I know for a fact I picked the right field... :)

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I have to share my day with others. Today I had the chance to spend the day "working" in Trauma ICU. I missed my clinicals this week and to make it up, my clinical instructor allowed me to spend the day with her in Trauma ICU.

I am only a first semester nursing student, thus I haven't seen anything "intense" (i.e., critical patients) during my hospital clinicals. Today I was a little overwhelmed with the fact that all of the patients on this floor were basically struggling to hold on to their life. All of the patients had a tube coming out of every orifice, drainages everywhere, central lines everywhere, and many other odd looking devices and tubes that I had never heard or seen before. Although overwheming and a little scary at first, I soon adjusted and got down and dirty.

I witnessed a patient brought in from the operating room to repair an abdominal wound due to a gunshot wound, but as they were admitting him to the Trauma ICU, he began to crash. Surgeons and residents rushed in and started to do surgery on him right there. He ended up dying and I was able to watch some post-mortem care.

I helped with the care of two patients -- one critically ill patient whose temperature kept spiking to over 107 degrees and heartrate was spiking into the 180's. He was a 17 year old male who has been comatose for over a month. The doctors and residents was telling the family that he probably wouldn't last too much longer and should start thinking about stopping all care and letting nature takes its toll and let him die. Even though I only spent 9 hours with this young comatose patient, I became incredibly attached to him (probably because he was so young). I really enjoyed taking care of him, even though everything that could go wrong went wrong. I honestly thought he was going to die by the time I left. As we were taking care of him, suctioning, cleaning his wounds, sticking him with IV's, etc, I stroked his hair and arms and talked to him. Even though he is comatose and has irreversible brain damage, I felt the need to try and comfort him. There were a few times when I was left in the room by myself with the patient, and as I cared for him I talked to him. I have heard and read that patients who are barely holding on to life need some assurance that it is ok to let go and proceed to whatever lays ahead. As I sat in the room by myself, I finished what I was there to do and decided to stand next to him for a few minutes and just soothe him. I prayed for him (I was shocked I even did this because I NEVER pray) and put my head down next to his and whispered to him "... it is time to let go and go home... it is time to go home... there is no need to suffer anymore...".

As I walked out of the Trauma ICU this afternoon, a smile came upon my face and I realized that I made the right choice in life to pursue nursing... this field was meant for me.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Awesome. Never a dull moment in trauma nursing. Good luck in school.

Specializes in PCU/Hospice/Oncology.

I am so thankful to hear that you feel so passionate about your experience. I would say thats a life changing experience because it definitely sounds like it solidified your love of this field.

Ive had similar experiences and I am thankful everyday I enter the hospital now because of them.

Do yourself right, study hard, try to take in as MUCH as you can from clinical and continue to share your love and compassion with the world :)

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

WOW!!! Not only will you be a gifted nurse, you are a gifted writer.

Way to go!! I love your enthusiasm. There is no doubt in my mind that he knew you were there with him. How does one who is so young (you) have such a handle on death and dying already??! Telling him to let go and go to the other side is pretty cool!! I totally believe there is a reason for everything and that you 'happened' to end up in trauma ER is no accident!! Good luck to you. Keep us all informed how it is going for you!! And keep writing.

:yeah::yeah::yeah:

great jpb!!

Wow.....great story. I start classes in a few weeks. I hope I will have a story that makes me realize I picked the right field....

Specializes in ICU, Mother/Baby.

Thanks for sharing. You are a great writer too. I felt like I was right there with you. I too agree with the other poster that things happen for a reason and you were put there today for a reason. Perhaps thats the area you'll end up end. It sounds like you handled that situation great.It also sounds like you are going to be an awesome nurse!

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