I am not an OB nurse. In fact I work in ED. That having been said.....Had an experience last night that made me feel really terrific...I was triaging a 28.5 week pregnant 29 y/o w c/o sinus headache. Pt denied OB problems.
Stated she just had a terrible headache. BP 191/108 HR 75. At first I thought it was because her head was hurting so badly. I was almost through w triage when pt said she had test ran that day for "edema". I said edema? She stated yes, but I haven't heard anything about the results. BIG RED LIGHT!!! I immediately stopped what i was doing and reported to the physician, and was told to take pt up to OB. Pt was admitted to OB. Mag was started in OB and HA immediately ceased. Within 1 1/2 hours of coming to ED, pt was transported to another facility for delivery. She was pre-eclamptic (sp?).
I am sorry for the patient, but I feel good that I had a small role in getting her seen about so quickly.
.......Sorry just wanted a pat on the back.......:) :balloons:
I'm a student asking a relevant question in order to sharpen my diagnostic skills and develop my ability to "connect the dots" with all the assessment data.
I have had enough experience over the last couple of semesters to know that often there is a huge difference between what the books say and what happens in real life, and I was asking for clarification.
Tx, you're right - the gap between textbook & real life can be huge. I vividly remember, on my 2nd clinical day as a student in a hospital setting, alerting the RN when my pt.'s O2 sat dropped to 91%. She merely blinked & walked away ... pt. was a long-time COPDer ... :smackingf
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
Tx, you're right - the gap between textbook & real life can be huge. I vividly remember, on my 2nd clinical day as a student in a hospital setting, alerting the RN when my pt.'s O2 sat dropped to 91%. She merely blinked & walked away ... pt. was a long-time COPDer ... :smackingf
Keep asking questions!
To the OP: Great job! :w00t: