"No information, communication or compassion"

I went into ninewells to have an abortion at the age of 17. A sensitive issue it is but the nurses which work there know that they have to be non judgemental and have a duty of care. Initially, I was not given all the information regarding drugs and routes of administration. I was given no information about what to expect during the process ie a small foetus. It was not until after that I realised I had been induced and the terrible sickness and cramps I was experiencing was like labour. I was not told about this prior.

When receiving medication per vagina, my partner was told to leave the room as it was not appropriate for them to be there however that is my decision whether I wanted them there or not however they were forced to leave. Hours would go by without a nurse entering the room to see how I was, I was left during this process with no support from the nurses and not even a general conversation was had in the 11 hours I was there.

When on the toilet during the process, I was about to faint and tried to get up to lie on the bed, the nurse told me I had to stay on the toilet and would not let me get up to lie on the bed. I had to force myself past her as I knew I was going to faint.

Overall, lack of information and compassion and considering the sensitivity of the issue, there was no support from the nurse through the whole process and if someone had not been with me, I would have felt even more isolated and lonely.

I am now a student nurse and I am writing this 6 years later which is maybe too late but I didn't know about this website and now feel that it is important to consider patient opinion. Knowing what I know now as a student, it makes me angry and upset when I think about my experience as I feel communication and compassion are essential in nursing care, no matter the environment or context.