off duty nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

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I always joke with my friends when I'm in my scrubs in public and tell them that if anything goes down I'm NOT a nurse. I'm either a dental hygienist or a vet tech. Luckily, nothing has happened so far but I know in my heart that I would step in if an emergency situation came up.

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Wait a second...I forgot that I have used my nursing skills ONCE while off duty. I was on a flight to New York City and a girl came down with flu-like symptoms (this was when the swine flu epidemic was big). I was sleeping soundly when they apparently overhead paged for a nurse or doctor on board. My NURSE friend then woke me up and said they needed my help. LOL. So, I offered my assistance, took a set of vitals, gave my nursing opinion and went about my way. I was later rewarded with bonus air miles that I used for a FREE future trip!!

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Wait a second...I forgot that I have used my nursing skills ONCE while off duty. I was on a flight to New York City and a girl came down with flu-like symptoms (this was when the swine flu epidemic was big). I was sleeping soundly when they apparently overhead paged for a nurse or doctor on board. My NURSE friend then woke me up and said they needed my help. LOL. So, I offered my assistance, took a set of vitals, gave my nursing opinion and went about my way. I was later rewarded with bonus air miles that I used for a FREE future trip!!

awesome!!

i'm glad the little girl today was OKAY not only for the sake of her being okay, but for the selfish sake of me not having to step in when i had 2 little kids who needed to be supervised so they didn't break an arm! i just noticed that everyone else kept going about their business and i kept one eyeball on the child/mother "just incase." it just got me thinking bc i've never experienced anything like this before, but i KNOW i will, as i'm sure most experienced nurses have.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

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.

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Someone I knew said she offered assistance on a flight to a man who had a heart attack. She had just got an RN license. She said all she did was give him oxygen and he did ok until they landed and carted him off to a hospital.

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Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

I'm with you....off-duty is off-duty. Once I was having dinner & noticed someone choking. Luckily the waiter was right there and did the heimlich & all was fine. Another time while on vacation, I was on the beginning of a 2-day train trip when I hear an announcement asking for a doctor or a nurse. I didn't go because I pictured that I would have to take care of this person for the next 48 hours. I figured if it were a real emergency, they would have diverted the train to the nearest staion or repeated the page overhead.

Looking back, I kinda wish I had gone...just to see what was going on.

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Specializes in ER CCU ICU L&D MED/SUG MILITARY.

I feel that it is an ethical decision weather to help or not. Me personally I would help someone if I have the appropriate things to do so (Gloves mostly). I have been an EMT/CNA for almost 20 years, and served 4 years as a medic in the U.S. Army. I have been in several situations where I have been the only person that stepped up to help. One istance I was traveling and had a 4 Hr layover at Dallas International Airport and a man coded right in front of me. I immediately went into "EMT" mode while the restaruant manager brought out the AED and when the medics got there all they had to do was start an I.V. and monitor for postarrest cardiac arrythmias. It felt good to get a save while I wasn't at work.

Something else to consider is the state and federal laws about medical professionals and their liability for stopping and helping or not. Each state has diferent laws in both situations, but I feel that helping makes it easier to sleep at night for myself.

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i think this is something i need to look into further in regards to legality, etc. it's natural instinct to want to help (nurse or not) but since becoming a nurse i feel more than an instinct and more like an obligation.

i was just wondering what others have experienced in real life so far.

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

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. :nurse:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Off duty nursing? CPR twice both times on vacation. One had a cardiac hx a mile long. The other was bipolar in manic phase that OD'd on something.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

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." :uhoh3: (it kinda makes me nervous that you would in this situation though)

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