Some Nurses

There was a White patient (young lady, maybe in her 20’s or early 30’s) next to me who had surgery on her leg ACL I believe. I didn’t hear properly. Her mother was there with her. The physiotherapist came in and said he’d help her walk. They got her a pair of crutches -mainly for pain as he told her her knee was more stable and able to bear weight.

She was terrified. I am pretty sure moving her leg was already painful in bed. She swore as she got up (and apologised.) As she tried to stand, she started crying from the pain. Nurse who was meant to be removing my catheter called the mom and told her to LEAVE!!!😳She asked her to get out the ward. When the physiotherapist questioned her, she said that patients act up when their parents are there! The poor mom had started walking out till the physio told her she could stay if she wanted.

This nurse (who had already made me angry when she wouldn’t do what the doctor said quickly enough despite him urging her to hurry up) then said to me in isiXhosa that when parents are around, patients become crybabies and whine. I didn’t even know what to say to her.

I’ve been the patient who is in excruciating pain when needing to walk. I’ve been alone. Believe me, I’d rather weep with a supporter there and keep trying, than to weep inside with nobody to cheer me on or encourage me. I was alone in a ward. I felt awful. And I thought I’d collapse with nobody to help me up. If I had a lovely mom like the patient had, I’d have definitely wanted her with me! And you know, it’s not like the patient was refusing to try. 🥹

We need to do better. How dare she chase a mother out? And why was she interfering anyway? When I answered the survey for the hospital, I mentioned her behavior and her name. I’ve had her before whenj went for my de Quervain’s surgery. She’s very brusque. It’s scary that the mom was ready to leave just because she was bossed by this nurse. Who knows what else she’s said or done that made a patient’s suffering worse?

I’ve learnt to advocate not only for myself, but for anybody else who is marginalized. I hope they talk to her and she listens. I hope the patient is feeling better with each passing day.