So today I left work and was on my way to meet hubby and kiddo to run errands. I was about 5 minutes away when I get a call from him saying they've been in a car accident! "We're ok though".
I arrive on scene, police had just gotten there as well. I see the car and someone sideswiped the passenger side of his 2 door coupe. My son was in the back seat passenger side. I do a look over of him, quick assessment and take him out of the car. He's blabbing on and on about his new crazy experience. (6 yr old aspiring race car driver) looking good.
The officer asked if I wanted an ambulance to come and I said yes.
So ambulance arrived on scene. My kid is just yapping away and enjoying all the attention. The medics take one look at me and say "but you're a nurse, you could've handled this, he seems fine". (Still had my badge on from work)
I said "yes but I'm an OR nurse so not exactly my forte plus I'd feel much better if he got a full assessment and some vitals".
So all in all everything is fine, the medics were really great but this raised a thought for me......
The medics take one look at me and say "but you're a nurse, you could've handled this, he seems fine". (Still had my badge on from work)
As a nurse-medic, I get all sorts of playful grief from my prehospital peers regarding my decision to be a nurse (Example: "such a pity - why waste your brain on being a nurse when you could have been a paramedic the whole time?" My retort is typically something along the lines of "well, somebody's gotta clean up what you guys bring in"). We respect and trust each other with our lives, but it's a rivalry that's been going on ever since paramedics and nurses occupied the same planet.
It's possible that the medics were trying to infuse a little humor into the situation, but for reasons stated above, it often comes across as a little demeaning. Kind of like making a task incredibly simple and down to earth so it's "firefighter-proof".
To answer your question, I personally think you handled the situation perfectly. I sincerely wish the best for your family.
I would have said "I am an RN, which trumps a medic, therefore......" and watched those sparks fly for awhile.....
In all seriousness, thank goodness no one was hurt. But as we know, when someone is in a car accident, injuries don't always make themselves well known until hours after. So to get some sort of baseline for the benefit of your son's pediatrician going forward is never a bad thing. Especially when 8 hours or a day later your son is complaining of his back hurting, or some other thing that is unlikely for him.
Glad everyone was OK! And yes, you absolutely did the right thing!
This quickly brought to mind a recent thread in which someone asked if nurses were considered First Responders (simply by virtue of being a nurse). The significant majority said "NO"; the exceptions were those who really DO function as First Responders, but have training and experience above the average run-of-the-mill nurse, if you get what I mean. IOW, nurses are not First Responders unless they really do have knowledge that sets them apart. And certainly those who don't work with patients, don't work at the bedside, are essentially desk-employees, couldn't be called First Responders with a straight face.
This thread is a perfect example of why we are NOT First Responders just because there's an "RN" after our names.
My 10 yr old son was born with a VSD. Around the two week mark he started showing CHF sx, and I kept telling myself, "He's fine. All babies breathe fast. All newborns sleep a lot. He's fine." I was a CVICU nurse at the time. My CFO, biology hating, "I could never be in healthcare" husband said, "Look at him. He's NOT fine. You need to get his appointment moved up."
That was when I realized how completely nonobjective I am where my kids are involved. Sometimes when we want to believe they are fine, our eyes can deceive us. You were right to have him brought in!
I would have done it for the exact same reasons that you and others have stated. I also look at it from a different point: Insurance.
It is good they were seen by paramedics on the scene so if anything else happens and they have to return to the ER or doctor for injuries then at least they were seen by a professional on site. Insurance companies will look for any reason not to pay.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
Oh defiantly yes and I would have been right behind that ambulance taking care of my child. You are entitled to the same level of care as if you were just a non-health care individual. It is true that sometimes we lose perspective when it involves our loved ones.
I would have done it for the exact same reasons that you and others have stated. I also look at it from a different point: Insurance.
It is good they were seen by paramedics on the scene so if anything else happens and they have to return to the ER or doctor for injuries then at least they were seen by a professional on site. Insurance companies will look for any reason not to pay.
Excellent point. Can't you just see something cropping up later that requires treatment (and is worse because it was missed at the time of the accident)? And then what, the insurance company is going to subrogate against MOM because she was the nurse who initially denied treatment?
Spinning off into the stratosphere of ugly possibilities, there.
I would have done it for the exact same reasons that you and others have stated. I also look at it from a different point: Insurance.
It is good they were seen by paramedics on the scene so if anything else happens and they have to return to the ER or doctor for injuries then at least they were seen by a professional on site. Insurance companies will look for any reason not to pay.
Yes! This! I did think this as well because worse case scenario if something happened to my child I would want insurance to know he WAS evaluated at the scene! Thanks 😉
I'm so outnumbered here. I think the EMS response was similar to what we nurses do. I completely understand what they said and why they said it.
How many times have any of us rolled our eyes when a family brings a loved one in because they fell. No injuries. No deficits. No complaints. That's exactly how the EMS saw the situation.
I wouldn't have sent my child to the ER in the situation described in the OP, but I get why she did. There are no rights or wrongs here, just a simple what would you do.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It's inappropriate to act as a practicing nurse for our loved ones. I would have been polite but direct, like the poster said above me. "Yes I am a nurse, but in this case, today, I am a MOM, not a nurse"......
No need to "trump" anyone. Unnecessary. Just be direct and remind them you are a parent, and therefore unable to be objective.
CamillusRN, BSN
434 Posts
As a nurse-medic, I get all sorts of playful grief from my prehospital peers regarding my decision to be a nurse (Example: "such a pity - why waste your brain on being a nurse when you could have been a paramedic the whole time?" My retort is typically something along the lines of "well, somebody's gotta clean up what you guys bring in"). We respect and trust each other with our lives, but it's a rivalry that's been going on ever since paramedics and nurses occupied the same planet.
It's possible that the medics were trying to infuse a little humor into the situation, but for reasons stated above, it often comes across as a little demeaning. Kind of like making a task incredibly simple and down to earth so it's "firefighter-proof".
To answer your question, I personally think you handled the situation perfectly. I sincerely wish the best for your family.