Riverside Community Hospital Hospital
The good: The staff was mostly positive and kind, the day nurses were helpful, cooperative and sensitive to my needs and allowing of my mother-in-law to stay with me for 48+ hours. There was one CNA by the name of Jackie (sp?) who was the most wonderful nurse I have ever had. On my first night post-op she was in there at least every 2 hours, if I called or not, to turn me. She knew how to make me comfortable, how to turn me without hurting me, how to position the pillows on my back side as well as to support my stomach. She knew how to tell me to move my legs up when I coughed so it didn't hurt so much, she knew how to tell me to start with short breaths when I was breathing to stop the spasms then I was able to breathe deeper. I can't say enough about this CNA. I will be writing a letter of accomidation to her supervisors. She should be a teacher for the other CNA's on patient comfort and post-op care. The bad: no help with the bed baths, on my first day post-op the aide got me water and washed my back, I was left to finish, needless to say my legs and feet just got left out. When I removed my dirty patient gown, the J-P pump was pinned to my gown and I could have pulled it out had I not bumped it during the process. On my second day another nurse set up the water and left me to do it alone. By the third day I was into the bathroom and was able to do it alone, but the first two days I should have had more help. What ever happened to the good old fashioned bed baths? A night nurse and I got into some kind of a tit for tat. I dont' know what started it, but the nurse should have backed down. I was the patient. On my second night no one came in to turn me. I had coughing spasims, possibly from being left in one position. (the coughing was resolved when the dr the next day ordered some breathing treatments for me. On the third night I asked the aide to position me on my side and she couldn't get me comfrotable for the life of her, she really tried, she just didn't know how. I am an RN and they say we are the worst patients. On my last night I had an aide who was very postive and she asked "aren't you the RN?" so I know I had the reputation of a demanding patinet. Oh well, go figure, being a post-op patient is no walk in the park. All in all I would give RCH an average. I know about staff shortages and heavy patient loads. The daytime RN's were professional, quick to answer and helpful.
It was really a wonderful experience, as this was my 3rd stay there. Each time I have been at RCH, it has been a really positive experience, no complaints. I do kind of wish that I could have had my own room, but even having roommates was OK (I had 3 of them during my stay...) At least I didn't have a possessed roomie, like one of the other Jan 7th Dr. S's patients did! However, she DID get her own room, thanks to the psycho roomie she had the first day and night! LOL
I'm not sure if they are understaffed there or if they just don't care, but the nurses were never around for me. I sat in my room and watched the room across the hall, where there were 2 patients, and there were 4 nurses/staff in there at a time. I was lucky to get ONE person in my room. They didn't come to walk me, were terrible about even getting TO me after buzzing them. I'd never recommend this hospital to anyone!
I would asked that the hospital enforce a visiting policy. When I attemted to go for a wlk the first time a child about three was pushing a stlooer down the hall right into me, the mother just watched. Visitors were in my room with another patient until after midnight and adjusted the thermostat for ther comfort. I would request the administrator take a walk thru there facilities after hours to see how out of controll things are.