Refusing to test for UTI?
My mother was very confused when I saw her four days ago. I had the nurse check her vitals after mom said she didnt feel well. She was found on the floor the next night and dry heaving the next day. I asked them to collect urine to test. "No, we cannot do that we have to wait three days" I replied so she has to suffer 3 days before you even TEST for UTI? "antibiotic over use blah blah blah" My dad suffered because of UTI's and developed sepsis - "gee sorry about that" . "Your mother doesnt have a temperature and we dont know where she hurts, but she is sleeping now nice and comfortable" Grrrr!!! Called last night to hear "Sheesh! I am busy, the head nurse saw her and left for the weekend, she said to keep an eye on her and to do "UTI protocol" your mother is sleeping on the couch "Called this morning = "She is nice and comfortable sleeping, we will call you if any changes" - I truly hate that they *like* it when the people are sleeping because they require less care. The head nurse refused to even test urine and left for the weekend. Sorry, had to vent somewhere.
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A urine sample is taken
If positive, it is sent for a culture to determine the correct antibiotic.
The culture may take 3 days.
In the meantime, a broad spectrum antibiotic is started immediately to treat.
Anyone professional caring for elderly KNOWS that a urinary tract infection does not present or show the usual symptoms of fever, but instead, major behavior issues a n d illness.
Do not wait to get care. It can be life threatening when it rapidly turns to sepsis.
Go to the E.R.
My sisters and I were very disturbed about what looked to us to be a very haphazard approach to Mom's new symptoms. Only after I had a uti myself, and had a doctor who could and did explain the whole process did I look back and understand what the NH was doing with our mom. If we'd understood it then we would have been a whole lot more patient and less disturbed.
JoAnn29, I agree with you that ''micalost" needs "to go to the facility and see how her Mom is doing. If she doesn't look well YOU call an ambulance. Mom is a resident not a patient. She has rights and you have a right to call an ambulance... UTIs kill if not taken care of."
In regards to the "RN should be on duty in a NH all 3 shifts", that is true. However, the RN does NOT have to be performing resident care, she/he can be doing office work while at the nursing home. .
FYI: The RULE is that there needs to be an "RN IN THE BUILDING" 24 hours a day /7 days a week. There were times that I was working in my office doing Medicare paperwork and not doing patient/resident care. I was counted as "the RN in the nursing home" during the hours that I worked.
micalost, Please go to the nursing home and visit your Mom. If she isn't feeling well, then CALL for an ambulance to take your Mom to ER Dept NOW.
My father died from UTI sepsis complications so i am really going to put my foot down about this.
Anyway, in my humble opinion, you are being blown off by your mother’s facility and you need to do something NOW. Facilities are open 24/7. My mom’s had a policy that people could visit all day and all night. Her care or lack thereof is not acceptable. This is not why you had her placed there. If she was on the floor dry-heaving and all they did was wipe her up and put her back in bed, that is not acceptable. How do they know “she is nice and comfortable “? I’m not a nurse, but I’ve never heard of a 3-day non-test rule.
You are your mother’s advocate. I know this is Saturday, but there still has to be a Charge Nurse on duty. Go to the facility and calmly but firmly ask, in person, whether the facility’s house doctor has been notified of what’s going on. How often are they checking on Mom? Ask them to check in with you on her condition every few hours. If they don’t, return in person and ask why you haven’t been called. No one, in a weakened and ill state, should be dry-heaving on the floor of their room. Do you know how long she was there? Had she rung for the nurse and no one showed? Is she eating? Communicating? How long is she awake? They can only blow you off if you let them. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
That's a very good reason for patients' families to learn as much as they can so they can converse as close to possible on the same level as the medical pros. The same knowledge gap occurs in law as well.
Do you like this place otherwise? If not, you might hint at reconsidering the placement. If you mention contacting an ombudsperson, they'll circle the wagons.
You could mention that you're documenting though, or just take notes every time you go there. That usually raises the attention level and things improve.
Being found on the floor with dry heaves is to me a potential emergency and should have been addressed immediately. I get the impression this place doesn't have the best policies and that's reflected in the attitude of the staff. Anyone rude enough to tell you "I am busy" might not be very pleased with the facility, with her salary or with management. That's not an excuse though.
When you do get in touch with the DON or SW, ask for a care conference to discuss these issues AND develop alternate methods of dealing with them, methods that truly address your mother's health.
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