Every time I've been in the hospital
- unfortunately too many times -it's the nurses I see and who do the work,
with the occasional lab tech visiting to do a test or draw blood.
The doctors show up once a day,
doing their rounds.
Don't get me wrong,
I've had some wonderful doctors,
hospital patient visits are only part of the work doctors do.
I remember the good nurses,
the patient nurses who understood why I'd be grouchy,
even angry at times,
and would sit down and talk to me.
I remember the young new nurses,
sometimes struggling with an IV placement but persevering to get the skill they know they need.
Most importantly I remember how every time I'd wake from general anesthesia,
the first face I saw was a nurse letting me know where I was and what's happening.
Yes but there are more nurses than doctors (2.5:1 oecd average, and it's probably higher in hospitals). The doctors are also working long hours and are under pressure. I've been in hospital more times than I'd like too. I remember one time a doctor in a non-english speaking country helped me in ER and then took me downstairs and bought me a sandwich and talked to me for a little while after a panic attack.
The doctors show up once a day, doing their rounds. Don't get me wrong, I've had some wonderful doctors, hospital patient visits are only part of the work doctors do.
I remember the good nurses, the patient nurses who understood why I'd be grouchy, even angry at times, and would sit down and talk to me. I remember the young new nurses, sometimes struggling with an IV placement but persevering to get the skill they know they need.
Most importantly I remember how every time I'd wake from general anesthesia, the first face I saw was a nurse letting me know where I was and what's happening.