Have you ever gone in to find a patient dead? What happened?

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2005

It's them dad-gum toilets! They'll do it every time! :chuckle Our cardiac stepdown unit was always having codes in the bathrooms! The patient goes vagal and it's all over in a split second. They don't even have time to yell for help. This is why you don't want to be constipated and have to strain at passing stool.

So that's why I get dizzy when I'm constipated !? Thanks !:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Mandylou · Oct 31, 2005

It's them dad-gum toilets! They'll do it every time! :chuckle Our cardiac stepdown unit was always having codes in the bathrooms! The patient goes vagal and it's all over in a split second. They don't even have time to yell for help. This is why you don't want to be constipated and have to strain at passing stool.

:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

DusktilDawn · Oct 31, 2005

So that's why I get dizzy when I'm constipated !? Thanks !:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Prune juice anyone?????:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

ShayRN · Oct 31, 2005

i've been a nurse for 28 years -- somehow when they put in the new software, my age changed! don't know what's up with that! ruby

not that your complaining or anything, right, lmao

ShayRN · Oct 31, 2005

I hate for someone to die alone, If I know they are going I will try to check on them often and after my work is done I will go sit with a dying person.

I am the same way. I will sit with patients and when familys are there pamper them endlessly when it is time. NOBODY should be alone when they die.

Luckily, I work on a telemetry unit, we usually have a second or two notice before full cardiac arrest.

Zachary2011 · Oct 31, 2005

First just a thought on another entry re: couldnt find a stehoscope, why would a nurse not have one, and then why would it be hard to find on a floor? I hope you now leave it around your neck or in your pocket.

I work in an ER and have worked on many floors prior. I am on a code team for our hospital and it just blows my mind how many floors and staff get flustered and dont seem to know what to do during a code situation. I cant count the times I have gone to the floor when a code was called and chest compressions havent even been started, sometimes still no crashcart or zoll hooked to pt. , some nurses say they are waiting on the DR. , well people ACLS is a protocol not a Dr.s order. CPR is essential to maintain blood and oxygen supply for the hopes of revival or survival. Place those defib pads on and shock as needed, IE: V-Fib, Pulseless V-Tach. Give that EPI and do CPR to circulate, bag w/ 100% oxygen untill resp. or the ER Dr can intubate if needed. Give that Atropine as needed. You do not need a Dr. there to save a life, he will get there to pronounce death or for orders outside of ACLS ie: Sodium Bicarb, and in the case of lethal Arrythmiasm, Amiodarone etc. I hope I dont sound to firm in this note, but CPR and shocks must be started and given ASAP, the pts. life is at risk, and this pt. could be you or a loved one someday and how would you feel if the pt. was found down at 0800 and CPR wasnt started untill 0807. ............... I do understand that if they arent monitored their can be some time before they are found, but if you do find just follow that ACLS protocol, and sleep well knowing you did everything you could do and just maybe saved a life.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2005

Yeah, happens all the time on our floor.
No, seriously! Our patients are monitored, so the monitor tech lets us know if anything weird is going on.
So I've found a couple of patients dead.

My favorite is being at the bedside of a DNR patient on a monitor, the patient dies and it takes 10-20 minutes for the monitor room to call on it.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2005

My favorite is being at the bedside of a DNR patient on a monitor, the patient dies and it takes 10-20 minutes for the monitor room to call on it.

Note to self: Never work a tele unit on which you can't see the monitors.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Oct 31, 2005

I've been a nurse for a few months, and I've only had one of my patients die. (DNR) Thank goodness for tele floor, b/c we do have some sort of warning they are getting ready to go.

And yes, we can see the monitors, they are at the nurses station.

nursekelly217 · Oct 31, 2005

I went in to help another nurse with one of her patients - end stage, DNR - and we found the guy dead - weird part was that his priest had been visting for the past 45 min or so, sitting at his bedside and holding his hand and that as we were in there listening for apical pulse etc the priest was on the phone with the man's family saying "no he's not moaning, they are keeping him pretty comfortable with the morphine drip!" The other nurse and I kept looking at eachother and were like "hello of course he's comfortable, he's dead."

Chad_KY_SRNA · Oct 31, 2005

just wanted to reply to zachary2011 i am a nurses aide (srna in kentucky is state registered nurse aide) and i couldn't find a stethoscope because i don't have keys to the med carts where they were all locked up and mine happened to be at home that particular day. i now carry a backpack to work with me where i keep my bp cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, bandage scisssors, extra pens and markers, time card, and so much more. i bring it every shift. as long as they don't have a dnr, oxygen will go in and out and blood will go round and round. they do not die on my unit, they are pronounced dead in the er or they rarely (never seen it) get better.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 31, 2005

I did as a student. It almost made quit nursing school. I felt so badly that she died alone in her room and felt somehow responsible. She was suffering so-----the end was near, but I still felt horrible about it. Still do.