(light hurried music) - Hi, I'm April Walker. I'm a house supervisor here at EIRMC. I've been a nurse for 18 years.
Probably like you, I've heard it all, seen it all, done it all. Being a nurse a long time, my words and actions don't always come across as intended. That's what this video is all about, part of the Patient Experience Initiative, say this not, not that, project.
You'll watch our patient and their family members hear our words and our tone and see our body language and actions. And sometimes in ways we probably aren't proud of. We filmed in certain areas of the hospital and used employees that volunteered to help with this project.
The actions and words portrayed represent all departments and all job functions. - What are you here for? - My wife's been having abdominal pain and been throwing up.
- What's her name? - Susie Smith. - [Receptionist] Do you have any insurance?
- Yes. - Well, if you just wanna have a seat, they'll get to ya. - Thanks.
- [Receptionist] How can I help you today? - My wife's been having some abdominal pain and throwing up. - Sorry to hear that.
What's your name? - Susie Smith. (typing) - Do you have an insurance card and a driver's license I can get from ya?
- [Husband] Sure. - And process that through. (phone rings) Thank you so much.
And you can go and have a seat and they should be right with you. Is there anything else I can get you? I have an Emesis bag here, it would help.
Yeah. - We'll do that. - [Receptionist] There you are.
- Thanks. - [Receptionist] You bet. (typing) - Woops, this one's still dirty.
Looks like we forgot to clean that one. Let's find a different one. (Susie sighs) Oh, I'm sorry, this room's not ready.
We have another room just down the hall. So what's your problem today? - My stomach has been hurting a lot.
I've been throwing up all day, I can't keep anything down. (machine beeps) - Do you take any pain medications? - I take two Lortab four to six times a day for back pain, but it doesn't seem to be helping my stomach at all.
- Do you really take that much? (machine beeps) All right, so the doctor's ordered a CAT scan and some labs and labs really take a long time, so you're gonna be here for awhile. - Can I have some water?
- No, you can't have anything to eat or drink, you're NPO. (Susie sighs) (machine beeps) Hello, my name's Jim. I'm gonna be your emergency room nurse today.
What do you prefer to be called? - Susie. - All right, Susie, I understand you're having abdominal pain today?
- Yeah, it's been hurting since this morning. I've been throwing up all day, I can't keep anything down. - I'm sorry to hear that.
Do you take any medications at home, including pain medication? - I take two Lortab every four to six hours for back pain, but it doesn't seem to be helping my stomach at all. - Okay, let me confirm this.
So you take Lortabs, two, every four to six hours as you need that for back pain. Okay, I also see on here where the physician has ordered a CAT scan and some lab work based on your symptoms. So somebody from lab will be in to draw your blood and a transporter will be over to take you over to CAT scan.
- Can I have some water? - Right now based on your abdominal pain and we need more information, so we don't want you to eat or drink anything on the offside chance that you may have to have a procedure. If you were to eat or drink, it could delay your care.
So I'm going to give you a call light. Excuse me, sir. If you need anything at all, just be sure to hit your call light and we'll come in.
Okay? - Okay. - [Female] Hey, did you see who's in room 25?
- [Nurse] No, who? - [Female] Crazy Annie's back. - Again?
I'm so sick and tired of taking care of her, seems I'm the only one that can handle her mood swings. So every time it comes up, oh, they call me. I wish someone would step up every once in a while.
- [Female] I heard the funniest thing about Annie the other day. - [Nurse] Oh, really? I'm ready for something juicy.
- [Female] Hey, I just saw who was in room 25. I'm taking care of that room today, but I know you and her have had a connection in the past, would you mind taking care of her and I'll watch over one of your other patients? - No, that will be fine.
I'll be happy to. But first, let me tell you about the funniest thing that happened the other day. - [Female] Hey, hold that thought.
I wanna hear what you have to say, but let's talk about it at lunch. - Okay, that sounds good to me. - Hi, hun, I'm your transporter.
- Transport? - Are you Susie? - Yeah, I'm Susie Smith.
- Good. - Oh, oh, is this for the CT scan? - Yes, this is for CT.
- Oh, do you know will the CT scan hurt? - I don't know, hun, but I'm just here to push you around, okay? - Oh.
You don't know what they do there? - Hi, I'm Carolyn, I'm here to take you down to CT. And your full name?
- Susie Smith. - Great, I'll help you in the chair. - Do you know what is going to happen?
- You're having abdominal pains, so you're going to take you a CT scan. - Oh, that's right, they said that this would need to happen. That's right, I remember.
- [Female] Sir, we're all done with the scan now. You can go and be with your wife. - This looks really bad.
- [Female] That does look bad. I need to go tell Dr White. Sir, we're all done with the scan now.
You can go and be with your wife. - This image looks really fuzzy. - [Female] That does look fuzzy.
Let me see if Dr White wants us to repeat this. - Well, looks like you're getting admitted. You're gonna have to wait here until a room's ready.
They're really busy upstairs and all the rooms are dirty. So as soon as something's available, they'll come and get ya. - Where am I going?
- I'm not sure. - Well, Susie, the doctors would like to admit you to the hospital to get you better before going home. We're going to be placing you on the fourth floor where we have great nurses and doctors to take care of you.
A transporter in tan scrubs will be here within about 30 minutes to take ya upstairs. Do you have any questions? - I did have one question, I was just wondering about the results?
- All the transporters are busy, I guess I'm gonna have to take ya upstairs. - [Female] Oh my gosh, and did you hear about the movie yesterday? - Oh, yeah, I saw it.
Oh my gosh, it was crazy. (laughing) - Oh my gosh. - [Brunette Female] Oh good grief, I'm not gonna do that again.
- Hey, how was your weekend? - Okay, it was way too short. I was hoping to get some time off, but I don't think that's gonna happen.
- I know what you mean, that's the way it is around this place. They never think of our needs. - Another day in paradise.
Hope the elevators are working today. - Hey, Susie, all the transporters are busy, so I get the pleasure of taking you upstairs. - [Female Brunette] Oh my gosh, did you.
. . - [Female] Good morning.
- Hi, good morning. - Hey, how was your weekend? - It was good, I got to spend some time with my family.
Hi there, you're in good hands with my friend Jim here, he's the best nurse we've got. - Seems like you have a good team here. - Thanks, take care.
- Hey. Don't put her all the way down there, the nurses don't wanna walk that far. Why don't we put her in room 410.
(Jim sighs) - Can't believe they can't pick a room. - Hey, Jim, there is a room that just opened up down the hall that's right by the nurses' station, why don't we put her in there? That way it'll be easier for her family to get to her and we can keep a better eye on you.
- Okay, we're on our way. Okay. (Susie sighs) Good luck.
Okay, Susie, we've arrived at your room. May I help you get into bed? - [Susie] Thank you.
- Hi, Susie, my name's Tiffany. I'm gonna be your nurse tonight. - Thank you.
- Is it okay if I call you Susie? - [Susie] Yeah, that's great. - I'm gonna give you your call light and if you need a staff member or one of the nurses, just hit the red button, okay?
- Okay. (sighs) - And there's also a call light on your bed, okay? - Thank you.
Thanks. - We're gonna talk about report right here with you so we don't miss anything and you can be included in the conversation. Is that okay?
- Yeah, that's fine. - This is Susie, she's. .
. - Oh, hi Susie. I got here as soon as I could.
The parking lot was completely full, I drove around for minutes just trying to find a place to park. I finally wound up parking across the street. Traffic was pretty bad, I almost got hit.
- [Susie] I'm so sorry. - Oh, I know. - [Susie] Thanks for coming.
- Hey. - Oh, hey girl, how are ya? - I'm good, how are you?
- I have your Girl Scout cookies downstairs in my car. - Oh, you do? I can get them tonight after work.
- You know what, we can go right after this. I'm parked right down in the front row, don't tell Doug. - (chuckles) okay.
Hey, I'm the dietician. I'm here to see how the food is. - Well, I'm really hungry, but this is terrible.
- You know I'm really sorry, this is the cardiac diet you're on and it's just not very flavorful, I'm sorry about that. - The cardiac diet, are you sure for me? - What I've heard is that they couldn't read the doctor's order very well, so this is kinda what you got stuck with.
So, I'm sorry. Is there anything else I can do? - No.
- All right, thanks. - Oh, hi Susie. - Hi, mom.
- I got here as soon as I could. - Thanks for coming. - They have this great shuttle service, it dropped me right off at the front door.
- I'm so glad, thanks for coming. - Oh, yes. (knocking) - Knock knock.
Hi, Susie, my name's Lindsay, I'm the dietician. I'm here to see how your food's been. - Well, I'm really hungry, but this is terrible.
- You know, you're on a cardiac diet designed to be low sodium for your current condition. So that's why it tastes a little bit different, but we add the Mr. Dash in order to make it a little bit more flavorful for ya.
- The cardiac diet, are you sure? - You know, actually I'm not 100% positive. Id be happy to go check the doctor's orders for ya and come back and let you know what I find.
- That'd be great. - Okay, is there anything else I can do for you? - No, thank you.
- All right, thanks. - Hey Lindsay, when you get a minute can you give me a call? - Yeah, sure, I'd love to.
- Hi, Susie, I just spoke with your doctor and he's gonna be up in just a minute. He's gonna review your test results, answer any questions you might have. - [Susie] Okay, that's, whoa.
(chuckling) - That's just one of our therapists. You know, when you're in the hospital you never know how little your insurance or your gown might cover. Hey, Susie, I just talked to your doctor on the phone and he's gonna be on his way up here to talk to you.
He'll answer any questions, review your labs and your tests with you. Oh, that's just one of our therapists. We have a variety of staff members here to help assist with patient needs.
- I can't believe Dr White, he treats the staff like crap, he's such a jerk. - He is, I don't wanna call him right now. - [Female] Neither do I.
- Yeah. - Excuse me? - Yes?
- [Husband] My wife, she's in a lot of pain and she needs some medication. - Okay, what's the room number? - Room 410.
- 410. All right, well I'm not the nurse for that patient, but I'll find her for you and we'll get her right down there. - Okay.
- I can't believe he said that, though. I don't wanna call him. Okay, looks like the labs we need is a CBC, PT, PTT, CHEM-7.
- Excuse me. - [Female] Yes, how can I help you? - [Husband] My wife, she's in a lot of pain and she needs her medicine.
- Okay, can I get her name and the room number? - Her name's Susie Smith and it's room 410. - 410.
All right, it looks like Tiffany is taking care of Susie today. I'll talk to her and see when her last pain medication is and we'll be right down for ya. - Thank you much.
- You're welcome. (cup clinks) - Oh. - I can get that.
- Thank you. We should really let you get some rest. - [Susie] Okay, thank you.
- Why don't we go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee. - Okay. - See ya.
- See you. - Bye. - [Susie] Thank you.
- [Husband] Pardon me. - Excuse me. - [Susie] Thanks mom for being here.
- Oh. - Uh-oh. - I can get that.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm. - We should really let you get some rest.
- [Susie] Thank you. - Yes, why don't we run down to the cafeteria and get some coffee and let her sleep? - Okay.
- All right, thank you. - See you later. - [Susie] I'll see you in a bit.
Thank you. - Buh-bye. - If you need any assistance, call housekeeping.
- Thank you. - Thank you. - You're welcome.
- I think we're lost. - Excuse me, could you tell us how to get to the cafeteria? - Just follow these black dots and it'll take you there.
- Thanks. - How long do you think Susie's going to be here? - I hope not for very long.
- Oh, no kidding. - [Female] Can I help you find something? - Yes, we're looking for the cafeteria.
- Sure, it's this way, I'll take ya. - Thank you. - Thank you.
- Hey, Jamie, I'm going there anyway. I can show them where it's at. - [Jamie] Okay, thanks.
- Thank you. - Follow me this way. - How long do you think Susie's going to be here?
- I talked to her doctor this morning, he said it'll probably just be a few days. - [Mother] Oh, that's such good news. - After taking part in this video, I recognize my missteps, especially the unintentional ones.
The point of this video is that interactions have impact, your interactions. The interactions can come across as compassionate, kind, and caring, or mistrust, confusion, and anger. We thank you for watching this video.
