New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients by Antonella Surbone Matjaž Zwitter Mirjana Rajer & Richard Stiefel

Author:Antonella Surbone, Matjaž Zwitter, Mirjana Rajer & Richard Stiefel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer US, Boston, MA

Failure to Respond to Breathing Difficulties in the Otolaryngology Ward

A similar incident took place on the otolaryngology floor a week later, when the nurse did not respond to my call to suction my airways. I felt difficulty in breathing, as mucus that had built up in my trachea was obstructing my airway. I pressed the call button in my room, but no one came to my assistance. I was able to get the attention of a nurse assistant, who told me that my nurse was on a break. Since the nurse assistant was not trained in suctioning airways, she promised to look for a nurse who could help me. The nurse finally came to assist me 15 min later. I learned that she was on the phone ordering supplies during all that time.

This was a very distressing event, as I was agitated and struggling to breathe in the middle of the otolaryngology ward. There were two residents and several nurse assistants on the floor, yet no one helped me for what felt like a very long time. It is obvious that even on a ward dedicated to people with breathing difficulties and breathing issues, there were many distractions that prevented physicians and nurses from paying attention to their patient’s immediate needs.

I brought the incident to the attention of the nurse supervisor and the head surgeon but never received any feedback from them about what was to be done to prevent such incidents in the future. The lack of response by these medical providers was inappropriate and contributed to my frustration and anxiety.

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