I was wondering if you guys are able to ever turn off being a nurse, or if you are always in "Nurse Mode".
I went to a concert last weekend, POD and Linkin Park in case anybody was wondering. We had a good time, rocking out, out of the corner of my eye I see this girl go to the floor. Instinct just took over, threw my camera to my brother, ran over there, check on the girl, do an assessment (she is pretty drowsy, almost passed out, compination of exhaustion, overheating, dehydration and at least a contact high I would guess), start barking orders at people arround me "YOU, get me some water. YOU, fan her. YOU, find security, have them page EMS" She was allright, the event EMT's escorted her out. I stood back up, started rocking again, took pictures. Just routine, nothing exciting happened, nothing a nurse couldn't handle.
Anybody have experiences like that, when the nurse inside of you just takes over? It was kinda weird how routine it seemed, it was a little adrenaline rush, but nothing to panic about.
At a concert, people are passing out, no sweat, I'm a nurse, just routine for us, lol.
Nope - never turn it off, but I don't announce the fact either. I do however volunteer on my rural EMS/Fire Dept and absolutely love the adrenaline rush, the lights and sirens are cool too!
Uhh....I moderate here in my spare time...does THAT answer your question??
Actually, lately I've given myself a few kicks for NOT being more pro-active in a nursing role where family members were involved. I was the first to notice my father slumped to the left in his wheelchair, and right away suspected a mild CVA, which the Nursing Home did not pick up on until the next day. Why didn't I report it? Because it was change of shift! I caught his HCA on her way out the door, and she said she hadn't noticed anything, he'd been fine all day. So, I shrugged, said to myself, "Don't be an overanxious relative," and went home!!
He wound up developing a stage 4 pressure ulcer on his left buttock due to not being repositioned in the WC often enough, or being put to bed for a nap to relieve pressure.
Then, there's my husband. When he had his stroke, the doctor let him go 18 hours without ANY fluids of any kind, because he had dysphagia. He had an IV cannula in each antecubital....I mean, HELLOOOO??? What are they there for...decoration?? When they delivered his b'fst tray, there were only regular fluids on it, which he couldn't drink. So, I had to wait until lunch time, when he finally got the appropriate diet. I wasn't around to kick up a fuss, because I had to go upstairs for a clinic appt. about my drippy sinuses/sinus headaches.
They also let him go too long without being repositioned (more than 48 hrs. in the ER), and by the time he got to a regular bed, he had a stage 2 pressure ulcer on his left buttock. Again, two kicks to me for not thinking about this! He's my husband, the guy who used to do wind sprints up and down the street....how could he develop a pressure sore??
I guess that's why the won't let nurses and doctors treat family members! Your objectivity and reasoning powers get shot to hell! :imbar
:imbar
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
87 Articles; 21,287 Posts
Nope - never turn it off, but I don't announce the fact either. I do however volunteer on my rural EMS/Fire Dept and absolutely love the adrenaline rush, the lights and sirens are cool too!