Nurses stopping for an accident scene - topic revisit

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

This topic has been discussed to death with many different opinions on what to do. After my recent ordeal, I just want to thank those of you that choose to stop.

Last night my 17 year old son was involved in a 3 car accident along a local highway. He has a broken leg and his 2 buddies in the car were unhurt. As I drove frantically (but safely) to the scene he was on the phone with me telling me about the 2 nurses that had immediately stopped to help him. "I'm fine Mom and the 2 nurses standing here want me to tell you that I will be OK. They said they would stay with me until you're here if I want them to".

My son has talked about those nurses making him feel so much better on several occasions today. They didn't do a darn thing clinically for him but I'm so darn grateful that they took the time to provide my son with the emotional support that I was not there to provide when he was scared to death.

They were gone when I arrived but if you happen to have been a nurse along a highway in the midwest last night helping 3 scared teenage boys I will never be able to thank you enough!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

So glad they were ok. As a mom, we always worry and hope others do the right thing in a time of need.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
They were gone when I arrived but if you happen to have been a nurse along a highway in the midwest last night helping 3 scared teenage boys I will never be able to thank you enough!

If you happen to follow any of the previous "Stop at an accident threads" you would know there was very, very little chance the ones that stopped were allnurses members.

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Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.
This topic has been discussed to death with many different opinions on what to do. After my recent ordeal, I just want to thank those of you that choose to stop.

Last night my 17 year old son was involved in a 3 car accident along a local highway. He has a broken leg and his 2 buddies in the car were unhurt. As I drove frantically (but safely) to the scene he was on the phone with me telling me about the 2 nurses that had immediately stopped to help him. "I'm fine Mom and the 2 nurses standing here want me to tell you that I will be OK. They said they would stay with me until you're here if I want them to".

My son has talked about those nurses making him feel so much better on several occasions today. They didn't do a darn thing clinically for him but I'm so darn grateful that they took the time to provide my son with the emotional support that I was not there to provide when he was scared to death.

They were gone when I arrived but if you happen to have been a nurse along a highway in the night helping 3 scared teenage boys I will never be able to thank you enough![/quote

Nascar

I am so glad your son will be okay.

Hoping he has a speedy recovery

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

What an awful scare! So glad your boy will be OK! As far as the stopping at the scene thing, I don't think I could just drive by injured people without stopping if only to check for bleeding, thinking that's one intervention that if not done would probably result in the person's death. Honestly, my feeling about about those two nurses would probably be gratitude.

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

I'm so glad they are okay. I can't imagine the worry you had for your son. Those nurses rock!

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I am so happy to have read this, and grateful that everyone is going to be OK. Bless the comforting nurses that helped your son, and bless us one and all this Christmas season. :)

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I'm happy your son is OK

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

My main concern with nurses stopping to assist the injured at the roadside is their safety. That being said, as long as they're able to stay safe, and at least be a calming influence on things, I think it's great that they're willing to stop and help.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.
That being said, as long as they're able to stay safe... I think it's great that they're willing to stop and help.
That's the problem. Nurses (unless they're former Fire/EMS/LE or part of a flight program) haven't got the training to be "safe" at an accident scene. You don't know what you don't know, unless you know it. How to stage your vehicle at an accident, how to approach a damaged vehicle, hazards that the vehicle itself presents, etc. I could go on. If you're not a prehospital provider, you have no place at the scene of an accident on a busy roadway. All you are is an additional hazard.
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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
If you happen to follow any of the previous "Stop at an accident threads" you would know there was very, very little chance the ones that stopped were allnurses members.
I disagree......for I think when nurses are faced with the decision to stop or not to stop.....they actually do stop. I encourage that nurses be careful what they try to do at the scene and looking at Nascar's post these nurses calmed some very scared teenagers.....which is about the extent of what most nurses....even ED/EMS trained nurses can do little at an accident scene without equipment to immobilize.

Most of the time we roll up on the scene....police are already there.....but when you see something happen it is instinct to call for help and to keep everyone calm.

Nascar....as the Mommy of a budding driver nail-biting.gif....my worse nightmare will be that phone call.....Mrs. Mommy .......this is Your Worst Nightmare Hospital ED.......your daughter has been in an accident...scared-smiley-emoticon.gif.

I am so happy everything is essentially OK......I wish your son a speedy recovery and God Bless those compassionate nurses who took the time to comfort a scared teen.

Nascar....hug-2.gifit's all going to be OK....;)

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Specializes in PACU, ED.
That's the problem. Nurses (unless they're former Fire/EMS/LE or part of a flight program) haven't got the training to be "safe" at an accident scene. You don't know what you don't know, unless you know it. How to stage your vehicle at an accident, how to approach a damaged vehicle, hazards that the vehicle itself presents, etc. I could go on. If you're not a prehospital provider, you have no place at the scene of an accident on a busy roadway. All you are is an additional hazard.

Having provided care at accident scenes I disagree with your assessment that I was just an additional hazard. At one I was able to stop bleeding from lacerations, perform an initial assessment of who was injured and later report that to EMS, and describe how the accident happened to police when they arrived. The way the vehicles spun after the accident made it difficult for anyone but a witness to know how it occurred.

It's pretty much standard that states require witnesses to remain at the scene until police arrive. If I must stay anyway I might as well offer help within my level of expertise and scope of practice. Good Samaritan laws are based on the assumption that it's desirable to have people assist at an accident scene whether they are civilians, nurses, doctors, or trained Fire/EMS/LE. Of course, if I stop and someone says they don't want assistance I'll honor their wishes.

To the OP, I'm sure those nurses know your son appreciated their care. I'm glad they were there to help him.

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