FIRST TRAUMA

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i had my first trauma today, it was terrible. i've only been a nurse for 4 months and i work at a small hospital so we don't get trauma's very often. well today was the first time i was on the code team and there was a head-on collision on the interstate by us. two people dead at the scene and 3 victims en route to us. the victim i was with was a 2 yr old girl. they had to do cpr at the scene and she was bagged upon arrival. i stood at the end of the bed and took notes, and i was scared to death. i didn't show it but i was. life flight could not come bc of the weather so we stablized her as quick as possible and the ambulance from our hospital met the ambulance from the trauma center halfway. we heard a few hours later that she has a severed spinal cord. not very good odds i don't think.

i just wanted to share my story and let it out....thanks for listening.

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Specializes in Invasive Cardiac/Cath Lab.

traumas are always hard but with a child it feels so much worse. I'm sure you did an excellant job, nothing ever makes us ready for things like this and we can't always shut off the emotion. Thank-you for sharing your story.

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Specializes in PCU (Cardiac).

Thanks for sharing. It just confirms that one has to be compassionate to do this type of work.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Thank you for sharing. I still find the need to decompress after a bad trauma (it helps that my husband is a nurse and he understands).

Being the documenter always helps. I would document during codes or traumas until I got more comfortable with my skills.

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Thank you for your story and I am sure you did well. Lots of critical cases will make able to deal with these cases.

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Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

Wow....that is sad. It actually brought tears to my eyes! Guess it's the kid part.....Maybe why though I work ER.....it's PSYCH ER!!! GOD BLESS you all who deal with this--daily or now and then---you are angels. I have a friend who is a peds NP and worked for like 10 years in the PICU and I told her all the time how lucky those kids were to have her and all the angels working there in the PICU....that is a hard thing to see everyday.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

thanks for sharing. it's good to let it out. such a sad case indeed. that's why we are here ! :heartbeat:heartbeat

praiser :heartbeat

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Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.

Thank you for sharing. I'm sure you did a great job.

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