patients eyes moving back and forth horizontally... dying?

[NurseyPoo7]

Had a new admission today - pt was a full code, supposed to go to step down unit. But came to our med surg today after she was stabilized on 100% face mask (aspiration). She got up to the unit right at shift change. Pulse ox was 97-100% when she first got up there. THen went into respiratory distress when the day shift nurse and CNA were in the room - pulse ox went down to 66% at the lowest. rapid response was called and they gave her Lasix, suctioned multiple times (bloody?!), ABGs, etc. (BTW this patient is from a nursing home, + MRSA, contractures, G-tube, colostomy, completely aphasic, eyes are open but pt is nonresponsive at baseline, the works).

They finally got a hold of the Dr who talked to the family (who hrs earlier wanted her to be intubated) and made her comfort care. (The critical care nurse who was talkign to MD on the phone mentioned the Dr wouldn't give a morphine drip order). Another dr who was on the unit came in and mentioned her eyes were moving back and forth horizontally and the day shift nurse asked a critical care nurse what he meant by that and the CC nurse said it means she's dying. Is this true? What makes this happen?

[leslie :-D]

Euthanasia implies intent to kill. Comfort care is not intended to kill, but keep patient free of pain and discomfort.

thank you, tencat!!

and yes, let's call it for what it really is!!

sheesh.

leslie

[NurseyPoo7]

I see a lot of you mentioning the nystagmus (Thanks, I knew there was a term for it, but I couldn't remember) in brain damage ... I did see she had a Hx of CVA but when I was in the room when she first got to the floor (she was on the floor less than 20-30 minutes before she de-satted) I didn't notice it.

her eyes were open but there was NOTHING there. And even before she got to the floor, I knew she would be a mess... considering her history ... decubs, +MRSA, contractures, colostomy, PEG, aphasic, etc.... And the fact the ER record specifically stated the MD said it was a poor prognosis but family still wanted her to be a full code... I know that is there decision but if my mother was in that situation, I wouldn't want her to suffer being in that condition .