Re: Most Embarassing Nursing Moments
My very first pt who died after I was off orientation was a very sweet lady with a caring family. I tried to do all the correct nursing interventions, explaining to the family what was happening to their mom, etc. Finally, she brady'd down, I went in the room, and the US came over the speaker and confirmed asystole. No pulse, no breathing, she's gone.
So, I'm feeling okay that I handled my very first death without freaking/hysterics, etc.; I'd told everyone I was worried that I hadn't had my first "death" yet, but feel like I handled it well. I come out of the room and see all the nurses on the shift looking at the monitor. The US whispers, "Hey, nerd, your pt's heart is beating again."
Now, everyone in the pt's room is crying, and I know the lady's not breathing. My charge says, "give it a minute." Minute passes, still has a steady beat.
"Maybe it's PEA," someone says.
"Go check her."
I go in, pretending to see if they need anything, and take a sneaky pulse. Nada.
Go back to the nurse's station, and I tell them I got nothing. They're all pointing at the monitor, and I still see the prettiest sinus rhythm. Now, I'm about to flip because I know, I KNOW that woman doesn't have a pulse, and her heartbeat is better than it's been since she got here.
Finally, the charge nurse gives this big "cat ate the bird" grin and pulls up her scrub top. She'd put on a monitor and the US had shifted the pt's readout to the charge nurse.
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