I cannot believe this!!
By Thoroughrob
@Thoroughrob (11742)
United States
August 10, 2008 10:52pm CST
I have a friend that called me yesterday. Her grandson was in the hospital for 3 weeks. He is 16 and has Cerebral Palsy. His parents and grandparents could not stay with him all the time he was there, due to all the time they had off for other things dealing with him. They went to see him, and he told them that a nurse, and told her name, had come in the room, looked at him and said "You can't talk, so you cannot tell on me." She then hauled off and punched him in the stomache. He had had surgery on his stomache just a week before, and had always been quiet when this nurse came in the room, so she did not realize that he could talk.
They confronted the head nurse, the police, and a lawyer and was told they could not do anything because it would be his word against hers. The police told them that they could have pressed charges, but it was too late because it happened 2 days ago. The hospital would do nothing to her because they had not had complaints before? What happened to patients safety, and abuse. They would have arrested me because I would have went balistic, if my child had told me something like that, and even had the name of the nurse, and no one would listen. I would be on the news, writing the hospital, calling the newspaper, anything I could to bring attention to this. The only reason she did it was because she thought no one would find out, and probably does it to alot of children that are not able to talk.
How would you handle something like this? I have a son that cannot talk and it just devastates me that someone could do something like this, especially in a childrens hospital.
15 people like this
25 responses
@capirani (2840)
• United States
11 Aug 08
That's horrible that the nurse might get away with abusing that child. I know bad things do happen in health care facilities. The caregiving careers tend to draw a lot of people who should not be in those careers. At least the complaint has been made and hopefully the hospital will keep their eyes on this nurse a lot more closely in the future. Red flags tend to appear around people like that and get overlooked all the time. But now that at least this one complaint has been registered, maybe the other red flags will be more noticeable, and maybe some other former patients might have the courage to speak out. The child who spoke up is very brave and I hope he is commended by his family and friends for that.
3 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I hope she gets what she deserves, and one day, I am sure she will.
2 people like this
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
11 Aug 08
OH MY GOD!!!! that is terrible. Why was that nurse not arrested? Why did she doe this? This is so wrong....I am so sorry this happened to this cp kid...very very sad!
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
11 Aug 08
From what I understand, she would get nothing out of it, according to police and the lawyer. She did this because she was mad about something when she entered the room, and took it out on him, because she did not think he could talk and tell on her.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
11 Aug 08
How awful!
YEs if I was the mother I would beon the news as soon as I was told this specially whwen hospital wouldnt do any thing!
Maybe they need to put cameras in the rooms to catch this person!
I just cant think of a nurse that is to take care of kids could do this and not cry about it after wards she must be a monster!
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
1 Sep 08
Wow that is just disappointing to know that even the hospital is trying to cover up something. I hope they could get justice on that matter. I think they should have it examined if there were markings on his stomach that he was indeed punched. Well maybe they would not allow their son to be hospitalized there again.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Is her son credible? Is there any chance her son was not dreaming? Now if it is credible I would write the board of registered nursing or the licensing board for what ever state she is in and tell them where she works, what he says she did and what the hospital did about it. I would demand someone look into it. I would also call the state who governs the hospital who keeps the hospital doors opened. Like JACHO in our area. I would put in a complaint and say what happened. The state can come in and say there was a complaint and never have to say where it came from. I hope this helps your family.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
25 Aug 08
He is very credible. I will pass on the information and hopefully they can get something done. I would at least do it, just to make her life miserable. It would be at least be something!!
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
1 Sep 08
It really saddens me to hear that a care giver would do such a thing to someone. I hate that she gave a bad name to all nurses everywhere.
@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I believe that they would have arrested me because I would have beat the he** out of her. There is no reason for that to happen and it shouldn't. Those kids are in the hopital for a reason and should be able to feel safe. How can they feel safe with someone like that working there? Things like that really pi** me off to no end.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
13 Aug 08
Omg, that poor kid, this makes me wonder how many other kids this nurse have hit before. I'm like you, I would have beeen arrested, because I would have beat the crap out of this nurse. I would have waited until I found her alone and beat the crap out of her and then said since you can't talk, I guess you won't tell on me. Of course this nurse doesn't have any complaints on her, because the kids she has hurt, can't speak, gees. I would have my child removed from that hospital to another one before they could ask why. Then I would tell my story to anyone that would listen to me, I would report the hospital to the BBB, just for handling this wrong.
I wished the boy would have said guess what, I can talk. This just upsets me that this could happen. I mean you go to a hospital to get better, not to get attacked.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
15 Aug 08
Oh, my God, is the child all right? Did the nurse have an excuse; not that there is any? I was just in the hospital myself (I have CP, too, but am verbal, although I have a speech impairment). I can testify that nurses have NO IDEA how to deal with people who are not non-disabled to begin with. They kept trying to give me a catheter which I allergic to, because it would make there job easier. I kept telling them, "No!". Eventually, I had my mom call (never mind that I'm 32 and completely in charge of my own medical care and decisions) to talk to them. I guess they believed her, because they stopped talking about catheters are that. This is just an example of the medical system's complete inability to deal with us, because of staffing issues, poor training, or whatever. I was very lucky as I can talk (so they weren't going to anything really stupid like hitting me) and my regular workers could stay with me most of time. I think I was in the nurses' care totally for only about 4 hours off my entire hospital stay, which is lucky for me and my health I think.
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Its shocking! First terrible thing is that a nurse can do that, then the second thing is no one is doing anything against her. That kind of person is not supposed to be a nurse. God knows what she has done and what she will do to other children or any patient who can't talk or she think they can't talk. I am worried that if some one is complaining against a nurse and they are not doing anything, then how they will stop crime like that. Really, I cannot believe it too!
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
11 Aug 08
It doesn't matter that it's a few days later - they can still press charges - the police are just blowing it off because they don't want to deal with it.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
11 Aug 08
There should be some evidence of bruising or other damage in the stomach area - especially with the previous surgery. They should take him to another doctor that isn't associated with the hospital and have him examined for evidence of the abuse. If the police won't file charges, they can file a civil suit against the hospital and the nurse who hit him.
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I agree. It could have happened a week earlier and they could still press charges. What is wrong with people who take positions that are supposed to serve and protect and help us get well, that they can even think the way these people obviously do?
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Couldn't they find some physical evidence of damage? I mean, I'm glad he wasn't damaged physically but how awful for him! I would have had a "talk" with that nurse and devoted all the time I could to getting her fired. I would find out who other patients were and tell them.
What a horrible person! I hope she gets what's coming to her!
@vegegirl (828)
• Australia
14 Aug 08
I understand how you feel because my father has alzheimers and has been in a nursing home for many years now. My mum usually goes over once or twice a day to feed him and spend time with him. but she has had to go away sometimes over the years and we can only visit for a short time after work when this happens.
Over the years he has had different things happen to him and a recent one was some sore of painful wrist problem which noone at the home knows how it occurred. I suspect it's broken but we havent' been able to get it x-rayed as one time my mum took dad to the hospital for something else and showed them the wrist but I think they said it was too swollen to see the bone. Although not a child, someone with advanced alzheimers is very helpless (he can't walk anymore or carry out a conversation), so it's awful when these things happen.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
18 Aug 08
I cannot understand what satisfaction people get out of hurting helpless people. It is sad.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
12 Aug 08
Hello Thoroughhrob,
If it was me I'd see red and I won't let it rest, I think is just disgusting that they didn't believe your friend's son and why would he lie? any I think the hospital has their own rules the hospital staffs are always right. That nurse should be charge and she don't the meaning of her job title what does she thinks a nurse mean?
Tamara
@shana123 (2095)
• India
11 Aug 08
I really dont know how do these ruthless characters exists in this world? Why dont they have heart and behave ravish to the childeren that too without any purpose..
If she is not good or comfortable with the job then she must resign rather than doing this stuff to innocent ones.. and nurse is really a job for those who is very caring and adhusting, hospitality characterised...
i dont know where does these stupid beings exist.. so we need to be with our childeren in such places...
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Aug 08
What they should is have a hidden camera in the hospital room so they can record the abuse. That is how they usually catch nannies and babysitters who beat up their charges in someone else's home. I would have bugged the hospital to no end, keep up to it until they fire this person. And I bet the other people were afraid to complain. Did your friend's grandson show the bruise? If he did not have it then, it will show up.
I would tell your friend to write the hospital, get on the news, write letters to the editor, and I would advise you to do that. Also get someone to persuade the hospital to put a monitoring system in the hospital rooms. A child might die or be killed and they should check into their hospital hiring policy. That nurse should not have been given a job there except to sweep the floors and that under supervision.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
11 Aug 08
This is horrible! I would report this to the news and any place that I could get someone to listen. There is no reason for a nurse to do this to a child and get away with it. She needs to be taken off work and she should lose her license to be a nurse.
I just recently lost a dear friend who was a nurse and she would have been appalled that no one done anything about this. She was a firm believer in patients rights.
Please tell your friend to contact more people. Contact hospital administration, paper,news, etc. Someone will listen!!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
11 Aug 08
You've got to be kidding!! What in the world is going on with this nurse and her way of thinking?? Geeze this is a child here! Something isn't right with the story. I can't put my finger on it but something isn't right or that nurse would've been fired with such accusations or there's something wrong with the staff that she's employed by... something isn't right and I agree with you, I'd have gone ape sh!t on this woman and anybody else who tried to stop me!! The boys parents and grandparents need to get this story out in the news to the world so that it can be investigated properly. This so called nurse is a psycopath and needs to be taken care of.... such as thrown in jail for life or a mental ward. Please keep us posted on this one!!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
11 Aug 08
Get an attorney and sue for personal damages. Make sure you have all the evidence, Sue everyone, the Nurse, the hospital and take it to the press
make a great big noise. They may only get a settlement to shut them up but
I'd make sure the whole community knew about it, don't let it be swept under the rug. Irate Grandma
