PTSD in ED Nursing/ Critical Care Nursing

Wow Mike!

I don't even know where to begin!
Thank you for sharing such an intimate, personal glimpse of your rials and tribulations.

Not too long ago, we had a rather bad trauma [we aren't a designated trauma center]. From the time we heard the panicked voice over the radio informing us of the incident... to the actual time the patient rolled in, I felt a sense of dread like I'd never felt before.

And soon enough, my fears were confirmed. The patient was a health care professional - someone we all knew. We fought like alley cats to keep the pt. alive, but it was futile (pt. was probably long gone way before EMS reached the site) - but it was a cluster**** to say the least. Way too much blood, impossible to intubate, two crikes that failed along with the three suction cans we set up. It was infuriating, maddening and saddening to say the least.

Here was a person I saw living and breathing not barely 16 hours ago, shared a joke or two. And now the pt. is dead - leaving behind a spouse and two young children...

It was horrid and horrible.
Management stepped in and did some counselling - and some of us who needed professional help got it ASAP.

(emphasis mine) Oh absolutely!!


I'm so sorry I have no links or words of comfort to help you

- Roy

You do learn some tricks of self-preservation too - you have to! Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness. Rather, its a sign that you want to continue to do the job as well as you can and for that you might occasionally need some help.