Adventures in the McDonald's drive-through...

Nurses Relations

Published

Wow. Yesterday I started work before I went to work.

Didn't have anything for breakfast at home, so I decided to go to McDonald's on the way. I left my house early. Whe I got there, there were no other cars in line and only 1 little old man sitting at a table that I could see through the windows. I pulled up, ordered, and continued to the first window.

When I got there, the cashier girl took my money in a jerky fashion and closed the window. She seemed kind of slow mentally, but I didn't think anything of it cuz I know they hire "challenged" individuals and I didn't want to stare. As I was observing out of the corner of my eye, she seemed to become confused at the cash register. She stood staring for maybe 20 sec. Then, I leaned out of my window to ask if I had given her the wrong amount (b/c I still didn't want to ask if she was normally this way in case it embarassed her.) When I did, she turned and looked at me through the glass in a most peculiar fashion...

Then she began to shake, slowly at first, and then she violently rammed herself belly first into the register and began to fall. Well, I was screaming at this point, and as she fell I saw her manager come and see what was happening. So I burned major tire getting up to the door, threw it park and ran inside without closing my door.

Not all of the employees knew what had happened yet, so they all just saw some strange woman in scrubs come barging in the door and run through their cooking area to the back window. The girl was on the floor with her eyes open and her manager was beside her. As I ran, I grabbed the softest things I could find, which were the cook coats and a saints jacket and quickly stuffed them all around/under her and kicked everything else out of the way. I propped her slightly to the side and raised her legs up on some fry boxes. In the midst of this I had yelled at one fry girl to call 911, and amazingly, she did so right away. Also asked if they had an AED just in case. Nope. Oh well. Told them I was a nurse, and the manager told them to lock the store and posted someone to watch for the EMS.

The girl was nauseated, dizzy, and pale. And her hands had tremors, but otherwise she was just frightened. I asked if she was diabetic or had a history of seizures. Negative. Pregnant-yes.

Got off the phone and sat down with the girl and held her hand, comforted, calmed, etc. Asked her if I could call someone for her. She said yes. So I took her cell phone and dialed "mom." Told her mom that she had gotten dizzy and weak and that we were sending her to the hospital to get checked out. Had the other guy who was standing there go grab all of her things, purse, phone, wallet, etc. As I took off her hat and headset gear, the EMS guys arrived. I gave a quick report and got a free breakfast from the manager!

Whatta morning! I went to work afterwards and then noticed that I had grease all over the knees of my pants where I had slid down beside the girl. Whew! :lol2:

Your post reminded me of a somewhat similar experience (in a Mc Donald's parking lot).

I was driving home from work and was getting home really late. My relief had been late showing up and it was about 9:30pm. My babysitter was upset I was late and I was telling her I was only about 2 miles away.

Suddenly the two cars ahead of me stopped in our lane (far right lane). A fender bender was my guess; I was still trying to appease my babysitter, and was miffed they couldn't have pulled into the Mc Donalds parking lot to exchange info. So I decided to pull through the drive through to go around. I could see a police officer heading over. I glanced over as I pulled through the parking lot and noticed a large doll lying next to the stopped cars.

That's when I slammed on my brakes and hung up on the babysitter.

Because it wasn't a doll. And there hadn't been a fender bender.

A child had slipped away from her mother and had seen Mc Donalds and tried to cross a major road way (3 lanes going each way!). Right before she finished crossing, a car had struck her (sadly, not any of the stopped cars was the one that hit her).

Several people were there milling around and I could see the child struggling, so I stopped. I asked the officer if he wanted help.

"Oh, you're a nurse; thank God!" was his reply, followed by "Get over here!"

I've never realized how much we take our hospital equipment for granted. The little girl appeared to be about 18-24 months old. She had a mouth full of blood and multiple abrasions but was crying and struggling so much, I could conclude she had all her ABC's in order and nothing appeared to be broken. Everyone knows you shouldn't move an MVA victim, but she was stuggling so much that keeping her lying flat was out of the question.

I had someone bring a blanket and we wrapped her up. Vitals were pretty much impossible, but when a child is screaming and thrashing, it's almost more reassuring than if she had laid still and accepted my ministrations.

Then the ambulance arrived and shortly thereafter, her mother. I felt bad for her mother because we have all had times where no matter how vigilant, the child can be fast (especially when Mc Donalds is involved; the child had been heading for the "golden arches") and to see your child, bloody and broken, being loaded into an ambulance and have the police keep you from them because of "questions" had to be even more tortuous.

I never did know the outcome, but I was really glad I could help comfort the baby until help arrived. Based on the minimal injuries I could see (mostly abrasions and a broken tooth) I think she was most likely okay.

Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.

God put you where he needed you!

Just think, this could have been a week in the making. Your kids eating all the cereal last Friday (or whatever!:) put you there!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Float Pool, MICU, CTICU.

Great job! I cannot wait until I get my nursing degree! I have always been a caring person and having the ability to help those in need is something I truly value in Nurses and in other health-care related careers!!!

Glad you were able to help. I also am a RN. Love hearing stories like this. I always say things happen for a reason. RN's rock.

+ Add a Comment