Nurses & coming home !

[Lieveling]

 

Hello everyone !
We're hoping that my partner will be home before the end of August - actually we're hoping mid to end of July but what with self-catheterisation to be sorted out yet (he wears a leg bag for the moment) we have to remain realistic.

We have been discussing nurse/assistant solutions. He will be given a specific budget to spend on his nursing/assistant needs. However, we are wondering should we accept the services of a nursing organisation (which we currently use and have no choice over who comes to us and we have found only 2 good nurses so far) or should we set up our own network of private nurses?
What are the questions I should be thinking of asking if getting own network?
What are pertinent questions to ask nurses to test their compatibility with us and capacity to carry out a good job?

For recall, my partner is C6 incomplete, C7 complete and would need help with daily bowel program.

All feedback is welcome.
I'm in Belgium so I know the situation is not the same everywhere but it would be good to have your input!
Thanks [/color] !

[Jilly]

Great news that Hes coming home soon!!! Im not sure what to advise here. I guess with the agency you could keep requesting those nurses that were ok, and if you get one thats no good keep on at the agency till you get someone decent. If opting for private, is it going to cost you more? You would be able to keep a list of the good ones I guess, but you might have the same problem of getting useless nurses.

Good luck!!!

[Gary Anderson]

I'm a but stuck too.
For starters, before anyone could comment, they would have to know how the system works in Belgium! Indeed, I know folks here who would not have a clue how to find a private nurse in the UK. What works for one won't work for another. Plus, you have to think of the cost of paying for private nurses.

This may sound like I am defending nurses - as a doctor I am not, however, in the medical centre I work in, the nurses who go about the housebound, etc, are very good at what they do and often get mouthfuls of dogs abuse from the people they go to.

I can only comment for here in the UK and in Scotland in particular. Our nurses who go to the housebound are very dedicated and take seriously what they do. What they DO find is that very often visiting the housebound can be hard because they want to chat for longer than the nurses have got, etc. Very often these girls are given 10 or 12 visits and only have an allocated time with each patient depending on what is needed. Much as they would like to stay longer they cannot.

When you say you have only found "2 good ones" in what respect is that relating? To what they do or what you think they should do?

I am not nitpickign Lieveling but I know that even with visits from nurses over here, they still to some extent, like to have their patients as independent as possible and encourage them to assist in the daily procedures.

Perhaps someone who has the same injuries as your partner could comment on how much they should be able to do.

My advise is speak to someone who has already used both forms of medical care. Then decide what to do.

Sorry I cannot help further.