Was not on duty this particular day but one of my co-workers had a horrible experience. She was covering for her partner when she notices that one of the leads of the telemetry monitor comes off. She goes in to check on the patient. Patient had been admitted as a walkin talkie. Steady no fall risk. Pt was on BiPAP that night and when she goes in to reconnect the lead . PT states he wants to get up and go to bath room b/c he was feeling a little nauseous. Pt is about 6'2" or so. Strong guy normally steady on his feet. PT got up at of bed and without warning passed out in front of her. There was nothing she could do. Pt just passed out hit the floor and ended up quadraplegic if you can believe that. How freaky is that.
Horrible for the nurse horrible for the family and patient. But it happen so fast so sudden. All the right things was done PA covering had experience with neuro and logged rolled patient it was just horrible. It could have been any of us on duty.
I have a habit to always tell my patient please please do not get up out of bed if you feel dizzy if you do not feel well. However patient have minds of there own. I had a patient one morning that I told this to. He too was a tall man independent steady patient. I told him not to get up without calling me but in the morning patient felt like getting up he did just that and fell head first. Pt cut his forhead told me later how sorry he was for not listening to me. Hey what can you do.
Stuff like this happens. Since this happen to this other nurse its made me a little more nerevous about my patient. Especially when my partner goes on break and there are more patients to cover.
I had another patient one night who was s/p fall at home. In ER Ct scan showed a small bleed. I kept checking on this patient. He had been independent at home and very reluctant to call for assistance. I kept reminding him this was only tempory until the doctors took care of his bleed. Patient was so upset that I wanted to help him each time he got out of bed that he asked for another nurse stating that I was making him feel like he was incompetent. He got another nurse that night and that particular nurse ignored him all night. I had another patient in that room and would go in and talk to him often and check in on him. The patient that did not want me stating I was over protective then was complaining b/c he was being ignored by his new nurse. Patient can drive you to drink but in the end the nurse will always be blamed.
I heard that on inguiry they even asked our manager that if the patient truely fell why didnt the nurse fall with him as well. Go figure its so scary sometimes in this profession. It truely scares me some times. I pray before every shift. Its hard enough when a patient does not survive a heart attack but to have something random happen like this truely pulls on your heart.
Well just sharing hoping all you nurses out there stay safe. Say a prayer for this nurse and this patient family as well.
This Was Truely Unexpected Event
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