Quote:
Originally Posted by rn1tv
I couldn't agree with you more regarding communication between triage and the ED. I am a retired RN. My husband presented to the ED with altered mental status and loss of strength to the point he could not stand. We waited in the ED for 5 hours and finally found my husband had a large brain bleed that had caused his brain to shift from midline. He was taken to surgery for a craniotomy and, I thank God for his surgeon, he is doing fine. Dr. told me he could have had brain damage or death if not caught when it was. What upset me the most was the triage nurse was putting flu patients (who had spent several hours laughing, chatting, and texting) before my husband. My husband would have waited longer had I not intervened.
I believe they are understaffed and those that work there a pushed to the max. Once management stops focusing on the almighty dollar and their bonus checks, maybe we will get decent healthcare.  |
Not that I doubt you but I have a question:
Are you saying that you presented to the Villages ER with altered mental status and your husband was NOT given a CT scan? I work in the neuro unit (RN) and our policy is to have a CT done within the first hour of arrival in the ER for any neuro symptoms. If you provide the patient's name and date this happened in a PM to me I can investigate why this happened and push it up the line for you. We strive for proper stroke care protocol.