Guaranteed Healthcare

A broken healthcare system and my journey through it.

I have been a registered nurse for more
than 10 years but I never realized how broken the health insurance
system was until I couldn't get the care I needed. Of course, I knew
there were problems but I didn't understand the full extent.

My intro into this labyrinth of
insurance in the USA started on May 24, 2007.  One year ago, I
woke up with a sore back. I figured it was from sleeping on the couch
and working in the hospital and moving some boxes at home two days
prior to the start of the pain. I thought I did too much in too
little of time and had strained my back.

I had to go to work that night and I
remember saying to myself, “This isn't bad enough to call in sick
to work. They need me and I should go to work.”

After all, it was not the first time my
back hurt a little bit after working hard. So off to work I went,
ready for the 12 hour shift, 7p-7a, as a critical care nurse.

Two to three hours into the shift, I
was worried and popping Advils to push back the pain. I was praying
that the night wouldn't be too crazy. Meaning I hoped no one
“crashed” and the night went according to a well-orchestrated
plan.

I knew I could do my job. I just gutted
it out. I had problems standing, that was the most painful. I felt
better when I sat and when I could, I sat. The night slowly crept
forward and I was making it. I was taking care of my two patients and
resting when I could.

One of my patients, who was elderly and
didn't seem to have it all together, told me he could see I was
hurting. It was then that I realized that this back pain may put me
out of commission for a few days.

Little did I know how many days and
what I would come up against.

My name is Kim and welcome to my blog.
I am an RN and a patient.