Got to be a Good Samaritan Yesterday!!

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Yesterday my boyfriend and I were out shopping, when a lady standing just a few feet away from us collapsed in the ailse. I ran over to see what had happened. She was out for just a couple of seconds, but when she started responding to me, she had no idea where she was or that she had fallen. Another woman, who also identified herself as a nurse, rushed over to help. My boyfriend asked me if we should call the paramedics, and based on her mental status, I told him to call. The other "nurse" started stating the patient was having a seizure, but I never saw any signs of seizure. Her hands were shakey, but that's not a seizure. As the woman started becoming more responsive, she was able to answer questions. She denied a history of diabetes, but told me that she had not eaten since the night before (it was Sat afternoon) and had just taken her first dose of a new tranquilizer that morning. The medication she named (trazadone) I knew could bottom out your blood pressure, but I also knew it could be her sugar, especially since her hands were getting really shakey. After a good several minutes had passed, the manager decided to come out and see what was going on. I asked the manager if they had any food or drinks on premises. The manager told me there was a soda machine. I requested a Sprite for the woman (I didn't want her to have the caffine). About this time the paramedics arrived (they accidentally went to the wrong building). The extent of their assessment was vital signs (all of which was in normal limits, blood pressure was 120's/70's) and having me give them a brief history of what happened. They then pronounced that the woman had collapsed due to low blood sugar, but when the patient asked them how low her blood sugar had gone, they told her they had decided not to check it. She refused to go to the hospital, and fortunately a relative showed up to drive her home! Phew what a day. I had never had something like that happen before.

[Pax_Ramona]

Kudos for your practical use of critical thinking skills and your courage to get involved! Once when I was at the movies with the kids (Dr. Dolittle) I heard a woman say, "We've got to get to the hospital!" I leapt over the back of my seat to find a young man having a grand mal seizure. Another nurse and I portected his head and made sure his airway was open. We got a brief history from his mom. Before long the house lights were on and the EMTs arrived. Plus, everyone got a free ticket. Hope the young man fared as well. Guess we're always on duty, right?

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Kudos for your practical use of critical thinking skills and your courage to get involved! Once when I was at the movies with the kids (Dr. Dolittle) I heard a woman say, "We've got to get to the hospital!" I leapt over the back of my seat to find a young man having a grand mal seizure. Another nurse and I portected his head and made sure his airway was open. We got a brief history from his mom. Before long the house lights were on and the EMTs arrived. Plus, everyone got a free ticket. Hope the young man fared as well. Guess we're always on duty, right?

It's funny, I told my boyfriend afterwards, not jumping in and helping never occured to me. I knew what to assess for, and I knew we needed the paramedics.

Congrats to you for being able to think on your feet at the movies.