My first visit back here after almost 2 years was, painful for me (thanks COVID) but in reality…read morepainless. I arrived shortly after 8 AM. Checked in, saw the sign for COVID symptoms & said "ALL OF THESE. I HAVE ALL OF THESE!" Taken to the back. Why does no one introduce themself? I don't care if you have a name tag on. Introduce yourself. Tell me who you are. Tell me what you are doing. So much is lost these days & I cannot wrap my head around this. It takes two seconds to introduce yourself.
They of course needed to do blood pressure. It's not rational, to me, EVER, to do an automatic blood pressure machine when someone is coughing. The person cannot only 'NOT stay still but can't stay quiet. You know, that whole pesky coughing business. I'm legitimately unable to breathe with some of the coughing so this automated cuff is tightening to the point of pain & I can't feel my fingers. So, I ripped it off & said why. There was some argument that it was necessary & that another cuff could be placed on my forearm. No! What the hell? Why would you think there would be a different result? I said, you can do it manually or not at all. I'm not going to subject myself to additional pain & discomfort because you want to use an automated way. Ultimately, the manual method was done.
Quick swab up the nose for COVID & flu test. COVID positive. Here is a prescription for anti-viral, (yep! I sure did require them), cough medicine, & inhaler. "Now, get our." LOL.
Back the following Monday after anti-virals complete because of a cough that would not go away. Went in after 10 AM. Wildly different experience. Much longer wait time & a much saltier nurse/nurse assistant/technician. Honestly, I realize I have no idea what their position is, because again, she couldn't be bothered to tell me who she was. I believe her name may have been Courtney. I can't remember, I saw her name tag briefly, but again, she couldn't be bothered to introduce herself. She did the manual blood pressure, I suspect because of a note left from the previous person. Now, she didn't bother to support my arm & strangely enough I do have training in this area because once upon a time, I was a medical assistant. Supporting the arm can make a difference but it simply demonstrated her lack of indifference. Vitals done, "nurse practitioner will be in," & our the door. Waited for 10+ mins & walked out, said, "since I'm waiting, can I please get a COVID test?" I would have thought that would have been done automatically to confirm I was indeed COVID negative. This was apparently offensive to Courtney or whatever her name was because she came in, didn't wash her hands, put gloves on, shoved, yes shoved, very aggressively the swab into one nostril, striking maxilla because of how aggressive she was, & then left. Didn't swab both sides as had been done previously.
Nurse practitioner came in. Diagnosed with whooping cough (pertussis), medicine prescribed, & out the door.
I had to email several hours later asking for the COVID result because each time I looked it still said processing. This didn't make sense why in the week before the result was done in 10-15 mins but now was several hours. Finally, results done & COVID negative.
Interesting how in less than a week, a review can change so drastically. The reality is patient care/bed side manner, customer service makes a huge difference. One person really can make a huge difference. If an organization is willing to hire or leave one employee with a negative attitude unchecked, then it begs the question of how many more & whats the mórale in the organization? I don't know the answers but what I know is, I don't appreciate having a nasal swab shoved aggressively into a nostril that it strikes bone, or that my arm wasn't supported during the blood pressure check. Most importantly, to me, the failure to identify & introduce yourself. It's such a simple thing. Why is it not being done??