A funny thing happened last night

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was caring for a patient in which the family was considering withdrawal of care. The family had finally come to a consensus to "take the tube out" and withdraw care. The resident I acknowledged their request. We left the room for a minute and then I heard the ventilator alarming when I went back in the room the daughter had pulled the patient off the ventilator and had unplugged the vent as well. It was all I could do to keep a straight face.:eek:

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Specializes in CVICU, ER, NICU, Neuro ICU, Flight Nurse.

How did the parient respond? That would have cut those visiting hours pronto!

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

Oh wow! That is really weird and sick! How could the daughter do that to her own parent?

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I'm sure it took much courage on the daughter's part.

The media-TV and film-make it seem as if all you need to do is turn the vent off or stop the IV and death is immediate.

I can't fault the daughter.

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We take people off life support on a pretty regular basis. Never had a family memebr do it for us!!!!! I always tell people, even on the brain dead ones, we don't know how long this may take. I don't want you to expect him to pass immediately because it may not happen that way. You DO know that it is the patient that you predict out loud to the family will die instantaneously who will live another 10 years, RIGHT??????

So did the patient die right away? Hmmm...maybe it's because I am in the biz but I think I would have wanted a MSO4 drip hanging and the cuff deflated!!!!

You are right about the media-they make it look like nothing!

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i lost confidence in the media when one show had an actor saying "Give 20cc.s of Diazepam STAT"..Calling Dr Kevorkian!

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Hey Sleepqd-LOL!!

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DERN! That kid took it seriously, or did not like the parent. I can imagine your reaction. I would have been shocked more than anything and not had to worry about a straight face.

Nick

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Holy crap. That's all I can say 'bout that....................

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What's the rest of the story...what happened next?????...LR

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Is there some sort of legality here on the part of the daughter...

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Holy Ambu-bag, Batman!! :eek:

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