I had a terrible experience a number of years ago that I want to share in order to make an important point. I don't want my experience to frighten you, so please understand that what happened to me happens very rarely.
Uneasy in the Doctor's Office
I was in need of some corrective surgery for a problem with my chin, and a plastic surgeon was recommended to me. At the time, I was not a nurse, and my trust in medical professionals was solid across the board. It never occurred to me during my younger, naïve years that medical professionals could be anything but perfect. I went to the plastic surgeon, and he examined the problem to see if it could be corrected. When I asked him if he had done the procedure very many times in the past, he bragged that he had a reputation for doing especially good work. There wasn't really anything wrong with what he said, but something inside me felt uneasy. I quickly brushed it off and told him I wanted to go ahead with the surgery.
Like a Bolt of Electricity
The day of the surgery came, and my husband drove me to the outpatient surgical center. I signed a consent after the procedure was explained to me, I was prepped and put on a gurney to await the surgeon. Soon I was rolled into the surgery room, and I was given anesthesia through my IV. In retrospect, I recall there was no anesthesiologist present. There was a nurse assisting the surgeon and no one else. After I was given sedation through the IV, I fell asleep. The surgeon made an incision, and shortly after that the nightmare began.
I remember being aware of what the surgeon was doing. I remember being in great pain. I was unable to open my eyes or move any part of my body, including my lips. I was unable to tell the surgeon, "Wait! I'm not asleep, and this hurts!" At some point, I heard the nurse say, "Doctor, I don't think she is completely under. Do you want to give her some more sedation?" The surgeon said it wasn't necessary and kept working. Then he did something to my chin that made me feel as though a bolt of lightening had struck me in the chin and traveled through my body. The pain was excruciating.
After the Trauma
I don't recall seeing the surgeon again after the paralytic anesthesia wore off, but I did tell the nurse what had happened. She said she could tell I was in pain. A few weeks later I went back to the surgeon's office to have bandages removed. The work he had done on my chin left me with a crooked chin. When I mentioned it to him, he blamed it on my facial structure, though my chin hadn't been crooked before the surgery. He was rough when he examined me, and although he had been only slightly interested in me as a person when I first met him, any small amount of warmth exhibited previously had evaporated. He removed the bandages, told me "Don't do any crazy aerobics," and sent me home.
Evidently this surgeon was suffering from personal problems. Several weeks lately he drove himself to the desert and committed suicide.
The Nurse as Advocate
The nurse who assisted the surgeon tried to get him to address the problem she observed during my surgery. She tried to be my advocate. In that case, there was nothing more she could do at the time. She couldn't leave my side to phone an administrator or complain to anyone higher up the chain of command. I don't know if she filed an incident report later or not. I hope she did, simply because part of her job is to be the advocate for all patients, including future ones she has not yet met. If a nurse is aware of unsafe practices on the part of any medical professional, that nurse needs to do something about it and report the problem to someone in authority.
If you are admitted to a hospital, I encourage you to let your nurse know that you are counting on him or her to be your advocate. Nurses are taught that one of our most important roles is that of patient advocate, and a gentle reminder won't hurt his or her feelings a bit. Sometimes we nurses need to be reminded, especially on crazy busy days. No matter what else is happening, you, the patient, need to come first. Your safety and comfort is our highest priority, and acting as your advocate is an honor and privilege. Please don't hesitate to share concerns with us and allow us to put your mind at ease, and stand up for you when necessary.
If I Could Do it Over Again
I'm wiser now than when I had that surgery years ago. Now I go to the Medical Board of Examiners and look up any doctor I plan to see in order to check for complaints or board action. I also check Health Grades to see what other patients think of the physician. And if I ever have to go to the hospital, I will talk to my nurses and let them know how important their advocacy is to me. I'll let them know I'm counting on them to keep me comfortable and safe and to run interference for me if necessary. Trust me, I know nurses, and fortunately I know we can count on them to be the advocates we need. (But a little reminder won't hurt.)
