Would You Stop to Provide Medical Care?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Mar 1, 2015

Not if police & Fire on hand. Most nurses are not trained in EMS or as medics. Many do not know cspine stabilization especially if working in a non-acute area. If you worked a triple shift it may have been more prudent to NOT stop especially when tired. Many police and fire are trained as first responders and can handle initial triage & treatment as well as scene stabilization.

If I witness an accident I will call 911, ensure scene safety and no critical injuries. Plus offer my witness statement to the investigating/responding officer. But I was an EMT for over a decade.

Plus most nurses do not carry triage or field first aid kits. Many don't carry gloves or a cpr mask either so a nurse isn't anyone helpful than a typical bystander in that case.

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2015

Not if police & Fire on hand. Most nurses are not trained in EMS or as medics. Many do not know cspine stabilization especially if working in a non-acute area. If you worked a triple shift it may have been more prudent to NOT stop especially when tired. Many police and fire are trained as first responders and can handle initial triage & treatment as well as scene stabilization.
If I witness an accident I will call 911, ensure scene safety and no critical injuries. Plus offer my witness statement to the investigating/responding officer. But I was an EMT for over a decade.
Plus most nurses do not carry triage or field first aid kits. Many don't carry gloves or a cpr mask either so a nurse isn't anyone helpful than a typical bystander in that case.

Same. If police and fire were on hand I would just keep driving. Once, while walking down a street, I passed an old woman that was laying on the sidewalk and was surrounded by 4 bystanders. I stopped to ask what had happened and if anyone had called 911 yet. They said yes and I could see that the woman at the head must be in the medical field since she was holding the woman's head to maintain C-spine precautions and asking her questions that were clearly a neuro assessment. At that point I could see an ambulance turning the corner so just continued on my way. There was nothing else I could do anyway. Had the woman not been there and bystanders were just standing looking at the old woman while waiting for EMS, I would have done exactly the same thing as the woman at the head.

Libby1987 · Mar 1, 2015

Would the police or FD personnel have even let you intervene? That seems like a liability for them.

allnurses Guide · Mar 1, 2015

If PD is on scene, I only look to see if there seems to be a victim that needs help; otherwise no. I have stopped quite a few times if I see someone who needs help and there aren't any PD or EMS there.

ICURN3020 · Mar 1, 2015

I only stop if emergency services (police/fire/ambulance) have not yet arrived. Also, I will not stop if I have my children with me or the scene/situation is potentially unsafe. I will call 911 to summon help.

I do carry in a bag that goes with me everywhere a CPR shield/barrier and a couple of pairs of disposable gloves.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 1, 2015

I can speak from both a nursing and paramedic point of view... just keep driving!

Once emergency services are there they are perfectly capable of providing care to the patient, even if it is the FD, since most are trained as EMTs, and at a minimum first responders. Even most PD officers are trained at the first responder level.

I will be honest most of the time people "trying to help" just get in the way of progress, sometimes even trying to inform us of how to do our job. Another car on the side of the road just adds to the confusion at the scene and another person we have to ask as to whether or not they were in the accident. You are also adding to the traffic hazard!

In other words... just keep driving! You have no equipment anyway so your ability to 'help' is minimal!

Annie

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 1, 2015

I have no equipment, I don't know what I don't know in regards to first responder skills. The police and firefighters have the situation in hand, I would keep driving too.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Mar 1, 2015

I would just keep driving, if PD and Fire where there.

A lot of Fire are trained as EMS basic.

Once at my sons football game a woman was going down the bleachers using the seats as steps rather than the steps. It had rained so the seats were slippery and she was carrying a box.

She slipped went head over heels down 3 bleachers landing on her head.

I saw the whole thing, I ran down the stairs and held C-spine, and did a brief neuro assessment while waiting for EMS.

Not much else you can do without a paramedic bag.

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 1, 2015

I noticed that the police and fire department had arrived but no paramedics.

Not at that point. If I had witnessed the accident and no emergency services were yet on site, yes, but I would be limited to calling 911 and basic first aid, just like anyone else who would stop (minus perhaps EMTs who carry a jump bag with them at all times). If help is on scene, I would only add to the confusion and traffic hazard.

MatrixRn · Mar 1, 2015

I am one that does not stop either.....if no PD I will make the 911 call, however.

Wasn't there a 'rule' from nursing school that we "had" to stop and help?

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2015

I will stop if no EMS or FD (unless I have my child and no husband in the car). Recently stopped for an accident I saw. It was a teenager who took an icy curve wayyyyy too fast. I tried to convince him to stay in his truck until EMS arrived. He wouldn't. I went back to my car and stayed as a witness for the police. Then went on my merry way.