Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital — Local services in Santa Barbara

TERRIBLE experience as a visitor. I have been visiting this hospital from 9/22/24 to 9/25/24 and today, 9/25/24, I was racially profiled by one of the psychiatric nurses (Kim K/B at 5 Bath) . Before allowing me into the unit, I was pulled aside with my partner and I, the only black visitor, was accused of purposefully sneaking in "contraband" the day before, 9/24, to the patient. She even pointed out that I said I brought in nothing but the charger was brought in, implying that I lied and purposefully snuck it in. The contraband being a laptop charger. Why would I want the patient that I had been visiting everyday to kill herself? I also had no knowledge of what or what isn't allowed in the units because I've never been told and there isn't a list anywhere... so to accuse me of "sneaking in" and lying about something that I didn't even know I should sneak in was just absurd. This "contraband", I brought it on the first day I visited the patient, 9/22/24, with clothes and wasn't even in a bag; it was openly in my arms and no nurse checked me. The patient I was visiting had the charger cord with them for 9/22-9/25 and had even changed rooms; this was a complete irresponsibility and negligence of the nurses to have not seen a large charger cord ONCE while in the room or moving her belongings. The patient also uses the laptop for hours everyday, how would the battery life sustain itself over the course of DAYS? The irresponsibility of the nurses is even more apparent that they chose a black visitor to scapegoat instead of doing their jobs. I even explained to the RN, Kim K/B that what she was accusing me of wasn't true, I brought the laptop and charger on 9/22/24, not yesterday, and I didn't "sneak" anything in, I brought it in my hands without a bag. Kim K/B ignored what I said and took my purse, still sticking to the accusation. I didn't want to waste the hour of visitor time I get with the patient, so my partner and I told the nurses of the racial profiling and instead of apologizing, Kim escalated and continued to be condescending and minimize her behavior. Saying "I'm sorry IF you FELT like I did that..." and tried to say it was because I had a purse, not because I was black. My partner pointed out that they easily could've snuck it in their huge coat or pockets and she didn't accuse them at all, only me. She had no response to that, just continued to repeat basically I was guilty for being Black with a purse. I filed a report on her after. Later the same day, my partner and I brought food for the patient and another patient after visiting hours. The nurses denied and lied saying that I can't drop anything off after visiting hours (I HAVE dropped off things after visiting hours before). While my partner went to talk to a manager, I called the psychiatric ward. I called and the nurse (at 6:28pm, Nurse Alexa) was friendly, I told her I was dropping food off and she was very receptive to this. Once she asked me who it was for, she immediately said No. I asked her why and she kept changing the reason. "There's a problem with the unit. You have to ask the charge nurse." And I continued to ask what problem was going on because I was fearing the safety of the patient and why couldn't the food be left there until the patient is ready? She rudely interrupted me saying, "No. Thank you, Bye." It is actually disgusting that the psychiatric nurses would treat a visitor this way, that it genuinely made me fear the safety of the patient I was visiting and other patients that cannot advocate for themselves. It is rephrensible that these nurses would take out their anger from me onto the patient, when she is in need of care and support. They also did this knowing that the patient was going to be receiving food soon and they had no devices at the time to contact me or advocate for themselves to receive their food. Taking advantage of mentally ill people who can't even leave a building...

I just spent the last two weeks in Cottage Hospital This is not my first time in Cottage. I live in Santa Maria but Cottage is my Hospital of choice. While I have always had outstanding and pleasurable experiences there this stay I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Mind you it was not the entire stay just two nights in particular. It wouldn’t have been so bad had it been at the beginning of my stay because then I was in too much pain and so much was going on because of my surgery that I wouldn’t have noticed or cared. This was at the end of my stay two of the last three nights when I’m feeling good, happy and excited because everything from surgery was going GREAT!!! Pain was more under control, I was feeling better, therapy was going good, healing was looking good and they told me I could be discharged. All my nurses, aids, assistants, Drs, food runners, therapist etc had been FANTASTIC up until Weds night. Shift change came at 7pm. From then on it was horrible. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone who was there for the first time, who was in more pain than I was, who spoke little or no English at all, or just frightened of hospitals period. The note on the patient dry erase board says in large letters “PLEASE CALL FOR HELP” After every visit to your room the nurses and assistants say the same thing. I pressed the nurses call light because I needed assistance getting to the bathroom. I’ll let your nurse know they said 45 mins to almost an hour later she comes. Later I pressed because I was in extreme pain and needed pain meds. The same thing almost an hour to an hour and half later. The nurse assistant checked my vitals at the beginning of shift. On his way out the door he said I’ll be back every hour to check your vitals. The first hour yes then after that it went to two hours then 3 hours and then I don’t even remember if he came at all after that. This would not have been an issue if they had checked when they were supposed to. The nurses on all the prior shifts were on top of it and I very rarely had to call them. If I did it was usually to go to the bathroom. This went on all Weds night. Thursday came and when shift change came and I saw it was the same 3 individuals I just cringed. Thursday night was even worse. I never saw my nurse but 3 times in a 12 hour period. When called she’d showed up an hour to 2 hours later. I pressed the call button because I was out of water. When he came in and I told him what I needed it was a sigh and eye roll like I was putting him out and it was too much for him. He took the water container to get water said I’ll be right back and NEVER came back. I had to ask someone else two hours later. This night I saw my nurse 3 times the whole 12 hour shift. Beginning of shift, once during the shift and at the end of shift. She did not stay on top of administering my meds like she should have. Like ALL the other nurses on previous shifts. I had to keep calling. But she never came she would send someone else. The assistant I saw maybe 2-3 times this night for his “hourly” vitals. I was never happier when their shifts were over. I never had to press the call button for anything. I know there were other patients but it doesn’t makes sense when you go a week and a half and the other nurses are on top of their game and come administer your meds regularly without having to be called or at least check on you. And it was only with the same 3 people two nights in row. I don’t know what they were doing all night besides not checking on patients but I did hear a lot of staff giggling and laughing. So my final words are if you’re ever in Cottage Hospital for a stay and get Andy (a female) for a nurse or Toby and Armando for assistants please do yourself a favor and ask for different staff members to care for you because...

First I would like to thank my surgeon ( with Samsun) and her staff for a very successful surgery. But I have to say, my experience staying at the Hospital ( aside for the last 6 hrs in the hospital ) to be one of the most disappointing experiences I could have experienced in a Hospital: 1- The nurse in charge of my room as I was out of surgery: a. Never called my husband to let him know where I was. He came on his own at 8pm out of concern. b. Never checked to see if my room was set up properly. I remember vaguely ( because of anesthesia ) someone showing me to press the red button to call for help. It turned out it was not connected. For 3 hrs I kept pressing the button to no avail. My pain was 9-10 with no help. Eventually the nurse came and decided it was so severe she gave me dilaudid. The next nurse assistant finally got it connected. c- No now ever checked to see if I needed my phone, where it was ? was it charged? d- after the service phone being connected and barely awake, I noticed the buttons for the room lighting did not work either. They never worked during my stay

2- Night shift: a- after being more awake...I called the nurses's desk to asked to be taken to the bathroom, being hocked to antibiotics I needed to use the bathroom a lot. After 20 minutes I called again, a nurse answer also concern why no one had come to my room yet. Eventually 15 - 20 minutes later, the nurse assistant came to my room. I was very confused and upset as to why it was taken so long? The assistant responded: "You could have urinated in the bed if you really wanted to go" ?!? We would have changed you. " To what I Responded : I did NOT wanted to sit on urine after surgery?! She told me the nurse was busy with patients ?! I was not sure what I was ... I am pretty sure I was a patient that just got out surgery . The nurse eventually came , but she seem ignorant of what procedure I had just gone through? Pressing in areas where my stitches were, asking me if it hurt,?! It was bazar After that.. every time I rang for help to the bathroom. The nurse assistant was very irritated , barely help me into the bathroom , not caring if I was tangled or not , or if the leg pressure machine was placed properly on my legs or not, she even kicked the stand with her foot to jump the small threshold. Sadly I had to endure this rude behavior all night since I had fluid being pumped into me.

Eventually , on the last hours , a REAL nurse called Nancy, gave me perfect assistance in every way. She was extremely professional , informed and caring . She even took me to the bathroom , while the assistant watch . Let me tell you,... it was night and day. I hoped the assistant learned something from her as she watch how it was done.

I understand nurses and health care providers have been under a lot of stress for the last few years, and I honor their work and support caring for these amazing first responders, but staying in this hospital also showed me NOT all people are made for the job of caring for others.

I learned a lot about being my OWN advocate.

Hope I never have to use this Hopital...