Holy Crap, Dad's having an MI!!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So I'm in the car recently with my daughter 12 and I feign an MI, nausea, chest pain, jaw pain, sweating, difficulty breathing and ask her what she would do? Similar to a fire drill, I get into nurse educator mode and keep probing and asking. My daughter responded by stating the following: "I'd grab the wheel, apply the break, run up the street call 911...etc." I hadn't thought of showing her these things, since she's not old enough to drive, but fires can occur at any time..any thoughts?

Feign. The word is feign. :specs:

Yes; however, I am using direct quotations of the OP's post. With that, I think we all understood the meaning of the word in question, spelling aside.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes; however, I am using direct quotations of the OP's post. With that, I think we all understood the meaning of the word in question, spelling aside.

Gila, although my post came after yours, I didn't even see your post when I was typing. To the OP, also the word is brake, not break, for the thing that stops the car. I think spelling matters, especially on a professional forum.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Gila, although my post came after yours, I didn't even see your post when I was typing. To the OP, also the word is brake, not break, for the thing that stops the car. I think spelling matters, especially on a professional forum.

No worries, that happens all the time. I am willing to overlook the occasional misspell because small mistakes can occur. In addition, people from other countries frequent this forum and I know there are many users who post with mobile devices. I also know I am somewhat inconsistent with spelling and articulation after spending time overseas where small spelling differences exist. However, most browsers do have spell cheque abilities.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No worries, that happens all the time. I am willing to overlook the occasional misspell because small mistakes can occur. In addition, people from other countries frequent this forum and I know there are many users who post with mobile devices. I also know I am somewhat inconsistent with spelling and articulation after spending time overseas where small spelling differences exist. However, most browsers do have spell cheque abilities.

Good points. OP, please carry on!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So I'm in the car recently with my daughter 12 and I fain an MI, nausea, chest pain, jaw pain, sweating, difficulty breathing and ask her what she would do? Similar to a fire drill, I get into nurse educator mode and keep probing and asking. "I'd grab the wheel, apply the break, run up the street call 911...etc." I hadn't thought of showing her these things, since she's not old enough to drive, but fires can occur at any time..any thoughts?

I have to admit I was confused at first too - maybe because I'm tired . . but "fein" made no sense to me and yes I've heard of "feign". Also, the jump to "fires can occur at any time" at the end confused me since you were talking about a heart attack.

I went . .. "huh?". :confused:

However, I do believe in preparing my children for emergencies and have done so. I have seizure disorder and so have talked to my kids about what should happen if I have one while driving, if I have one in the shower, or anywhere for that matter. So I think you did good - talking to your daughter about different scenarios.

I missed the part where folks thought you were actually faking a heart attack without telling your daughter you were faking it and had to go back and re-read the thread. You did say "fein" an MI.

See, I am tired. :yawn:

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

Sorry for the misspell, thanks for the support fellow nurses! The word "feign" is the ideal spelling I had hoped for--so sorry! OP revision pronto.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

And....since it is even more likely that as you age, something might happen when you have grandchildren with you, teach them also how to respond to an emergency.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My kids have taken CPR through the local hospital, and will be taking a first aide/first responders course through them, as well. They are currently 14 and 11 years of age. I believe everyone should have the basic abilities to deal with an emergency. A couple of years ago, a high school student in this town died because he was stabbed with a very small blade in the arm, severing an artery, and he nor any of his friends had the common sense to apply pressure and call 911. He bled out by the time they reached the ED.

My kids have been through the drill about what to do if someone has trouble breathing (my husband and one daughter have moderate to severe asthma), and how to decide when to call for assistance and when to handle things themselves. Other situations have come up over the years. For example, our neighbor had a complete mental breakdown out in his yard, and while we watched the EMS deal with it, we discussed handling people with mental health crises. My oldest goes to school with a student who has seizures, and after he had one in school one day and everyone freaked out, I taught her how to provide emergency care for him if he should have one again. She was terribly proud to report later that week that he had another seizure, she assisted him to the floor and kept him safe until it was over, turned him on his side, and covered him with a jacket to protect his dignity (he had lost control of his bladder) while the teacher screamed for assistance into the intercom and literally wrung her hands and cried until the school nurse arrived. One of our friends has type I DM, and my kids also know how to handle any emergency with him.

I don't think the OP did anything weird or wrong, unless it is weird or wrong to educate your kids about emergency first aide. Sure, methods may vary--but I'll bet the kid remembers what to do in case of an MI!!

On a funny note, this reminded me of a story in Reader's Digest about a woman who had read that dogs will intuitively respond to a health emergency by trying to help their owner and seeking assistance. She was eating pizza in the living room, and she pretended to choke and then fell to the floor, pretending to pass out. Her two dogs took one look at her and then zoomed for the pizza!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you to the mature audience for answering my question in a helpful manner. We could use more of that attitude on these forums, please!

That's rich... you say in your opening post that you did feign a heart attack, and then you say that you didn't, and that the people who took you at your word are the ones being immature?

Teaching your children about how to respond to emergencies: good parenting.

Leading your children to believe that you're in mortal danger: emotionally abusive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

It is one thing to "teach" your children about health care emergencies.

It is another thing to fake having a lifethreatening emergency when you are by yourself with your child.

(wondering if when you do have a serious problem, the child may think that you are "faking")

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"On a funny note, this reminded me of a story in Reader's Digest about a woman who had read that dogs will intuitively respond to a health emergency by trying to help their owner and seeking assistance. She was eating pizza in the living room, and she pretended to choke and then fell to the floor, pretending to pass out. Her two dogs took one look at her and then zoomed for the pizza!"

Dogs are smart - they knew she was "faking". (I like that word better too). :D

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think we have pretty well sorted the "feign" comment. We can continue to focus on it or we can move on to more productive conversation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment