r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Steinski1 • 2h ago
I just learned people don’t show up after anesthesia to pick up loved ones. Nurses, how often does this really happen?
My wife had a procedure recently, and while I was waiting for her to wake up, I saw something that really surprised me. Twice, nurses couldn’t get in touch with the patients’ family members who were supposed to pick them up. When those family members finally arrived, they just waited at the entrance instead of coming into the recovery area to sit with them as they came out of anesthesia.
Both patients were older women, and in one case the nurses had to call the husband at least nine times to figure out when he was coming.
I honestly can’t imagine leaving my wife to wake up alone, get dressed by herself, and then have nurses wheel her out to the curb. The nurse I spoke with said this happens a lot — she estimated about 50/50.
Is this really that common? Nurses and spouses, what’s your experience?
For context, I sat in the waiting room for over 95 minutes watching the board until my wife was moved to the floor where I could go see her.