Got a call this afternoon from ED stating a service pt with 31 week twin pregnancy and known previa was en route to hospital on MGSO4, ruptured, bleeding and seizing. Notified OB on call, then per MD, called ultrasonographer, ped, anesthesia, 2nd MD assist, extra RN on call (none of which are in-house on weekends), RTx2, opened our OR. RNs over to ED to meet the patient and assess FHT's while pt is stabilized, but no FHT's could be found by doppler and pt is in fact bleeding. U/S still not in-house, so pt was transported to L&D for U/S by MD while the OR team assembled.....pt sobbing, "What's happening to my babies?" as we prepped for possible C-section, awaited labs, etc....MD unable to find FH's via U/S on pt, who is morbidly obese and in hysterics. Tensions are understandibly high as we mentally prepare for what appears to be the worst (plus we have no NICU- closest one 20 minutes away). Fiance at bedside sobbing as well.
We just can't find anything on this enormous woman- no FH, no sacs, nothing- and so beta HCG and Upreg sent, which confirm what we are beginning to suspect: the patient is not, and has not been, pregnant. When told there was no pregnancy, the pt simply stated "Oh. Then I must have miscarried a while ago." OR team was thanked for their promptness and sent home, we put the OR and LDR room back together, and pt was sent back to ER for evaluation.
My emotions have run from initial panic, then autopilot/we-have-to-save-these-babies mode, suspicion, disbelief, anger, sadness (poor fiance has been fooled all along)- the whole gamut. Obviously the pt. has issues to be addressed, and that is sad as well. I'm relieved that we didn't have the emergency on our hands that we thought was happening. But I cannot help but feel angry at this pt. Her selfishness put those who were trying to save her and her 'babies' at risk. Thank goodness no harm came to them while en route to our facility. Or that a true emergency didn't roll in during this nonsense. Factor in the mental and physical strain on our staff, the resources wasted, taxpayer expense for this 'emergency' and my pressure climbs.
I suppose I should see the good in the situation: we worked well together and were prepared to go to the OR, resuscitate, etc. If nothing else, it was a good drill. But again, I can't help but feel angry at the pt. for essentially making a mockery of what we do as professionals. She will likely never be held accountable for her selfishness- if she even has an inkling of what it was like for us and her SO to be in that situation.
Apologies for the wording/rambling- I am just fried right now. Anyone else ever had a similar situation?
I should have added that the pt was in our MH/Crisis unit by end of shift yesterday. I'm still a little wired from all of this. While I emphathize with the pt., I cannot help but think about the thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted as we jumped through so many hoops for nothing. I wish I could sit her down and make her think about what happened from a caregiver's standpoint. Moreover, I am concerned for her children at home. I really do hope she gets the psych care she needs.
Thanks for all your replies- they help evaporate some of the steam!
I should have added that the pt was in our MH/Crisis unit by end of shift yesterday. I'm still a little wired from all of this. While I emphathize with the pt., I cannot help but think about the thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted as we jumped through so many hoops for nothing. I wish I could sit her down and make her think about what happened from a caregiver's standpoint. Moreover, I am concerned for her children at home. I really do hope she gets the psych care she needs.
Thanks for all your replies- they help evaporate some of the steam!
daisybaby,
Treat yourself to something special as a reward for your superb support for a patient who desperately needs psychiatric assistance. Don't let anger over her actions tear away at you because she was/is either too unaware of how the "normal" world works to understand why she acted the way she did, or she is the ultimate con artist. For the sake of her children at home, she needs good psych care, and appropriate interventions need to be made in behalf of those children.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It's natural to feel anger and resentment at such situations. But do not lose sight of the fact that this person IS ill, mentally, and therefore, may NOW finally get the psych care she needs, however roundabout she came to it. And I personally, would be thankful she is NOT pregnant at this time; imagine a woman so sick caring for a newborn. It could always be worse. Once you "stand down" from the adrenalin rush you experienced, and the anger that follows, try to remember these things and be grateful it's not you, nor someone you love, going through this.
daisybaby, LPN
223 Posts
I should have added that the pt was in our MH/Crisis unit by end of shift yesterday. I'm still a little wired from all of this. While I emphathize with the pt., I cannot help but think about the thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted as we jumped through so many hoops for nothing. I wish I could sit her down and make her think about what happened from a caregiver's standpoint. Moreover, I am concerned for her children at home. I really do hope she gets the psych care she needs.
Thanks for all your replies- they help evaporate some of the steam!