But you're a nurse, you could've done this....

Nurses Relations

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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......

What would other nurses have done? Thoughts?

When it comes to my family, I'm not a nurse. When in doubt call 911, ambulance and all. Ofcourse my nursing background may help but it is always best to get an objective opinion.

Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I also would have called. Granted, I'm not a nurse yet but I totally agree with others who said its just different when it's your loved ones.

My husband was in the hospital last year for an outpatient procedure and when he went to get clothes on there was blood. A LOT of blood. Now I'm not squeamish at all and blood in general does not bother me, but the sight of HIS blood and the nurse calmly but loudly asking for help to come into his room made me go a bit pale and have to sit down lol

Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

I see both sides to the situation. But as my child's mother looking out for their best interest, I'm going to do what my instincts tell me to do.

Glad everyone is okay!

two words, "Natasha Richardson".

His comments were totally inappropriate - no health professional should never be asked to treat or assess a family member! I think you handled the situation very well, and I'm glad that it all ended well :)

Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

I have performed the Heimlich on my son when he choked on food at a restaurant, but when we were rearended at full speed, even though everyone seemed fine, absolutely we took him in to be assessed.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

No badge on and you aren't in my ER, Im not a nurse then.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Prime example of a slow bleed. :(

two words, "Natasha Richardson".
Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I agree that maybe the medic shouldn't have said that, but he may have been trying to be sarcastic.

Another thing is we hate getting called to "evaluate" someone, whether child or adult, we are not physicians and cannot diagnose, thus we cannot tell you you are fine or your child is fine... we can treat what is wrong and take you, or your child, to the hospital, or if nothing is visibly wrong take you or your child to the hospital so that a doctor can tell you that your child or you are fine.

I always tell these folks I am not a doctor and cannot tell you you are fine or your child is fine, even if its really obvious they are, I tell them they need to decide if they want to go to the hospital or not, I cannot do that for them.

Annie

Gosh, I guess I'm in the minority here, but from what it sounds like, I wouldn't have summoned EMS. Even in the setting of an epidural hematoma, what are the EMTs going to pick up on in the absence of symptoms? Really, the child needs close observation for 24 hours or so, and immediate medical evaluation should symptoms develop. No ER (reputable) doctor is going to scan your kid's head just because you're worried.

Having said this, I do understand that just being a nurse doesn't automatically equate to feeling comfortable with this level of assessment, especially when family members are involved, so I can't fault a nurse for wanting an assessment by professionals who see this sort of thing all the time and thus have a higher level of comfort with it.

Another thing is we hate getting called to "evaluate" someone, whether child or adult, we are not physicians and cannot diagnose, thus we cannot tell you you are fine or your child is fine... we can treat what is wrong and take you, or your child, to the hospital, or if nothing is visibly wrong take you or your child to the hospital so that a doctor can tell you that your child or you are fine.

I always tell these folks I am not a doctor and cannot tell you you are fine or your child is fine, even if its really obvious they are, I tell them they need to decide if they want to go to the hospital or not, I cannot do that for them.

Annie

You cannot give a medical diagnosis, but you can give your impression. Telephone triage nurses do it all the time. In my state, RNs are qualified to perform a Medical Screening Evaluation to determine if a medical emergency exists.

Don't sell yourself short. You most certainly *are* qualified to determine whether someone should go to the ER or not.

Of course, you should always cover your behind with the disclaimer that you are not a physician, there may be something you don't know, and that if the person feels they may be having a medical emergency, then they should go to the ER- which it sounds like what you are already doing. But to play dumb, like you don't know anything, is really short changing yourself, and potentially setting the patient up for a huge medical bill that is not warranted.

If you don't think a person is having a medical emergency that warrants emergent intervention, you can tell them so and direct them to the the appropriate level of care, as long as you include the disclaimer above. It is not the same as giving a medical diagnosis, and telephone triage programs across the country would not exist were this not true.

If you're not comfortable with this, then say you're not comfortable with this. But to claim that it is outside of the RN scope of practice- and that by extension, no RN should give medical advice- is erroneous.

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