Two reactions on Komen reversal

[xfundy]

Two nurses were here yesterday--one comes by twice a week, the other was her supervisor. From hospice, they provide palliative care for my mother, who has Alzheimers and is confined to her bed, unable to speak words anymore.

I'd read of the Komen reversal (thanks, DU!) and when the nurses were readying to leave, I excitedly told them the news.

The regular nurse (Nurse 1) has all kinds of liberal stickers on the bumper of her older Toyota. The other (Nurse 2) drives something newer and costlier and always blocks the driveway and mailbox when she comes. Both are professional and listen to me when I have concerns about my mother's health and comfort.

Nurse 1 smiled at the news and made positive conversation. We agreed that for some women, PP may provide the only doctor they see for some amount of time. "Gotta go where the women are, regardless of politics" I said.

Nurse 2 immediately got a look of anger in her eyes, hurriedly gathered her stuff, and left without another word.

I just can't understand that kind of mindset from someone who ostensibly supports health. I hope the liberal stickers on Nurse 1's car don't get her fired.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. Can't you ask for another nurse like nurse 1?

[Ecumenist]

2. Really...I wouldn't let the second one in my house for all the tea in China.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Well it is easier said than done. We had a healthcare person to come. The insurance

would pay only 2 visits a week. My mother-in-law needed to be bathe. My health isn't the best and I also had my granddaughter to take care of at the same time. You take the help when you can get it. Unless you can afford a nurse to come at your own expense. I sure couldn't. We made the best of it. I was greatful for the help. Maybe that is how she feels with the nurse 2.

[Ecumenist]

4. I understand I am dealing with stage 4 cancer myself. I was lucky

to have lovely home nursing care last year when I was first diagnosed and they came 2 a week for about 6 weeks.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. There are many good nurses. My mother-in-law had many good ones.

[Quantess]

5. I remember a hospice nurse for my dad back around 2004 or so.

She was very friendly, seemed skilled, but she made occasional RW comments and...she had a "W" sticker on her SUV (grrrr...)
But we were just nice to her back. I tried not to let her see my rage bubbling inside me whenever I thought about this woman being a G.W. Bush fan.

But really, politics (especially regressive politics) need to stay out of health care.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. Totally agree. Really that isn't why they are there. If a nurse said something I would cut her

off and tell her this is my home and keep your politics to yourself. If the nurse could then I would call her boss and tell them to send someonelse.

[Quantess]

9. She saw the navy portrait of my brother from the 1980s,

which led to her talking about her son in Iraq, which led to her talking about other political opinons, unfortunately.
My parents were adamantly opposed to the war in Iraq, but there was no polite way to say that to someone whose son is fighting there, of course.

The lady was very friendly but she assumed seniors are all conservative. My mom said "I wish she would shut up" when she left.

[southernyankeebelle]

11. Yep, my father-in-law, father, and husband were all lifers in the military and all were democrats.

They would never think of voting any other way. All three retired as senior enlisted. All veterans. My mother, mother-in-law were strong democrats. All were old. My husband is 57 and I am 64 and we both are diehard democrats. None of us would ever consider voting against our financial interestes.

[obamanut2012]

6. They cannot send you someone based on their political affiliation

That's illegal.

If she had initiated a political discussion with you, then you would have a right to make a complaint.

[EFerrari]

10. The truth is, Komen didn't reverse anything.

They sent out a misleading press release, that's all, and they bank on people not really looking at it.

Here's a link to one of the threads on their deceptiveness:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002262697

If Nurse #2 was angry because she thought PP was refunded, then, yeah. She should be doing something else. But she might have been angry for some other reason, like the fact that Komen was lying its @ss off and had not committed to refunding PP.