Bad Nurses
Brad McNeil Crystal L. Finney
ENG-111-103A
June 28, 2012
Bad Nurses
He was lying in his bed struggling to take every breath. The Hospice doctor said he wouldn’t live more than twenty-four hours now. Uncle Ralph’s chest sounded like a motor running because his lungs were so congested. We thought that suctioning out his lungs would help him to breathe a little easier so I volunteered to ask the nurse for help. Doctor Kinsley called for an available nurse. The one around the corner yelled back that she could come to his room. She was told that we requested some help for Ralph’s breathing, and she said, “Shall I dim the lights and open the windows for them too?”
What would you think that she meant? I was devastated that someone could be so insensitive, especially a nurse in a Hospice facility. I didn’t know what to say or do; I just stood there with my mouth hanging open in dismay. We were already emotional and exhausted to say the least. If I said something that was out of line how would that make our family look? Did this nurse have a bad day; or was she a horrible person that someone needed to fire? Why would someone become a nurse if they didn’t really love people and want to help them?
Many nurses go into the profession for the wrong reasons. Some people are pushed into careers that aren’t right for them. Families have long running histories of perceived standards that have to be lived up to. The money appears to be attractive in the nursing field so after just two years anybody can do it. Just take a few classes and your responsible for another person’s life. A lot of medical professionals do mean well, but they are so distracted that they can’t focus on doing their job well. Personal problems and responsibilities become overwhelming, leading to poor patient care and sometimes death. Bad nurses have many negative effects on patients and families. Patients don’t receive adequate care, families become angry, and lives are
ENG-111-103A
June 28, 2012
Bad Nurses
He was lying in his bed struggling to take every breath. The Hospice doctor said he wouldn’t live more than twenty-four hours now. Uncle Ralph’s chest sounded like a motor running because his lungs were so congested. We thought that suctioning out his lungs would help him to breathe a little easier so I volunteered to ask the nurse for help. Doctor Kinsley called for an available nurse. The one around the corner yelled back that she could come to his room. She was told that we requested some help for Ralph’s breathing, and she said, “Shall I dim the lights and open the windows for them too?”
What would you think that she meant? I was devastated that someone could be so insensitive, especially a nurse in a Hospice facility. I didn’t know what to say or do; I just stood there with my mouth hanging open in dismay. We were already emotional and exhausted to say the least. If I said something that was out of line how would that make our family look? Did this nurse have a bad day; or was she a horrible person that someone needed to fire? Why would someone become a nurse if they didn’t really love people and want to help them?
Many nurses go into the profession for the wrong reasons. Some people are pushed into careers that aren’t right for them. Families have long running histories of perceived standards that have to be lived up to. The money appears to be attractive in the nursing field so after just two years anybody can do it. Just take a few classes and your responsible for another person’s life. A lot of medical professionals do mean well, but they are so distracted that they can’t focus on doing their job well. Personal problems and responsibilities become overwhelming, leading to poor patient care and sometimes death. Bad nurses have many negative effects on patients and families. Patients don’t receive adequate care, families become angry, and lives are