Just a tee-hee moment

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Yesterday, against my will, my job called EMS because I was having a full blown asthma exacerbation after two doses of albuterol inhaler. I refused transport to ED, and the paramedic (because they called in ALS) said, "You're a nurse? Well imagine this: your patient has NO air moving in their lungs that can be auscultated in either lung, they're diaphoretic, slightly cyanotic, and their O2 sat is 86% after two inhaler treatments. What would you recommend?" I was silent but truly the rig was already moving. " I really think you need to go to ED." LOL, yeah... 2L of O2 via NC to maintain my sats, chest x-ray, two boluses of NS and two "1 and 1" nebs later I left with a RA O2 of 96% RA, steroids and nebs at home. Plus the fun diagnosis of "walking pneumonia" which is really nothing. I escaped, at my behest, sans antibiotics because my pneumonia is very mild. Anyway, as I was leaving the awesome DC nurse said, "you are so pleasant and I enjoyed caring for you but I heard about the hell you gave the medics about 'just' giving you a neb tx and letting you go back to work so they can go take care of someone really sick! [LMBO]. Nurses make the WORSE patients to SOMEONE on the team." LOL. Love it! THEN I got a text from a non-medical friend who told me to "be a patient, not a nurse today." I love it! Seems to be true true! And I thought of you guys the whole time~ I always do if I have to go to ED or urgent care. Medical professionals make the worse patients: Agree or disagree?

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of course we do. i dont understand why thats so surprising though. I guess its more ironic in a medical profession than it is anywhere else but in our minds, having someone else treat us makes about as much sense as an accountant having someone else do his taxes, or a mechanic having someone else change his oil, or a lawyer not representing himself. The only difference is i suppose we aren't really in a position to take care of ourselves but truth be told if im in the back of a rig, id have half a mind to start an iv on myself before letting the medics do it :roflmao:

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
truth be told if im in the back of a rig, id have half a mind to start an iv on myself before letting the medics do it :roflmao:

Seriously!!!!! And it took him two attempts for a barely competent job. When I was roomed in ED I was advised the one he got in was kinked! LOL! The otherwise super rad medic said I was a hard stick. I looked at him incredulously. I'm like, "dude, I'm a Coumadin patient. I get blood drawn on a regular and 'hard stick' is a term I've never heard in relation to myself!" Plus I could visualize a couple good IV insertion sites on myself and I was barely looking!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

kiyasmom, I'm glad you let yourself be the patient! Hope you're feeling better.

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Specializes in CRNA.
truth be told if im in the back of a rig, id have half a mind to start an iv on myself before letting the medics do it :roflmao:

The only time that I have had to have an IV in the ER the RN missed twice, and I have great veins, then the EMT-Intermediate that was in the ER got me on the third try which was his first try. Everyone has their good and bad days, I sure know that I have. I had one day where I missed 5 in a row and other days where I couldn't miss if I tried. It could have just been a bad day for that Medic.

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Specializes in CRNA.

I also agree that it is very hard for a medical person to see medical help, I know that I would be the same way. I've been doubled over in pain and still continued to work. We had people basically have to be told to check into the ER while they are working because of illnesses. We had one RN end up in the CVICU while she was one shift due to complications with A-Fib with RVR.

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I guess I don't really see the humor in this. You think it's funny that you put yourself at risk for respiratory failure because...why exactly? What's up with that?

Remember that we can't care for others if we don't first care for ourselves.

I disagree that medical professionals make the worst patients. It's a highly individual experience. I've taken care of doctors, nurses, EMTs, etc. and their family members who were the most easy going and cooperative people, and lay people who want to dictate every infinitesimal minutiae of their care. I've cared for medical people who are neurotic about every little cough or sneeze, and little old ladies that "don't want to be a bother" when they have one foot in the grave.

I go easy on people that need a little more practice with phlebotomy, injections, or intravenous access. What good does it do to be critical of them, when all they need is a little more practice or experience?

I was recently in the doctor's office and needed an injection. The MOA was new and was learning injections. She asked my permission to give me an injection, with the provider's supervision of course. I said sure, no problem. I didn't tell her I was a nurse, nor did I offer any pointers or critiques. I just told her to go for it, and afterward I told her she did a good job. I believe in building people up so they can get better at what they do, not tearing them down because they're not as good at it as I am. I'm only as good as I am because I've had lots of practice. I wasn't so great when I first started out, and I don't expect anyone else to be either.

Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better and didn't need to be intubated. Now next time, don't be such a pill and just get your butt in, okay?

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but truth be told if im in the back of a rig, id have half a mind to start an iv on myself before letting the medics do it :roflmao:

That's a bold statement for a STUDENT to make. Just a little advice.... before you insinuate that other medical professionals are not competent at certain skills and that you would be better at those certain skills, you need to be able to back that up. I have precepted for numerous years and I can tell you that that attitude will not last long before someone will put it in check. Until you can back up what you are saying with experience, humbleness is your friend. And please be kind when speaking about the skills of other highly trained professionals, especially since you will have to have a good working relationship with them when you graduate and get into your career.

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I guess I don't really see the humor in this. You think it's funny that you put yourself at risk for respiratory failure because...why exactly? What's up with that?

Remember that we can't care for others if we don't first care for ourselves.

I disagree that medical professionals make the worst patients. It's a highly individual experience. I've taken care of doctors, nurses, EMTs, etc. and their family members who were the most easy going and cooperative people, and lay people who want to dictate every infinitesimal minutiae of their care. I've cared for medical people who are neurotic about every little cough or sneeze, and little old ladies that "don't want to be a bother" when they have one foot in the grave.

I go easy on people that need a little more practice with phlebotomy, injections, or intravenous access. What good does it do to be critical of them, when all they need is a little more practice or experience?

I was recently in the doctor's office and needed an injection. The MOA was new and was learning injections. She asked my permission to give me an injection, with the provider's supervision of course. I said sure, no problem. I didn't tell her I was a nurse, nor did I offer any pointers or critiques. I just told her to go for it, and afterward I told her she did a good job. I believe in building people up so they can get better at what they do, not tearing them down because they're not as good at it as I am. I'm only as good as I am because I've had lots of practice. I wasn't so great when I first started out, and I don't expect anyone else to be either.

Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better and didn't need to be intubated. Now next time, don't be such a pill and just get your butt in, okay? [/

QUOTE]

^^This^^ You read my mind "Stargazer".

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