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nurse's aide held mother down while nurse took blood.

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Posted 7/19/2010 1:03 AM (GMT 0)

Dear SnowyLynne,

This is what has me upset.   The nurse told me they only had one size needle.   I don't even know what size it was. The nursing home contracts a company to do the bloodwork and it  doesn't make sense that the nurse they send to the nursing home would only have one size needle and no fine needle or butterfly needle for people like mother who have collapsible veins. 

I want  to find out why this company only has one size needle for bloodwork because mother went through a lot of painful blood tests for a year and this could have been avoided.   cry

Thanks Snowy,

Wiggyann

sad

Posted 7/22/2010 10:31 AM (GMT 0)
Dear SnowyLynne,

When I mentioned to the nurse that mother needed a thin needed (as she has always had small collapsible veins) She said they only had the one size. I recently
contacted the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance and they
gave me the number of an omsbudsman. I had never hear the term before, but they are advocates for elderly people. The one in our area is a lady and yesterday she went to the nursing home and talked to one of the (two)
nurse practitioners there who had no idea what had happened. Their bloodwork is done by an outside company and the nurse told her she was going to check into it. Then, the nurse phoned me but I was not at home
so I am going to call her back tomorrow.

Thank you,
Wiggyann
Posted 8/19/2010 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
my mom was the same as yours
i also hv very tiny veins n its NOT true that they would only have one size ..fits all..
unless the person taking blood did not replenish her supplies in which case it is neglect on her/ part
im happy you got ahold of the Ombudsman we have a great system here in ontario with that office n it will do a complete n total investigation of this
NO ONE needs to suffer in order to give blood
plz keep us posted
Posted 8/30/2010 8:10 AM (GMT 0)
Update on Mother :-)

After the omsbudsman visitied the nursing home, the director of nurses made an appointment for me to
come in and talk to her about mother. Basically, this is what she told me. The lab technician will always
use a butterfly needle on mother from now on and and a nurse always has to be in the room with the lab technician when she is drawing mother's blood. Mother's hands are back to their normal color and I can only see a tiny stick mark once in a while or a small bruise.

The director of nurses ask, why I didn't talk to the administrator of the nursing home who I have heard is a very nice man. And perhaps I should have instead of having the omsbudsman intercede . I have thought about this since and wondered if the outcome would have been the same.

A special thank you to everyone on the forum who offered advice, shared and expressed compassion
for mother's situation :-)


Wiggyann
Posted 8/30/2010 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
That is so great to hear Wiggyann! :)
Posted 6/16/2011 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
unfortunately they have to do things like this. my grandmother in law has to be held down to have a haircut... hence she hasn't had one in years and is looking quite rough, as well as refusing to go to the dentist so she's missing front teeth.

it's just the way it is.

if she didn't get medical treatment, families would be just as upset as if they have to be held down to have the treatment. unfortunately like many things with dementia, it's a lose lose situation
Posted 6/23/2011 9:05 AM (GMT 0)
wiggyann,

any one in health care field knows that they can not hold a patient ESPICALLY AN ALZHEIMERS one down. UNLESS it is life threatining. what they did to your mom or any family memeber is WRONG no matter what the reason is for. and if they can not get it on the 3rd try it is consider abuse. always go by your gut instincts. you are welcome to speak to the manager/supervisor on what happens to your family member. If that does not work get a lawyer. it is called ABUSE and write all the things that you see and hear. take pictures in front of them if you have to and don't be afraid and if they ask you why you are taking pictures let them now what you are doing. please take matters in to your own hands it is the right thing to do. and never let any one ABUSE your mother espically an alzheimers patient. I have worked with them for a long time and I do not and will not let that happen to my patients not for one minute. you can also get a patient advocate.
Posted 6/23/2011 9:08 AM (GMT 0)
i have read the rest of your story and it sound better. please keep on watching your mom like you have you never now when they can change.
Posted 8/25/2011 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
As a former nursing home nurse I have to wonder why the nursing home doesn't perform her coumadin test (PT/INR) using the fingerstick test? These are very similar to the test done for blood sugars for a diabetic. That is what we used at the facility I worked at for 4 years. Ask them if they would consider purchasing this test monitor for use on your mother. Once the dosage levels are worked out, testing so often is not necessary, also...something to discuss with the facility's doctor. Try to be there when the doc is there and discuss your concerns with the doc directly. If the facility has a protocol that requires twice a week testing for coumadin, ask for an exception to the protocol when her dosage levels normalize and remain steady for a period of time. Just some thoughts. Glad there is some improvement, and I hope you can find peace.
Posted 9/3/2012 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
just refuse.  If you don't want the treatment you can refuse it regardless.  I will never have 90% of the so-called treatments that are "required".  As long as you are capable or have an advance directive, they cannot force you to have anything done, if they do, just report them to the medical council and take them to court for battery.
Posted 9/4/2012 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Please keep in mind that this post is 2 years old and Wiggy Ann may not come on HW anymore.
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