Do the even check?????
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
March 23, 2008 6:23pm CST
Ok I guess I'm on a roll in my rant about hospitals, but since I have been there more hours than at home since friday I kind of notice some things. Not my fault , really :)
Here's the thing. Grandma doesn't eat anything but pureed foods, and even those sometimes we have a hard time getting her to swallow.
Saturday morning they brought her breakfast: rice krispies, a small packed cheese thingy, bread, jam, and coffee.
I have nothing to say to that one. They didn't have a chance to know what she could eat or not. But at that time I explained the situation to them. I was told to try and she if she would eat because without eating they couldn't give her her pills. Wait a second. I just explained that she doesn't. But ok. It's early in the morning. I ...understand.
I asked for the rest of her food to come pureed so we could try and feed her. I was told that they were writing it on her chart and sending a note to the kitchen.
Lunch came. Some sort of chicken nuggets, baked potatoes, green beens and carrots.
Wait... wait... last time I checked that isn't puree. Called them back. Explained the situation. We were told to try and mash it and see if she would eat it. Huh?
Diner : salad , rice, some sort of beef roast. An apple. the only thing close to puree was the soup.
Call them again. Demand that they follow the indications in the chart. By now grandma didn't eat for a full day.
Finally get a nurse to take care of the problem. They bring her some green pureed thing, that we finally were able to give to grandma.
Breakfast today: bread, fruit salad, rice krispies.... what??????????
THis time I went to the kitchen myself. SPecial orders for pureed food are there, but nobody noticed/checked/paid attention? I didn't leave until I talked to whoever is in charge.
Finally the rest of the day things seemed to finally work better and everything was pureed .
Give me a break... do they really check, at all?
Sorry, I've been ranting a lot since friday, but ... some things are not really working.
6 people like this
14 responses
@rpegan (596)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Even workers in the hospital eventually get fed up. I know that they shouldn't, but anyone in any kind of food business eventually stops paying attention. I'm sorry that you've had so many problems because I've had similar problems in hospitals, but I don't know if there's a quick fix. If they're not willing to look, you'd better be willing to rant.
4 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
I can understand that, or would if this was just a regular food service. In an hospital the wrong food can be annoying but it can also be dangerous.
Special diets need to be followed with attention.
I do understand the occasional mistake, but this is a bit more than that.
YOu bet I'm willing to rant though LOL
3 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Mar 08
There was no excuse for them not following the orders on the nurses chart so they were just plain not caring evidently that happened to me when I was in a rehab hospital two years ago I had to fight and fight to get them to cut down on the calories and to not bring me sweet desserts as they knew I was a diabetic. when i questioned the head nurse she just said we willjust give you more insulin well I never took insulin as i was on oral meds and the results of that was very low blood sugar I could not win and I think some of the problem was a loot of the kitchen workers did not speak english or very little english so that they probably could not read the orders i was never so glad to get out of any place as I was that rehab hospital. I gained weight there and I felt lousy and was only there for rehab for a broken shoulder I was not ill when I came in there but was ill until I went home a whole month. I will bet that a lot of kitchen workers in your hospital did not read english either.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Mar 08
That is really awful. It also sounds like your nursing staff did not read your chart, either.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
They sure should follow the orders on the chart. That's why they are written there.
As for reading english, they are required to, but I wonder. Regardless it shouldn't have happened,I"ll give then the first time, I can understand that one. But no repeats please...
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I am so sorry this happened. This is where the nursing staff needs to be proactive, get behind the patient's needs, and demand that the right thing be done. It is unfortunate, but often Alzheimer's patients begin to forget how to eat and how to swallow. I certainly hope things get better.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Good for you, every patient should have a strong advocate working on their behalf.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
Yes the nursing staff really needs to be on top of things.
I confess I don't usually accept the excuse about the funds being cut, but in relation to the nurses I have to say that the cuts did affect the quality of care. Because nurses now have more people per nurse then what they used to have before. It's not the whole reason, but it does affect the overall care.
ANd yes, grandma kind of forgot how to eat, at least how to chew so she can only eat pureed things.
I'm afraid after talking to the doctor today that the news are not very positive. The infection is spreading, and it's in the blood. I am afraid she might not be with us much longer. But at least while she is with us, I will make sure that everything is as right as it should.
2 people like this
@Kowgirl (3489)
• United States
24 Mar 08
That seems to be the case in all hospitals.
It is up to the family of the patient to see that things are done right. Even the doctors will say it was just an oversight and not do anything about it. The doctor will just assume what he/she writes on the chart is what the patient will receive.
BUT just mention "lawsuit" to the administrator and see how
fast things change. Some times that is all it takes to get things done right in the hospital, then they take notice of what diet the doctor has recommended and if the wrong thing arrives the nurses will notify the kitchen and another tray will soon appear. When the nurse saw that the food wasn't what the doctor ordered she/he should have made sure that another tray with the properly prepared food was sent up to her room.
Hope she is doing better and you aren't getting stressed.
Best of luck
Kowgirl
3 people like this
@miller1978 (1101)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I've seen this problem before as well. It seems that the hospitals were also invaded by people who don't need a High School Diploma to serve food. As with any other place you go to order food, they always screw it up.
Why would they want to scold their employees? Then they would lose them and have to replace them. That's too much of a hassle. It's ludicrous that people can get away with this attitude and service.
I'll tell you another one that still burns my butt. I was working in an Assisted Living Facility and I was one of the Med Aides there. The other Med Aide on duty went to pass meds this night and I was the cook. Well in the process she screwed up and gave the wrong patient the wrong insulin. She got a slap on the wrist. I got fired. Obviously I still don't know to this day why, but I feel that it was wrong for me to be fired for something I didn't administer or initial in the MAR.
3 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
It's happening more and more and it really shouldn't.
I mean, no matter what job you're doing, you're supposed to do it well, right? Sure there are mistakes and we can understand when they do, but not if the mistakes are the norm.
Your case is really strange, if you didn't sigh the sheet for the meds why would they get to you?
It's just one more of the things that keep happening and often we don't even have any idea of why. Grrr :)
3 people like this
@CheshireKat (564)
• United States
24 Mar 08
That's terrible, and quite a hassle for you I'm sure.
At least the people that initially took down the notes about needing her food to be pureed were reliable..? I'm not sure, there's really no positive side to this, other than the fact that things finally worked out.
Hopefully they'll remember to -check- now?
3 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Mar 08
Sweetie I do not blame you for ranting
We trust our Lifes to these People and they can't even get a little thing like that right?
Sorry but that does make things look good for the rest of the Treatments and care
Hugs to you Twin
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
25 Mar 08
You know, to cut costs, they lower the salary for this kind of job, now to get people to work, they have to lower standards. Now you end up with 3 kinds of people - the ones who just don't care, ones who are passing though waiting for something better and ones that are functionally illiterate, at least in the English language.
After you get done raising hell with the people in charge of the food service, I suggest that you contact the hospital administration and express your unhappiness in no uncertain terms.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
25 Mar 08
YOu are so right. It is indeed a pattern that we see happening more and more.
Couldn't assess the situation any better.
I did write them. I was really upset at the time. Now, the way things are, it seems that is doesn't really matter anymore. She's not even eating. But at the time it really got to me.
1 person likes this
@havfaith (174)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Hospitals make me so mad! I have been in and out of hospitals since Oct.2007. And I have had room mates that couldn't feed their self or had no visitors. The nurse would come and sit their tray down in front of them and walk away. When they would come back after the tray they would say "oh honey you should eat something". And they know darn well they couldn't feed themself. There was times I would even tell the nurse I don't think she feed herself, the nurse would say "Okay I will be back" of course you would never see her. There was times if I was having a good day I would feed my roommate or smash their food up. I feel if the nurses or cooks or who ever don't want to do their job they shouldn't be there.
havfaith
1 person likes this
@mrsbrian (1949)
• United States
24 Mar 08
ok first of all the nurses have to follow the DR.s orders so you need to go back to the sorce if it is written in her chart that she have reg for her than the dr needs to change it.
but you should have not had to go thru all that, from the very start the nurse should have sent down for the kitchen to send up a puree meal. I would have done as you did but i would have demanded from the get go that they replace her meal with puree.
I hope your grandmother is doing better and all is straightned out now.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
Yes, it was written on her chart. I checked myself.
On the first day we still had soup for her so we decided to give her that. Aunt used to puree some vegetables and chicken or fish and make a nice nutritious soup for grandma. WE just checked with the doctor to see if there was anything in the soup that she shouldn't eat.
But regardless, if they were sending a meal they should send the right one and if it wasn't , you are right, the nurse should have sent down for the right one.
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Oh honey, you rant and rave all you want. Just get it all off your chest, it is better for you in the longrun. (It does lower the bloodpressure.)
If the hospital there is anything like the one here they will only honor a special forrds request if ordered by the doctor. Sorry but I guess the doctor knows best than the around the clock care givers. Dumba**ed rule if you ask me.
Hang in there!
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
25 Mar 08
Thanks hon. Actually the food is not the problem anymore since grandma got worse - or rather the antibiotic did not work at all - and she is not even eating anymore. We've been there with her, but there is even less response. It really looks like her body is slowly shutting down.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
24 Mar 08
A lot of this comes from lack of communication and a failure of team work. I used to work in a nursing home and when a new patient comes in then the first things you do when settling them in is see if there are any specific dietary requirements, if there are then you go to the kitchen and tell them straightaway so that their meals are prepared. Many a time the shift that used to work opposite us would not do this, so when we came on duty some patients meals were coming and they were totally unsuitable and as a result patients were going without food. We used to get so cross, how hard is it to find out a persons need and just make sure it is fulfilled. Or the kitchen would forget and then do the same thing as they said to you, well can you mash it. Well no actually because mashed will still be to hard for them to eat and then they might choke on it as they are eating. Yes I am with you and it is really frustrating. You carry on ranting, do you good to get it off your chest!
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
Exactly, it is all team work and I admit that it works better some times than other, but I don't think it's to much to expect that things that can actually be dangerous are double checked.
If I think about my own personal experiences in hospital, although not many, I can only say that they were excellent. I always had excellent nurses and great aides and my stays in hospital have been always positive.
But then I see the other side of the coin and I worry. Imagine that aunt tried to feed grandma anyways. Or that we weren't there and aunt wouldn't be able to explain herself in English? I wonder what happens to people in those circumstances.
1 person likes this
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
24 Mar 08
It really is rather scary if you think about it, what happens to folks who do not have a loved one like you to look out for them, do they choke??? I have spent some real time in hospitals as well looking out for a loved one can be alot of owkr at times, it is when I am arguing with docs., then I get really scared. they are suppose to be trained. Good looking out for your Grandma, she is lucky you are there for her. So don't feel like you are alone, their are many a caretaker, who can only hope they catch the mistakes.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
YEs, we are there taking care of grandma alongside everyone else but it helps if we all are on the same page :)
It scares me a bit to notice this, because chances are everyone will be in a hospital at one time or other and when there's no one there for you and things like this happen... not very nice.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Wow, I can sure understand your frustration.
I can see a slip up once in a while, but for the order to be there and not be acknowledge for that many meals is nothing but negligence.
What would happen if they were as lax with dispensing medication? Or if someone had a particular food allergy?
Yikes!
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
thank you, my friend, but I feel bad because you certainly don't deserve it.
In any case, regarding your comment that mistakes could be done with the medication as well, did come to mind. I know that they double check, but weren't they supposed to double check the food too? ANd a food allergy, yes, can you imagine?
Some things we really have to pay a lot of attention. But they are supposed to do the same.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Mar 08
No big deal to me, sweetie. I'm sure not going to lose any sleep over it, and I promise I have no intention of holding it against you.
2 people like this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Sadly, that's the way of a lot of things today. Few people have a good work ethic anymore, and the rest of us pay for it in one way or another.
Please don't sweat about the negative mark. I'm not in the least bit concerned.
1 person likes this
