On the road nursing

So, I got a text message last week that my sister was on vacation and had chest pain. She was sitting in a hospital in Las Vegas and her kids were in Oklahoma City freaking out. I took the short 1hr flight to be by her side and translate the medical system for her and her husband. She is not the easiest person in the world to please, she has very high standards. Since she had gone by cab to the hospital, she ended up at a low standard small facility just off the strip. (no name, at this time) I had never heard of it before, nor had anyone I know heard of it.
The hospital was small, maybe 5 floors, and not modern in anyway. Unfortunately it was not kept very clean either, much to my sisters horror, she thought hospitals were clean places. Funny how most people think that. She had her ekg and her serial cardiac enzymes which were all negative and she was pain free. She was in the middle of her stress test when I arrived. I walked back up to her room with her. The transporter said he would let the nurse know that she was back,my sister had not yet met her nurse. The "nurse" didn't come in to say hello for an hour and a half. And that's all she did was say hello, no stethoscope, no vital signs, nothing about whether she could eat or drink...just, hi I'm your nurse I'll be back with your pills. About 2 hours later she was back with her pills, no beta blocker though, just aspirin and nitro, and of course Protonix.(wish I had bought stock in that drug company). That was it, didn't see her again. Twice in a twelve hour shift, really...are you kidding me? That is acceptible nursing care?
Then we met the doctor with a chip on his little shoulder. Did not want to hear about letting my sister leave and go back to Oklahoma...granted her stress test was positive for reversible ischemia, but, she's pain free and there's no positive enzymes. He ordered a cardiology consult...ok here's my irritation...it is now 6:30 at night on a Friday in Las Vegas...could we not have called doctor attitude when we got the results and told him so he could ask for a cardiology consult earlier? Frustrating. Not to mention that my sister was not offered so much as a washcloth or a towel (not even one left in the room) let alone to be set up to bathe or change her linens. Plus the fact that one of her telemetry leads was off for over an hour, yeah I put it back on after I helped her get a bath...yeah, no one came in when they were all off either. Thank goodness the night shift charge nurse and nurse were excellent. They came in and introduced themselves and did an assessment and told her about her meds and everything a good nurse should do.(thanks Cheryl and Joy)
We saw the cardiologist by 11am on Saturday, he talked about a cath until we told him she was there on vacation, was pain free and wanted to go home to follow up with her cardiologist there. He said fine, as long as she flew home and didn't drive back...Dr attitude said no, he would not sign her discharge, she has to sign out AMA. What a power play. So, we eloped instead...lots of people don't know it but, you can just walk out without signing the paper.
It was a long ride home with an emotional sister, she hates flying, but we made it safely. She had her echo and her cath and no MI or blockage thank goodness. Probably the rare cardiovascular artery spasms...leave it to my sister to be one in a million.
I came away from the experience with a new view and appreciation for my patients and their families and what they have to go through with our messed up medical system. Minutes literally are hours when you are waiting. Keeping people as informed as possible will keep them happy...most people anyway.
Send me an email before you decide to travel to Las Vegas and I'll tell you the name of the hospital to avoid.
Non noc nocere