First Accident Scene

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i graduate this may with my a.d.n. my last clinical rotation was sun. at a level 1 trauma center, i always said i would never do er, but after my rotation i felt i belonged there. today i witnessed a head on mva right in front of my neighborhood. it felt so good, not to panic, i did the best i could with what i had. one of the drivers was bleeding pretty badly, his wrist was cut, someone gave me some cloths and i applied pressure. his loc was fine, i told everyone there not to move him, he was already out the car, i asked how he got out of the car, but no one would answer me, i think someone moved him. i didn't have any gloves, now i'm worried, i tried not to get any blood on me, i think i got smudge on my finger. i was so close to my house, that i came home (afterwards) and washed my hands really well. anyway, i feel like it was a sign that maybe i should go into trauma, i'm the least likely person you would ever think to see in trauma. i'm usually not confidant in my skills or an assertive person, but today i was. anyway, i sometimes thought why did i go nursing school? now today, right before graduation i think i finally got my answer. just a cool feeling wanted to share.

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I know exactly how you feel. I am a student nurse that will graduate this May and I didn't know where I belonged in nursing. Then I had a four day rotation in trauma/ER. Something clicked after my first day in the ER and I knew that this is what I was meant to do. It was a wonderful feeling! :yeah:

I always wondered what I would do in case I had seen an accident like you did. I always keep gloves in my car just in case. Half of my instructors say that they would not stop because of the legal issues. I am not sure I could just drive by someone that needed help. I think we are covered by the Good Samaritan law so we shouldn't have to worry about legal issues.

If it is ok to ask....why is your last clinical day so early? I have clinicals until a week before graduation.

Congratulations! You almost there!!!!!!!:yeah:

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congrats on your first mva!!! it is always the most important thing to stay calm. i do want to say though...i have been an emt for 6 years and what you saw today is nothing compared to what you will see in trauma. being an emt is actually the reason i went into nursing (im a student now). it is my dream to work in trauma. you should concider voulenteering at your local squad before you make your choice. it is such a rush and a sence of accomplishment when something like that happens and you are able to react in the manner you did. a heed of warning though trauma is no joke and you will see things a million time worse than what you did today. when you pull up on a scene and step out to someones head next to your feet and their body 1/2 mile down the road and you react the same way then you will know you are ready. i have seen some sad sad things during my ems years. well congrats again with school!:yeah: good luck in whatever you choose!

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i meant my last clinical (last week) out of the eight, i still have four more, we finish on easter sunday actually, that will be my final one. we only rotate to one area once, so i will not be going back to the er. i know how you feel, i could not just walk away, it was like i was on autopilot or something. now i realize i do need some gloves to carry in my car, maybe even a first aid kit. i really wanted to go into ob, but now with everything i just think i should pursue er. oh, first i have to pass my exit hesi exam. i have to get through that before i can even dream of finally being a nurse.

logans-mommy-

i always said i would never do trauma, because of those scenes, but my last rotation was at a level 1 trauma center in houston, and all day long it didn't stop, one after the other. i have to say the members were so desensitized to what was happening. i want to be a good nurse and remember these people lives have just changed, maybe even forever. how i treat them will last with them, maybe that's what i can bring to the table. i was always told i was too sensitive to go into that area of nursing, ob is where i belonged, but now i'm thinking i handle it or at least try the best i can.

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im sure you will absolutely love it! there is never a dull moment! don't listen to people who tell you that you can't because those are just the jealous ones! you will do it and you will do great!

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Logans-mommy

Thanks, good luck in your adventure in school as well!!!!

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I know exactly how you feel. I am a student nurse that will graduate this May and I didn't know where I belonged in nursing. Then I had a four day rotation in trauma/ER. Something clicked after my first day in the ER and I knew that this is what I was meant to do. It was a wonderful feeling! :yeah:

I always wondered what I would do in case I had seen an accident like you did. I always keep gloves in my car just in case. Half of my instructors say that they would not stop because of the legal issues. I am not sure I could just drive by someone that needed help. I think we are covered by the Good Samaritan law so we shouldn't have to worry about legal issues.

If it is ok to ask....why is your last clinical day so early? I have clinicals until a week before graduation.

Congratulations! You almost there!!!!!!!:yeah:

Mn Law mandates respoonse by any person as long as the scxene is safe..The good samaritan law also immunizes you responders from liability.I am disappointed that any teacher would teach a helping profession student to "drive on by.."if we as professionals don't stop who will?"

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couldn't have said it bette myself! we as nursing students, nurses, teachers, ect. should be setting the example that you should always help!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

I always keep a pair of gloves in my glovebox for this reason... I too stopped at an accident years ago and got covered with blood from head to toe... Nothing came out of it; but I am now prepared... Good for you and didn't you feel good to be in that place at that time? I helped out tons until the ambulance arrived at the accident that I was at...

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