how many of you have been out in public when you had to step in and offer your assistance, or did you?
i'm just asking because today i took my kids for a surprise visit to the park which is (unfortunately) a rare event. while they were playing, a little girl started screeeaming at the top of her lungs and holding her arm. luckily, she was being dramatic! but before i (and everyone else) realized this for certain, i was thinking, "i do NOT want to deal with this right now." had she really been hurt, i know i probably would've ran over and done what i COULD to help - but i didn't want to. i know, i'm a horrible person.
Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
I had to perform the heimlich maneuver on a child once at a babyshower. I was terrified because I had only done this in ACLS class and never on anyone. But most people there knew I was a nurse, which added pressure because everyone was relying on me to know exactly what to do. I wanted to yell, "IM A PSYCH NURSE, ANYONE ELSE MORE FAMILIAR WITH CPR?" Luckily, it was a successful ending. I was relieved. My fear was, "what if I screw up? What if I cant get this object out?" Reminds me of what one of my instructors said many years ago, "Please don't put RN anything on your license plate, or "Im a Nurse" bumper stickers, youre just setting yourself up. AND PLEASE DONT GO SHOPPING IN SCRUBS!" LoL!
I have stopped at multiple accidents to help but only if there is no EMS or police on scene. I guess I mainly do it since I was a Paramedic for many years and am comfortable rendering emergency care. I helped a woman who passed out in the supermarket also, she ended up being fine. I keep a CPR face shield/gloves on my key ring and a first aid kit (very basic) in my car. You never can be too prepared.
I'm not a nurse, but a nurse in progress (still doing pre-riq's) anyhow, I keep gloves and a basic first aid kit in my car too. I'm like you, you can never be too prepared. I need a cpr face shield, thanks for reminding me. :thankya:
how many of you have been out in public when you had to step in and offer your assistance, or did you?
i'm just asking because today i took my kids for a surprise visit to the park which is (unfortunately) a rare event. while they were playing, a little girl started screeeaming at the top of her lungs and holding her arm. luckily, she was being dramatic! but before i (and everyone else) realized this for certain, i was thinking, "i do NOT want to deal with this right now." had she really been hurt, i know i probably would've ran over and done what i COULD to help - but i didn't want to. i know, i'm a horrible person.
any off duty nursing stories? how did you react?
I'm not a nurse yet. But... I have always been the person who jumps at the opportunity to help anyone if they ook like they are in need. I enjoy it and I would not hesitate. Everyone is different. In nursing school 3.5 years before I had to leave cuz hubby didn't want me working. Now I have a 1.5 yr old and the 2 older kids so won't og back to school for a loooong time. but.. I still have that urgency to help if I am needed. I almost feel like I look for people in need so I can help. but.. that is just me.
Reminds me of what one of my instructors said many years ago, "Please don't put RN anything on your license plate"
That's funny that you say that. I was just telling my hubby/friends, that the first thing I'm going to do when I get my RN license is run out and get the license's plate. Yes, I know it's dorky but after all that hard work I wanted to show it off. This gives me second thoughts.....
Yep, I've done CPR on an motorcycle accident - and got a pulsless, breathless person back (with a lot of his blood and teeth in my mouth). Anywhere I am, I try to stay open to helping someone in need - not only since I've been a nurse, but throughout my life. I don't think I could have ignored a child in distress, especialy since I am the parent of 2 and grandparent of 9. There isn't much you could have done as a "nurse" in that situation - whether it was a trauma with broken bones, or a bee sting - the most important intervention is to comfort a child in distress and keep them calm while you locate her guardian. That dosn't take nursing - just not being a "horrible person".
I think it's like an off duty police officer where his job is 24/7. In my case, I would've offered assistance if I knew I was capable of helping. I think even just knowing the basics such as First Aid and CPR would've helped. Regarding off duty triaging, I don't know if it would've been appropriate unless it was an emergency. I would have rather that a doctor stepped in for that, since there was not much you can do in the meantime besides doing vitals. I wouldn't feel comfortable prescribing medication if the child with the flu-like symptoms had a fever of 104, due to liability. I guess I don't have that much experience to answer something like that when you are off duty.
Haha this is the truth. My guy is law enforcement and the job literally follows him wherever he goes. Sea World with my son, I turn away for two seconds, next thing I know he's carrying someone's grandma across the park to an ambulance, and the stories go on and on ... Do you folks feel like emergencies follow you around as well?
Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
I have been first responder to a number of accidents on the road, at the skate park, at the beach, etc.
Whether or not you help is completely up to you...I need to help however I can as I would hope someone would help me or mine if the tables were reversed. But, again, it is each person's individual choice.
I keep gloves, gauze, and a face shield in my trunk.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Usually i try to stay away from it when i am off duty. I've heard horror stories, but yet we are protected by the "good Samaritan law."
Although, about 2 months ago my fiance and i were out furniture shopping and some lady fell outside and hit her head on the curb. She was loosing alot of blood in her head. Someone comes in yelling "IS THERE A DOCTOR OR A NURSE IN HERE?"....there is only a few people in the furniture store. I wait patiently for someone else to say "YES! IM A DOCTOR", but nope....not happening. My fiance is just looking at me, i was like "Damnit..." ran outside and did what i could, but really???? I can't work miracles at a furniture store.
She started talking really goofy, telling me to let her dog outside when i get home. So, i don't know what came of that because i did everything i could till paramedics got here.
Bystander is yelling at me "Arent you going to do CPR?"....."Um, No because she doesn't need it." (it kinda makes me nervous that you would in this situation though)[/quote]
CALL 911!....Don't let anyone do anything stupid........don't move her unless she is in danger of being immediately run over........ Keep her quiet....call 911.......head wound bleed alot and withou gloves I wouldn't touch the blood and remember she could have injured her neck...call 911...
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I've done the heimlich maneuver a couple of times after I realized no one else was going to help. I stopped at an accident a couple of times because they happened right in front of me to keep people from panicking.
One time was significant....I was driving on the highway and I saw this van weaving in and out of traffic and I thought.............. that van is going to roll over:idea: (I had been an ED nurse for about 20 years) and lo and behold it did.........right in front of me:eek:....as a passenger was ejected out the windshield of the vehicle to the road in front of my vehicle I realized this was going to be a big incident. As I brought my vehicle to a screeching hault there was a trooper across the freeway who came running.......a semi truck driver stopped tthe 5 lanes of traffic and with his rig. I saw the victim in the road I had to open his airway so he could breathe. I remember telling the trooper.....just call the helicopter because this kids not gonna make it don't wait for EMS......As EMS pulled up,the helicopter was landing.....I knew the medics, and the medic said.....:I Knew you were at the root of all this rukus"..... .(i have always been known as a bit of a magnet)
Yep, I've done CPR on an motorcycle accident - and got a pulsless, breathless person back (with a lot of his blood and teeth in my mouth). Anywhere I am, I try to stay open to helping someone in need - not only since I've been a nurse, but throughout my life. I don't think I could have ignored a child in distress, especialy since I am the parent of 2 and grandparent of 9. There isn't much you could have done as a "nurse" in that situation - whether it was a trauma with broken bones, or a bee sting - the most important intervention is to comfort a child in distress and keep them calm while you locate her guardian. That dosn't take nursing - just not being a "horrible person".
where do you come up with these fabrications? how did the child i mentioned turn into a child who was: a. in distress, b. ignored, and c. needed her guardian located?
i obviously didn't ignore anyone as i relayed the event here. at the same time, i didn't run over immediately waving my arms while yelling, "i'm a nurse! don't worry!" only in a SNL skit would that happen. furthermore, the child's mother was right there. i was simply saying that the whole scenario made me wonder about other people's stories when an intervention was actually needed. geezus.
... Do you folks feel like emergencies follow you around as well?
(it kinda makes me nervous that you would in this situation though)[/quote]
.(i have always been known as a bit of a magnet)
Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN
557 Posts
I had to perform the heimlich maneuver on a child once at a babyshower. I was terrified because I had only done this in ACLS class and never on anyone. But most people there knew I was a nurse, which added pressure because everyone was relying on me to know exactly what to do. I wanted to yell, "IM A PSYCH NURSE, ANYONE ELSE MORE FAMILIAR WITH CPR?" Luckily, it was a successful ending. I was relieved. My fear was, "what if I screw up? What if I cant get this object out?" Reminds me of what one of my instructors said many years ago, "Please don't put RN anything on your license plate, or "Im a Nurse" bumper stickers, youre just setting yourself up. AND PLEASE DONT GO SHOPPING IN SCRUBS!" LoL!