Ok..so this past week I ended up taking my husband to the emergency, AGAIN, for the three hundreth time. It is not three hundred, but it sure feels like it. He had the worst case of dizziness that I have ever seen. He vomited so much I wondered if his stomach would come up too. The poor guy. Within this trip, we ended up at the local county hospital. The emergency room is not my favorite place and would rather have the choice to be seen at an urgent care, but beggars can not be choosers. We are very fortunate to be poor and to be allowed to be given Medicare, as we do not plan to be "lifers" and we will use this is accordingly to its purpose.
I parked as close to the ER entrance as possible for my husband. I saw wheel chairs lined up and took one for my husband. Getting him in the chair was the easy part, having him seen by a physician was the extremely difficult part.
We were finally called back to be seen by a physician assistant. She sat down with him and asked him what was the problem. He told her his issues, right away she told him without looking in his ears, without touching him, she diagnosed him with vertigo. She then proceeded to tell us that there was nothing we could do for Benign proximal positional vertigo. We were told we had to wait it out. We then proceeded to the nurses station.
I am a first semester nursing student, so I am new to the whole "assume role as nurse". These people have passed the boards, these people have gone to school. They have done what I am doing currently. All these nurses just passed meds to my husband. When they were doing the "assessment" it was a poor excuse of an assessment. NO ONE LOOKED IN MY HUSBANDS EARS! Three sentences and health assessment done. My husband had already vomited four times after given meclizine and some other anti nausea mediation. He was not able to hold water in, and giving him pills orally was the best? Give me a break. Finally, a male nurse took my husband to an open room, looked at him asked how many times he vomited, and said, "I think we ought to give you a shot." In my head, "You think?" I had already stood my ground with the charge nurse who asked me repeatedly to leave and wait outside. HA! And leave my husband in your "care", I don't think so lady.
5 hours later
The physician assistant comes in the room, and does what is called the Dix-Hall Pike Maneuver. She just wanted to make sure that it was vertigo. She confirms her diagnosis. She then tells us there is nothing we can do. We get prescriptions and are sent on our way to discharge.
After discharge, I did research on youtube. There are a few maneuvers to deal with vertigo, and I would have liked this literature upon discharge from the hospital. I know how to do them now and will make sure that patients that I am going to have in my care if diagnosed with BPPV do the maneuvers and do it properly.
This story, what does it have to do with Escape Fire? We were not the only people being seen in the ER at county hospital. There were a lot of people in there, who did not need to be there. Children with MILD cases of the flu, and the parents most likely were not aware of how to deal with it. These children were also the translators for their parents. There were a few broken bones, diabetes, and pregnant women.
Now, I understand that there are nurse to patient ratios, but what I know now is how many patients need to be seen to meet a quota for monetary gain. Money makes the world go round, but care is diminishing and the general public is suffering. Since my husband and I did not receive any information about vertigo, I wonder who else is not getting the proper information as well.
Escape Fire, was about educating people. Educating these people who have certain diseases that in the course of managing the disease lifestyle changes need to be made. Diabetics need to eat certain foods, be aware of blood glucose levels, and keep their body weight in check. (upon other things as well.)
I also liked that it was strictly informational and there was no political side that was taken. Factual information is best, even when CNN is a highly liberal media channel.
Acupuncture is one amazing amenity that people do not use enough. My husband got into see one and there has been so many changes already. He also struggles with anxiety.My husband was able to relate to the Marine that was shown. His dramatic change over the period of the episode was stunning. I know that there was a very intense and serious struggle with seeing death. His overall health improved. I love seeing that. God created the human body so intricately that, when allowed, can do amazing things.
I know that I have written a lot, but I feel as though I am going in the right direction as a future health care provider. I know how I want to treat my future clients/patients. Let's get the ball rolling for some better health care and overall quality of life!
