Guthrie Lourdes Hospital - Emergency
Meagan DeJong I would offer more stars, but unfortunately, one nurse made our ER visit not just unpleasant but to say that she was frighteningly uninformed is an understatement. Our son was experiencing some side effects from a recent vaccine and out of an abundance of caution, we took him to the ER to be checked, as any parent would. Front desk receptionist, great; woman who took his vitals, okay but not really pleasant and definitely not a great bedside manner or any manners, period. Same with the phlebotomist who literally didnt say one word to any of us. I have medical professionals and nurses in my own family and I know that kindness is free and really helps people who are in a position of worry that are visiting an ER. Wouldnt hurt to ask "how are you doing tonight?" or ask my son if he plays a sport or ANYthing to just be very basically congenial.
But thats minor compared to one of the RNs that was on duty. Unfortunately, we did not get her name (although Im sure its on record for that shift at 3am), but she came in to the room, asked about symptoms and said "now theyre treating Covid with Vitamin C" and that she "wasnt sure what the doctor would do since this is self-inflicted." WOW. How is this woman a nurse??? Not only is that just outright misinformation, but to say that getting a vaccine makes any symptom "self-inflicted" is just nuts, cruel, and WRONG. She should be ashamed of herself telling any parent such a thing. Its something Ill be following up about because it was just so shockingly ignorant. Later in the visit she ignored us and gave our 13 year old son discharge paperwork to review and sign instead of speaking with us or having us--the parent/guardian--sign as we were supposed to. Poor excuse for a nurse, and clearly scarily uneducated but operating as if shes a doctor, telling patients incorrect information that could do real harm.
The other nurse, Karen, was fantastic. Kind, a calming presence, reassuring (just as the doctor was) that we did the right thing in bringing him. I told her what the other nurse said and she seemed to also feel, rightfully, that it was ridiculous and said not to pay attention. She joked around with our son, and made us feel at ease, while offering information. Polar opposite of the other "nurse." We made sure to thank her as we left. Its not easy to be a nurse, not easy to work that shift, but the right people go into it for the right reasons, and shes proof of that. She could have had the same attitude and ignorance as the other nurse, but she chose to prioritize the patients needs rather than her own (wrong) opinions.
The doctor (Valletta) was also good. Very brief, as ER drs can sometimes be given that theyre often dealing with critical emergencies, but again told us that we did the right thing, reviewed our family history, and did some additional testing to be sure our son was okay. I sincerely appreciated that. An EKG was performed by a gentleman named Cody, who was also sincerely kind and overall great. We had to rely on terrible nurse to give the EKG to the Dr so I hope he actually saw it--I dont trust her judgement at all and will be following up about that, too.
Fatigue among medical professionals is a real thing. I get it. I have family that are nurses, receptionists, do medical billing and coding, and one who is a neurologist, all in different settings. I have the utmost empathy for what it is that they do, day in and day out, and especially since the start of the ongoing pandemic. I believe they all deserve more--more pay, benefits, time off--for all that they do for all of us. But none of that is the patients fault. When people come into an ER, theyre there because theyre experiencing some type of emergency and need expertise and compassion. Someone should remind that nurse.
Im happy to speak to someone at the hospital to talk about this experience further if thats something they care about hearing. Karen? 5 stars. Cody? Also 5 stars. The doc? 5 stars, too. But wow, that nurse--0 stars would be too generous. Discharge paperwork also incorrect!
