Sunday, August 14, 2022 7:02 PM

Hi. Just got home from a rough 1st day for Larry in the neurology unit.

   A new pic line had been inserted into his neck on the left, for dialysis. ( not using the right side pic any longer). When I arrived the whole area was drenched in blood under the clear tape that covers it, along with the gauze (a 2" x 3" area) Our sis, Mary-Lynn had been there for a while & stated her concern with the nurse. She was told that no one on that unit was qualified to take care of it & a request had been made for a PICC line nurse (peripherally inserted central catheter). The nurse said there was no new blood. It had been 3.5 hrs when we 'urged' her to call again. It was soon taken care of.

  The room Larry is in, is tucked around a corner, away from the nursing station. I was alone with him, when he began projectile vomiting, while coughing at the same time. I ran into the hallway and yelled "Nurse!" I saw no one, and ran further, calling Larry's nurse. He was still throwing up when we got to his room, and she asked me to go get a basin. There was only one person (not a nurse) at the station. She got one & I grabbed some towels. The nurse was calling for assistance. I got out of the way & sat in the family room. When I returned, Larry was clean, sitting up and wheezing & coughing, sounding as though he'd inhaled the vomit. (That's what gave him pneumonia 3 weeks ago.)   When the nurse came in, I told her I was not confident with the quality of care he was receiving. She said "This isn't ICU, we don't have one on one!" & other explanations for the challenge of closely monitoring & caring for patients on this unit. I asked to speak to someone in charge. I got the same "This is not ICU! & the way things are in this unit" I said that I was not confident with the care they were able to provide & she kept on explaining. I asked her to stop defending the system & said that Larry would have died, had I not been there to run out & call for help, then call again. I asked her to leave. I was yelling and crying. It was so awful. Thankfully Larry was sleeping. Maybe he heard. The charge nurse came back and told me they were moving Larry to the room across from the nursing station and would keep a close eye. 

 When I got home, I called the social worker who had been so helpful & kind in ICU & she actually answered the phone. It was 7:00. She gave me advice on who to speak to as far as people in charge of the unit as well as how to report patient care concerns. There is no more HAU (High Acuity Unit) as there was at RCH when Larry transitioned out of ICU. He's on the Neuro unit because he's had a stroke, but he has added serious concerns, ie. Dialysis & the persistent chest congestion. 

  There are no guarantees with any hospital, but a shortage of medical team workers and overcrowded hospitals are a recipe for just what we are experiencing this day.  Mary Lynn will call the charge nurse tonight to be Larry's voice, in making sure they do what they said they would to secure the special care that his present state calls for. With her medical background & passion for the best possible patient care, I'm grateful that she's 'on the job' for her big brother.

  I'm going in early in the morning. I pray Larry will have a peaceful & restorative sleep tonight & a much better day tomorrow.

  God bless you. God bless every medical staff member who is doing their best in a horribly challenging time. xoxo