Highs and Lows
I had an awesome interview experience Wednesday for a Multisystem ICU position at our city's Level 1 Trauma center. It resulted in a job offer Thursday! The HR recruiter encouraged me to go ahead and do the CVICU interview I have scheduled for Tuesday because it won't impact the current offer. By doing both, I'll have a better idea about where I'll be a better fit. No matter what happens Tuesday, I have a job in critical care. I’m excited and nervous for this new challenge.
Immediately after receiving that phone call, my mom called me to tell me about one of the worst things that can happen to a person waiting for a cancer diagnosis. My great aunt has been inpatient at a cancer center. Today, the admitting doctor came in to give her good news about the CT she had the previous day: No tumor in the colon, unrelated nodules in the lungs, discharge home if she tolerates a solid regular diet. Forty-five minutes later, my mom’s cousin calls her furious and upset because the GI doc came in with the news that she definitely has colon cancer and surgery must happen tomorrow. Later on that evening, the surgeon came and said there <i>is</i> a tumor, they’re going to treat like cancer, and she’ll have to have a colon resection in a few weeks. He said the biopsy results haven’t actually come back yet, so “we don’t know for sure if it is cancer or not.” This morning, it was confirmed that she has colorectal cancer and it may be metastatic.
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? WHY WOULD ANYONE SAY ANYTHING UNTIL BIOPSY RESULTS WERE BACK?
This should not happen. You hear horror stories about poor communication between providers, but having your family suffer because of it reinforces what a nightmare it can be. Is it too much to ask for these people to get a on a group text and agree on how to present the plan of care of the patient? Is there a hole in the market for a better way for providers to communicate and collaborate? What can nurses do to facilitate better communication between the different disciplines? How are providers held accountable for something like this? I’m at a loss, guys.