable to care for the number of patients they are assigned to. I can promise you that it is impossible in a 12 hour shift to know every minute detail on 8 patients. The nurse to patient ratio needs to change and that is something that needs to go through hospital administration. Until that changes you will recieve the same care which is unfortunate. I would suggest you make your voice heard to the powers that be.

By: I'm not ready | Hope4Peyton

I'm not ready | Hope4Peyton — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:30:51 +0000

[...] Today, I wrote at 5 Minutes For Special Needs about how being an advocate for Peyton has helped me help my [...]