I've got to brag!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Just have to brag a little on my Sister in law. She's 19, and has just got a job cleaning an older widow's (84 - 85 yo) house. She was supposed to start Saturday. This involved picking the lady up, taking her to her hair appointment, going back to clean the house, then bringing her home. She has no family in this area.

Well, She got there about 9:30 Saturday AM, and there was no answer when she knocked, but the door was slightly open. After several attepmts, she opened the screen door and called out to see if she was OK. Thats when she saw the lady lying on the floor in the kitchen, unconscious, surrounded by mucous and vomit. She was breathing "very shallow and sounded all rattleyl", but didn't have a great Airway, so Amanda repositioned her, and called 911. Paramedics arrived, did their thing, but on the way to the hospital, the lady coded. She was intubated and was in ICU that night, out to the floor Sunday.

She had a cerebral hemorrhage, and they think that she was unconscious from Friday night 'during supper' because her food was half-eaten. The last time anyone had seen her was @1630 Friday.

Amanda had only met her about a week before, but she went to the hospital with her, stayed there and got in touch with some neighbors, etc., so she could get in touch with the lady's nieces & nephews all of whom live at least 2 states away. then she went back with another neighbor and cleaned up the kitchen. "I didn't want her family to walk in to find all that mess in the floor."

When I saw my Sis in law yesterday, She gave me a great big hug, and said, "I really wish you had been with me yesterday." I told her that it sounded like she did the right thing, and that she probably didn't need me, and that I thought she did a great job. Her dad is firefighter and paramedic, and he was about to burst with pride. :D she never panicked, and remembered her ABC's. She has no medical training, and took CPR sometime in highschool.

Oh, she went back to the hospital yesterday to check on the lady, and meet the family. They tried to pay her for her time. She told them no. "I did it because it was the right thing to do, and I think that anyone would have done the same thing."

So this is for all those who think there is no hope for the next generation--- TAKE HEART! :)

Brag a little?!

You should brag a LOT.

What a wonderful family you must have. It does makes my heart soar to hear things like this. Give her a pat for me.;)

I'm with you, Mofe'ny -

She's a gem, and I agree with Agnus that she deserves a LOT of bragging.

Isn't it sad how people tend to think all teenagers are careless, lazy, and hostile?

Is there any way you could write a letter to the editor of your paper or anything like that, so that people would hear about this young lady who protected the lady's airway, called 911, stayed with the lady, CLEANED UP AFTER HER, and *THEN* refused to be paid!!!

I think people (besides us) need to know about it - people who know her who can .. I don't know what, specifically, but make a big deal, somehow.

That's *my* opinion.

Love

Dennie

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

DITTO!!!

Why not encourage your sister-in-law to become a nurse;)

She sounds like a jewel. What an encouragement reading this post!

Mofe'ny,

I agree with Nurse Dennie. The world needs more "good stories". We just don't hear enough about everyday acts of courage and kindness. I too am tired of today's teenagers being looked down upon. You really should share this story with your community.

Colleen ;)

Bless her precious heart....

Hugs to her...

Julie:)

I do have a great family. By the way, I thought that I mentioned before, but didn't (oops), this is my brother's wife-- they got married in April. I think that she is a gem too!!! :D And he is also very proud of her. Of course, we've been friends for a very long time kind of grew up together and our parents have been friends as long as I can remember. Healingtouch, She did tell me that she didn't think that she could be a nurse--- I already mentioned it to her. ;) "A little too much adrenaline going for me!"

I think God put her there just in time-- I found out later that the lady coded in the ambulance on the way to the hospital! Amanda was afraid that repositioning her might have made the hemorrhage worse-- and was upset about that. I told her not to worry- she did what any medical professional coming on that scene should have done.

The funny thing is her 15 yo brother was like---- that is not such a big deal, anybody knows what to do! So her dad falls on the floor in the kitchen and says "well, fix me-- let's say you just found me unconscious." UHHHHHH.

Brother: "First, I take your pulse>"

Dad: "Why do you want to do that?"

Brother: " UMM, Cause then I know if you're alive!"

Well, her brother has then had a crash course in CPR, which was repeated in our Sunday School class at church -- For the whole church-- since her dad teaches the Adult Sunday school class, and thought that was important stuff! He's not a certified instructor- but he gave a clear enough illustration I think most people could benefit from it. And there were a lot of people talking about going to a CPR class after church.

I think that a lot of people learned from Amanda's experience. Guess I'll probably never know how many people were helped from it, too!

:roll

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