This one is for the nurses out there...
There are a lot of topics we discuss. Sometimes we complain, other times we pass along information, and sometimes, we even education each other. I would like to pass all that information along to the other nurses. So, if you could please just send me a note with your topic, maybe even with the information you have found through research, experience or just your opinion, that would be great!
My first topic, which is going to be the economy's impact on the "spirit of caring," a theory by Jean Watson, will be coming to you shortly!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Get prepped!
I was talking with someone yesterday, someone who is NOT a nurse, or even interested in health care at this point, about being in the hospital. They were completely unaware of things they need to be aware of when going to the hospital! So, this first blog is for all of you who, God forbid, should ever need to go to the hospital. Um, I guess that means it's for everyone!
Remember growing up, your mom would always make you do those little "fire" drills? You know, if there was ever a fire in the house, where would you all meet so your parents could count heads and make sure everyone was okay. Well, there was a purpose to that, and mom was really smart to make you do those drills. It was so that, if there every WAS a fire, she could know that you would be safe. It's good to have a plan, just in case.
Well, the same thing holds true for going to the hospital. Most of us would just want to get to the hospital closest to our house, and would have someone drive us there, or tell the ambulance, you don't care where they take you (my first suggestion - always call 911... they can drive really fast, and can perform some of the work on you before you even get to the hospital)! YOU DON'T CARE? Yeah, yeah you do! You do need to pick a hospital you can feel comfortable with. And, most of the information is easily available. Just type something like "hospitals in - your area" into Google, and a plethora (that's "a lot" for those of you who don't know) of information will appear. It really is important to have information on the hospital so you can make an informed decision. Some of the questions you need to have answered:
1. What specialty areas does the hospital work in? Do they have the specialty area you need?
2. What area of town do they serve mainly? (You don't want to live in certain areas, and there's a reason. Why would you want to be in the hospital in those areas?)
3. Does the hospital have Magnet status? Magnet status means that the hospital treats it's nurses well, which in turn, usually means you will be treated well. This isn't always the case, but it's definitely a step in the right direction!
4. Does your primary care physician go to that hospital? If he/she doesn't, you are going to be dealing with a bunch of doctors who are simply going to do whatever they want with you! If you decide to go to a hospital that your PCP is not affiliated with, make sure to let him/her know you are in the hospital.
5. Try to talk with some of the nurses, if possible. Just call the main number and ask to be transferred to one of the floors. Ask for the charge nurse, and ask her a few questions. Ask, how many patients does each nurse have? If the nurse to patient ratio is high, you can bet you are not going to get great service! Ask what "theorist" they follow. If the charge nurse has no idea what you are talking about...run! If they say they don't know, ask them to find out. If no one has any idea...run! If they can answer the question, that's definitely a good thing! You can come up with many other questions that are important to you. The important thing is to ASK!
Ask your friends and family what hospital they use, and why. Ask about their experiences. Not just the bad, but the good experiences as well.
It is so important to have this information ahead of time to avoid being stuck in a place you don't want to be. How many of us have checked into a hotel that looks great on the outside, but had dead bugs in the corners? Please, tell me which hotel that was, so I don't go there! The premise is the same. Granted, not everything can be perfect, but forewarned is forearmed.
And, that's what this blog is about!
Remember growing up, your mom would always make you do those little "fire" drills? You know, if there was ever a fire in the house, where would you all meet so your parents could count heads and make sure everyone was okay. Well, there was a purpose to that, and mom was really smart to make you do those drills. It was so that, if there every WAS a fire, she could know that you would be safe. It's good to have a plan, just in case.
Well, the same thing holds true for going to the hospital. Most of us would just want to get to the hospital closest to our house, and would have someone drive us there, or tell the ambulance, you don't care where they take you (my first suggestion - always call 911... they can drive really fast, and can perform some of the work on you before you even get to the hospital)! YOU DON'T CARE? Yeah, yeah you do! You do need to pick a hospital you can feel comfortable with. And, most of the information is easily available. Just type something like "hospitals in - your area" into Google, and a plethora (that's "a lot" for those of you who don't know) of information will appear. It really is important to have information on the hospital so you can make an informed decision. Some of the questions you need to have answered:
1. What specialty areas does the hospital work in? Do they have the specialty area you need?
2. What area of town do they serve mainly? (You don't want to live in certain areas, and there's a reason. Why would you want to be in the hospital in those areas?)
3. Does the hospital have Magnet status? Magnet status means that the hospital treats it's nurses well, which in turn, usually means you will be treated well. This isn't always the case, but it's definitely a step in the right direction!
4. Does your primary care physician go to that hospital? If he/she doesn't, you are going to be dealing with a bunch of doctors who are simply going to do whatever they want with you! If you decide to go to a hospital that your PCP is not affiliated with, make sure to let him/her know you are in the hospital.
5. Try to talk with some of the nurses, if possible. Just call the main number and ask to be transferred to one of the floors. Ask for the charge nurse, and ask her a few questions. Ask, how many patients does each nurse have? If the nurse to patient ratio is high, you can bet you are not going to get great service! Ask what "theorist" they follow. If the charge nurse has no idea what you are talking about...run! If they say they don't know, ask them to find out. If no one has any idea...run! If they can answer the question, that's definitely a good thing! You can come up with many other questions that are important to you. The important thing is to ASK!
Ask your friends and family what hospital they use, and why. Ask about their experiences. Not just the bad, but the good experiences as well.
It is so important to have this information ahead of time to avoid being stuck in a place you don't want to be. How many of us have checked into a hotel that looks great on the outside, but had dead bugs in the corners? Please, tell me which hotel that was, so I don't go there! The premise is the same. Granted, not everything can be perfect, but forewarned is forearmed.
And, that's what this blog is about!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
