Coding visitors?

[blondy2061h]

I had a patient last night who was well over 80. She was a DNR. Her husband, also well over 80, was spending the night. I went into the room to hang an IV med and there he was. And he looked dead. I stood watching him for like a solid 30 seconds, and he didn't appear to be breathing. When I went closed to him it became apparent that he was breathing. But he seriously looked dead for a second there, lying perfectly still, gray, and with a solidly positive "o sign."

Obviously I was glad he wasn't dead, but it got me thinking- what if he had been?

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

I guess in a hospital setting it would be different but I work in ltc so I personally wouldn't code a visitor unless it was a child because we woulnt have a legal responsibility for a visitor . I would call 911 though . we might be covered under the good samaritan law nut Iyself still wouldn't risk it in my setting.

Try that it's BOHICAWOKY time, you have a professional responsibility to give emergency care, yes you'd call 911/999/112 or whatever the local number for accessing EMS is but meanwhile you should act to your scope of practice

the good samaritan principle would not apply for the following reasons

1. you are a Healthcare professional, and,

2. you are on duty

[colddeadpeople]

Go to lunch.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

There's still a little hope with the "o" sign.....with the "Q" sign, it's a done deal :)