VFib Arrest after heaven discussion

RNlovesherPharmD · Jun 7, 2011

Yes calling him would be inappropriate. However, he may contact you in the future--I have had several patients contact me to thank me for "saving" them. That is just part of the nursing territory, sometimes you just have to wonder and hope everything works out for the best for that patient and move on.

southern rn · Jun 7, 2011

yes it's inappropriate. It's nice that your still concerned,but your no longer his nurse and the professional relationship has ended.Not trying to sound harsh, but do you think your discussion had any thing to do with his arrest?You could have been discussing what you had for lunch and he still would have had a cardiac arrest.

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Jun 7, 2011

Profound. I'd go visit him in person. Seriously! This may be a once in a lifetime opportuity for you or maybe nothing. Profound wisdom sneaks up on us in strange ways.

I once coded an ER doc I worked with, and worked with again when he returned to work. There was something indescribable between the entire code team and the doc after that. Closest I could come is saying it was a spiritual connection. He told us about the bright light, incredible sense of peacefulness, and that he'd never be afraid to die again.

I suppose I'll catch some S.pecial H.igh I.ntensity T.raining for my opinion, but maybe others have had similar experiences and can back me up.

curtiv · Jun 7, 2011

i dont know... it was so weird... the last thing i asked him was what did he think about people who die and come back and say they can talk to angels and dead people.. he raised his hand and said thats all a bunch of crap and laughed...

the whole event freaked me out. ive been a nurse for over 8 yrs and this is the only time a patient abruptly coded on me... i

usually see it coming. thanks for the advice

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2011

Maybe the good Lord wanted to jerk his chain a bit. :lol2:

Glad the code had a happy ending though. I bet this guy will be back to visit. I don't think it's appropriate to go visit.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2011

While certainly coincidental, your conversation didn't cause a code. His physical condition did.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2011

profound. i'd go visit him in person. seriously! this may be a once in a lifetime opportuity for you or maybe nothing. profound wisdom sneaks up on us in strange ways.
i once coded an er doc i worked with, and worked with again when he returned to work. there was something indescribable between the entire code team and the doc after that. closest i could come is saying it was a spiritual connection. he told us about the bright light, incredible sense of peacefulness, and that he'd never be afraid to die again.
i suppose i'll catch some s.pecial h.igh i.ntensity t.raining for my opinion, but maybe others have had similar experiences and can back me up.

don't know why you'd catch the above for your opinion. my only impression is that this situation is not about her. it's not the patient's responsibility to give this nurse closure or provide any profound wisdom. if he wishes to approach her, that's up to him, but going to see him in person uninvited seems to me to be crossing a boundary.

GilaRRT · Jun 8, 2011

The patient was ill and in the hospital. Also, the patient had an underlying electrolyte derangement. Ventricular irritability and possible ventricular fibrillation should not be unexpected in these types of patients. The talk of heaven and the arrest were pure coincidence.

You should not contact the patient. You did your job and apparently did it well. The patient is doing okay and perhaps he will initiate contact, but this is not about you or any notion you may have about the ever-after (as rationale for taking a potentially unprofessional action). Pat your self on the back for a job well done.

Old.Timer · Jun 8, 2011

I do not see popping in to say hello and let him know that you are glad he is doing well as any different than when we would stop by when a patient had been transferred to a different floor. Now, if you are popping in to every single patient that is moved than that is a different story but that is not what I am hearing.

The professional therapeutic relationship has gray areas, it is not all black and white. I compare it to a minister who may have had a parishoner in his church for years and the patient relocates to another church due to elderly and transportation issues. Say the ex-parishoner becomes critically ill and is hospitalized, does the minister say , nope , relationship over - it would be unprofessional to visit.

We need to stop selling ourselves short. Our value to patients can be more than medications, VS, dressing changes etc ...sometimes the threrapeutic relationship is quite valuable. As others have said, examine your motives If it is to stop by to check on b/c you did have a connection then do it.

Life is far more gray than black and white.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2011

Profound. I'd go visit him in person. Seriously! This may be a once in a lifetime opportuity for you or maybe nothing. Profound wisdom sneaks up on us in strange ways.
I once coded an ER doc I worked with, and worked with again when he returned to work. There was something indescribable between the entire code team and the doc after that. Closest I could come is saying it was a spiritual connection. He told us about the bright light, incredible sense of peacefulness, and that he'd never be afraid to die again.
I suppose I'll catch some S.pecial H.igh I.ntensity T.raining for my opinion, but maybe others have had similar experiences and can back me up.

Been there.

MrWarmHearted · Jun 8, 2011

Since you two were not friends to begin with, it would probably be considered inappropriate. If you're still unsure, check with your NM/director - if you're afraid to ask your NM/director, that will answer the question for you.

btw if you ever hear of anyone saying that they talked with dead people, it's untrue. The proof from the Bible is that dead people do not talk nor have feelings nor suffer (Psalms 146:4, Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).