Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Could Inserting a Suppository Do This?

This may seem like a stupid question but... When I was a new nurse, about a month out of nursing school, I was caring for a 87 yo Hospice patient. He had an order for a rectal suppository which I was about to administer. I took a few minutes to chat with him and he was alert in good spirits... laughing and joking with me... no signs of distress what-so-ever. So I administered the suppository, and as soon as I did he said "I don't feel so good" immediately became unresponsive and 5 minutes later he was gone. Could my inserting the suppository have done this? I felt so horrible about this at the time, he was the first patient I lost and I felt so worried that I did something wrong. :confused:

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    That sounds like a vagal response to me. Some people can get it simply from straining to go to have a BM.

  • Quote
    • Author

    Well that was my first inclination too. But I thought that would only slow the heart... not stop it. Especially so abruptly like that. I suppose if your heart is diseased anything is possible.

  • Quote

    I'm so sorry, I really did mean to add: You were helping him. It's nice to think that his last moments were pleasant and he was laughing and joking with his nurse. :)

  • Quote

    At age 87 "anything" could have been the cause of his death. Besides his age he was a hospice patient which indicates he had a terminal diagnosis.

    You would have had to be routing around in there to cause a vagal response that would cause a significant change in his heart rate. I'm sorry that happened to you.....I think it was just his time to go.

  • Quote
    • Author

    Thank you for your responses. Deep down I figured it had to be something more significant than my administering the suppository; I was hoping for some reassurance. As a new nurse it really shook me up. Thanks again.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.