Momma Fran: Speak up your life and Health depend on it!!

Marqus had to advocate today for himself. He was assumed to be drug seeking because the anatomy and physiology of osteonecrosis was overlooked. Years ago one of my nursing instructors told us to NEVER assume!! There is no place in our line of work for this mentality. Ill placed judgements and Assumptions can be deadly. The pt should not have to fear their care will be affected by what the nurse thinks of them. Like it or not patient character judgements Do affect the quality of care. His sister was on the phone thank goodness. I was getting in my car. This day brought him to tears he's battle weary BUT not broken. He composed his self and spoke his mind. I composed myself calmed my rage after almost losing him 2 weeks ago and said Marqus dial Zero on your hospital phone and call the head nurse. His sister was on the phone from DC. The last time this happened was many years ago a nurse sat by his bed and told him "you won't be getting anymore pain meds on my shift". Wow here we go again folks like this make it harder for the professionals to actually do their jobs. Osteonecrosis is painful causes bone edema and inflammation. Like Marqus said Do you honestly think I wanted to spend my 32nd birthday in the hospital????By the way Marqus walked on a dead knee for 4 years while we fought for an allograft. He pushed his knee cap back in place!!! Let me review. Events from 7/12 forward. Massive sickle crises. Acute chest. Fever. Sepsis. ICU. BiPAP. Neb treatment with PEEP. Blood cultures MRI. WBC Scan fentanyl PCA. 5 units of blood 7-8 specialists Numerous Excellent nurses multiple tests etc. and the question of drug seeking REALLY? This aggravates me as much as the time I was accused of Munchausens Syndrome by Proxy!!!! The good does outweigh the bad BUT all it takes is one assumption to miss the critical symptoms that can possibly lead to a persons death. When he was small he would not say a word until I got to the hospital. If he felt no one cared he was silent. Don't do that!!! Speak up your life and Health depend on it !!!!!