by F. Burgess (RN, BSN)

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Our world was turned upside down when my fianc was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2005. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy before admission to the hospital for surgery. I promised him that I would monitor all care provided and make sure he leaves the hospital alive (his main fear).

The operation was performed in February 2006 without complications. Because of the nightmare that follows, I may not continue my career as a nurse.

When "Gary" returned to the ward after surgery, the young new nurse wanted to give him a Demerol shot. I informed her that he does not like needles and asked if she could get the order changed to another drug IV, she stated she called the doctor and he wants it given intramuscular.

I imagine she informed nurses that are more experienced because he never received another intramuscular injection. She was very offensive just by my asking for clarification of order.

When Gary began getting out of bed and ambulating, I thought, we were progressing for discharge in a few days. Then he began vomiting when his diet was advanced to full liquids. Nurses were documenting assessment notes but no one ever listened to his lungs and bowel sounds or the functioning of his colostomy.

In fact, nurses avoided touching him all together. I allowed Gary's nurses to do their job without criticizing them in any way. I know how relatives can be so I tried not to disturb them unless it was important.

The horror story began on day 4 after surgery when Gary began requiring Morphine injections again after switching to pain pills over the last 2 days. I tried to explain to the nurses that this was unusual; he could not eat and his pain worsened. Initially they thought Gary was only seeking narcotics.

That night, Gary began with the loudest hiccups I have ever heard. They were painful to his surgical site. Patients and visitors could hear them all the way to the elevator. The only ones they did not bother were the nurses.

His abdominal pain worsened but the nurses wanted to give him an analgesic instead of exploring the etiology of this pain and hiccups. They sought to put him to sleep but with true severe pain, the sleeping medication was ineffective.

When the doctor visited, he rather minimized the hiccups and of course, Gary was not hiccupping as much on his visit. On his 5th day after surgery, his belly began to swell and become taut. He was very nauseated and his colostomy had no drainage for 5 days. Even the doctor did not notice.

During a severe episode

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