Some Advice for Pre-Ops ... Interview your nurses
So, I am a little over a week out from surgery. Everything went well thanks to the great care of the nurses at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville Tennesse. I gave some thought to the importance of nurses once I got home. When I was in the hospital I spent maybe 15 minutes per day with my surgeon when he came to check on me.
Guess who watched over me the other 23 hrs 45 minutes???
THE NURSES!
You know the nurses are always the ones who do all the work and the doctor gets paid all the money whether it's the dentist, your pcp, or the surgeon. We spend a lot of time when we research wls concentrating on the surgeon, but I advise checking out the nurses and the hospital facilities you choose too.
I took time out before my surgery to visit the hospital and meet some of the nurses, and I took self guided tour the hospital. It was comforting to recognize a few of them after surgery. Here are some things you may want to address before your surgery:
1. Does the hospital offer a tour of the hospital, rooms, cafeteria, etc. If not seek out these places on your own. It is a public place and you don't have to feel like you're snooping. Just keep out of restricted areas. If you can, go check out where you will park, where you'll check in for admissions, where your family can get a snack, etc. You need as little as possible to worry about on surgery morning. It may be early in the morning. It was 6:00 am for me. Others must check in at 4:00 or 5:00 am. That pre-surgery visit made surgery morning run smoothly.
2. Ask if you can peep into an empty patient room? Is it clean and modern? Is there a chair for guests? Is there a cot or a recliner for overnight guests? Are the rooms private or shared? Can you pay extra for a private room? Your insurance may only cover a semi-private room, but you may be able to upgrade to private for as little as $24-30 per day. WELL WORTH THE $$$
Seeing the room before surgery will make it less traumatic to wake up there after the recovery room. It will be a little familliar to you. It may also help you get over some pre-surgrey jitters.
3. Will your room be in a bariatric only unit? Are the beds, chairs, showers, gowns ample sized?
4. How much experience do the nurses have with wls patients? Have any of them had wls themselves?
5. Are the nurses friendly and receptive to your questions? They are busy, so don't expect them to sit down ad have coffee with you for 15 minutes, but are they at least cordial and willing to answer your questions?
6. Are the nurses working or sitting around chatting and having coffee, talking on cell phones, etc? If they are not busy, that means they have patients in the rooms not being attended too! You are going to be one of those patients!
7. How many patients is each nurse responsible for? My nurses had 4 patients each on their shift. I NEVER had to wait more than a couple of minutes when I called for help. If they are overloaded with patients they can't get to you. They are also likely to be tired and overworked.
8. Ask do you like working with wls patients? People are more honest than you give them credit for. If they like what they do, they'll do it better.
9. Did your nurses have any special training for working with wls patients? If so, they will be more comfortable moving a larger patient. They will know what warning signs to look for if you develop complications, and they will know what your dietary needs are. I have heard of people being brought all kinds of things from carbonated beverages, to sugared drinks, to solid foods. A good bariatric nurse will know what's protocol.
10. How well do the nurses work with your surgeon? What is their opinion of your surgeon's skills? This is an opportunity for you get the inside scoop of your surgeon. You'll also get an idea if he has a good working relationship with the nurses. The nurse will be your advocate, communicator, and go between with the surgeon. if they work well together, it will be to your benefit.
I hope this causes you to pause and think of your surgery from a different perspective. Never underestimate the importance of a good nurse!
Guess who watched over me the other 23 hrs 45 minutes???
THE NURSES!
You know the nurses are always the ones who do all the work and the doctor gets paid all the money whether it's the dentist, your pcp, or the surgeon. We spend a lot of time when we research wls concentrating on the surgeon, but I advise checking out the nurses and the hospital facilities you choose too.
I took time out before my surgery to visit the hospital and meet some of the nurses, and I took self guided tour the hospital. It was comforting to recognize a few of them after surgery. Here are some things you may want to address before your surgery:
1. Does the hospital offer a tour of the hospital, rooms, cafeteria, etc. If not seek out these places on your own. It is a public place and you don't have to feel like you're snooping. Just keep out of restricted areas. If you can, go check out where you will park, where you'll check in for admissions, where your family can get a snack, etc. You need as little as possible to worry about on surgery morning. It may be early in the morning. It was 6:00 am for me. Others must check in at 4:00 or 5:00 am. That pre-surgery visit made surgery morning run smoothly.
2. Ask if you can peep into an empty patient room? Is it clean and modern? Is there a chair for guests? Is there a cot or a recliner for overnight guests? Are the rooms private or shared? Can you pay extra for a private room? Your insurance may only cover a semi-private room, but you may be able to upgrade to private for as little as $24-30 per day. WELL WORTH THE $$$
Seeing the room before surgery will make it less traumatic to wake up there after the recovery room. It will be a little familliar to you. It may also help you get over some pre-surgrey jitters.
3. Will your room be in a bariatric only unit? Are the beds, chairs, showers, gowns ample sized?
4. How much experience do the nurses have with wls patients? Have any of them had wls themselves?
5. Are the nurses friendly and receptive to your questions? They are busy, so don't expect them to sit down ad have coffee with you for 15 minutes, but are they at least cordial and willing to answer your questions?
6. Are the nurses working or sitting around chatting and having coffee, talking on cell phones, etc? If they are not busy, that means they have patients in the rooms not being attended too! You are going to be one of those patients!
7. How many patients is each nurse responsible for? My nurses had 4 patients each on their shift. I NEVER had to wait more than a couple of minutes when I called for help. If they are overloaded with patients they can't get to you. They are also likely to be tired and overworked.
8. Ask do you like working with wls patients? People are more honest than you give them credit for. If they like what they do, they'll do it better.
9. Did your nurses have any special training for working with wls patients? If so, they will be more comfortable moving a larger patient. They will know what warning signs to look for if you develop complications, and they will know what your dietary needs are. I have heard of people being brought all kinds of things from carbonated beverages, to sugared drinks, to solid foods. A good bariatric nurse will know what's protocol.
10. How well do the nurses work with your surgeon? What is their opinion of your surgeon's skills? This is an opportunity for you get the inside scoop of your surgeon. You'll also get an idea if he has a good working relationship with the nurses. The nurse will be your advocate, communicator, and go between with the surgeon. if they work well together, it will be to your benefit.
I hope this causes you to pause and think of your surgery from a different perspective. Never underestimate the importance of a good nurse!
From family and friends who are nurses to nurses that have given me excellent care, and some that just didn't give a damn, I know their value. A good nurse is a hospitals most valuable human resource. Its the nurse, not the doctor that looks after you hour by hour.
MSW Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass: Eat sensibly & enjoy moderation
Links: Are you a compulsive eater? for help OA meets on-line Keep Coming Back, One Day At a Time Overeaters Anonymous
L
V'N MY RNY. WORKING FOR ME BECAUSE I WORK FOR IT.
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