advice?

[sweetieann]

Hi everyone,

Out of curiosity--if you had a pt who fainted ("passed out") would you call a condition or just get some smelling salts? This is of course if they are NOT i narrest (have heart rate, are breathing, etc)

Thanks!

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

It all depends what condition the patient was in prior to fainting. In ER, if I was giving a shot (to otherwise healthy patient -tetorifice) I would assume vasalvagal response and lay down. Had a patient who had very distended abdomen and hx of gi bleed-went out in front of me-pulled code button-fluids bolused, placed in trendelenberg(no gi bleed-huge amount of gas passed)-ended up ok. Any symptomatic patient would automatically get ekg. I have also seen on oncology floor ammonia capsules taped to bedside walls and doors. I know my answer is all over the place, but don't think your question has just one valid answer. Hoped that helped...

Maisy;)

[sweetieann]

say they had an eating disorder/hadn't eaten?

Thanks for your response :)

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

Would depend on patient's condition: BP too low-dehydrated?, Electrolyte imbalance vomiting?, low blood sugar? Is the patient admitted? Being treated? Again, unfortunately it would depend on patient's condition.

A regular person on the street who had a possible (undocumented)eating disorder who is underweight could be suffering hypoglycemia or low bp-ammonia good idea-but what if there are underlying arrhthmias? Not enough perfusion to brain? A million other things.

Any syncopal episode requires medical followup with an ekg and a cardiac workup and full physical.

Maisy