Did I do ok???

[luv'nlife068]

I am a new nurse and don't have a job yet. I kind of had my first patient today & just pray that what I did was enough. On my way home I cam upon a motorcycle accident that had just happened. EMS was being called as I got out of the car. The guy hit some gravel on the road and flipped his bike end over end about 20 - 30 yards. He landed face down and his friends had flipped him over when I got there. He had a head injury, he wasn't wearing a helmet, on the back of his head and was bleeding out his left ear. He wouldn't really respond to any questions and was thrashing around and trying to get up. My first thought was to keep him still since he was conscience & breathing. That was a chore because he was very muscular and strong. That was my main concern was to keep him as still as possible till EMS arrived. I just talked to him & told him to not move and try to lay still. One of his friends tried to keep something on the gash on the back of his head. EMS had to sedate him because he kept breaking the straps on the stretcher. After EMS got there, I thought man, I should have kept his head still by putting it between my knees. You know how you go over a situation in your head and kick yourself for not doing something. Life-flight came to the scene and flew him to Austin. Anyway, just wanted to share my day and ask for prayers for Mario the motorcycle guy. He had a pretty significant head injury and no telling what else internally from rolling under his bike.

[R*Star*RN, BSN, RN]

I think you did the right thing attempting to keep the guy still. Hindsight is always 20/20, you're right that putting his head between your knees would have been better, but you will always remember that for next time.

The important thing is that you tried to help to the best of your knowledge as a new nurse. You remembered the ABC's and to keep a head/spinal injury still.