I attended Perth Children's Hospital with my child recently. While they were indeed unwell and had been for a couple of days they weren't critical. The GP had recommended that I take my child to ED if they were still feeling unwell.
Things flowed reasonably but I was shocked to say the least when the triage nurse checked my child's capillary refill by pressing on the sternum. My child is dark skinned and as such one can't tell capillary refill from the skin on the sternum. If my child had indeed had a condition that impacted their circulation I feel things could have gone downhill.
As if that wasn't enough... I recall the nurse assisting the Dr who attended to my child stated "My veins are easily visible because my skin is light. We can't see your veins that's why the Dr is having trouble collecting blood"
I was shocked and disappointed that a nurse could seemingly be so insensitive.
Please educate health care staff, we live in a rainbow nation and I feel should be able to be culturally sensitive at all times.
"Hospital staff culturally sensitive training"
About: Perth Children's Hospital / Emergency Department Perth Children's Hospital Emergency Department Nedlands 6009
Posted by golfqd85 (as ),
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