Nurses: how many of you have witnessed this horror ?

If anyone “jumped” to their feet immediately upon waking from anesthesia they’d fall down and probably hurt themselves.

Yes, that is exactly what I meant to ask. If anyone has witnessed an older person jumping up after surgery, falling down and breaking a hip.

When you wake up in recovery, you are tended to by a nurse who is not allowing you to jump up out of bed.

Furthermore, anybody who just jumps up out of bed after surgery, without a nurse in attendance, is asking for trouble and doing something that is not too smart.

I have had a number of surgeries, and there is no “springing” after anasthesia. I have never not had the sidebars of the bed up, either.
Just sayin’.

(I am not a nurse, but:)

I know of someone who woke up while anesthetized, was disoriented and attacked the nurses. He had to be restrained until he fell back unconscious, and then didn’t remember any of that when he woke up, and didn’t know why he felt like he’d been beaten up. He didn’t have to stay extra in hospital for it, though.

I also know of people who have gone in for more serious surgery which they’ve been told will make them feel better, but then they end up for months in a recovery facility that is very depressing, feeling worse and not getting to get out of there either for a long time, or for the rest of their lives.

I have never “jumped up” after anesthesia – it’s always been a slow process of repeatedly being roused. I’ve always felt like I was wading through molasses afterward.

I’ve had surgery twice, and both times I’ve woken up in the recovery room with a nurse right next to me, sitting there waiting for me to wake up, and checking my vital signs. No jumping up would have been possible.

My husband , delirious after thyroid surgery (two in one day) did jump up or stand up to leave and fell down, breaking his femur. This was on September 10 and he still doesn’t walk. I found an article on this behavior in Forbes. It’s delirium and he was not being watched, obviously.
It has changed our lives. Six weeks in the hospital, six weeks in a nursing home or rehab facility.
He does walk ten feet using a walker when the physical therapist is here.

@Aster: I’d contact a lawyer if I were you.

He talked to two lawyers. They said this kind of case is extremely hard to win, very expensive and they refused. These cases also go on for a year.
Another aspect is this is a very political town. An attorney would be burned to the ground if suing a hospital. We only have two but they’re enormous.

@jca “Furthermore, anybody who just jumps up out of bed after surgery, without a nurse in attendance, is asking for trouble and doing something that is not too smart.” People can’t be held accountable for things they do when coming out of a drugged sleep. If course it isn’t smart, but the person is far, far from cognizant about his or her actions and potential problems.

@Aster – I’m sorry this happened. Wow. Two thyroid surgeries in a day? So he was already under duress, and he was in Recovery without close supervision?
I have awoken without any close supervision, but two surgeries in one day? They should have been on him like glue.
Where were the Doctor’s orders? Were the sides ‘up’ on the bed? Do you have or can you get copies of the vitals log kept while in the Recovery Room?
You need an out-of-town counsil. That ‘big company/ long time’ lawyer crapola is just their not wanting anything that takes effort without a promise of $ for them. And yes, political pull. They may be on a couplea boards there at the hospitals also.
If you can find a bulldog, who will take the time to file negligence papers on the hospital and also perhaps the doctor….
Tell the lawyer to go after bills and fees due to negligence and you might go further than with damages attached.
I’m so sorry that happened. I hope he is getting better, and you both get a chance to make this situation right.
Take care-