How to deal with stressful situations

new_worker · Mar 22, 2011

I was just going to post something like this : If you found someone on ground not moving what would you do?

I would first check ABC, call help, start CPR if necessary, tell someone to call 911 if necessary if we are doing CPR because they coded, after that they are gone to the hospital, i would call family, DOC, then the doctor..

Am i messing anything here or is something out of order? thanks

For your case anytime someone falls and any suspension that they are dizzy or lightheaded its better to check their mental status and send them out to hospital just to be safe because if you were not their how would you know that they didn't hit their head on ground on the way down.? Checking VS when unconscious is not really gonna give you a good read, so i would think its better till their awake

OldNurseEducator · Mar 22, 2011

I'm not a nurse, I hope to be one day. I work as a pca, as Ive said many times. I am just wondering how people deal with emergency situations.. I usually work 3 to 11, and Im normally the only one on the unit. If we needed the Charge nurse for anything, wed have to call the security guard, ask him to get in touch with nurse, and ask her to come up...This can take a long time sometimes because the charge nurse is normally hard to locate..
Heres an example:
One time I was giving a patient a shower, I was assisting her out of the shower, (she can ambulate on her own with walker).. and I was right next to her, and she just fell over, she didnt slip on water on anything...it almost seemed like she just dropped dead. Well she was on the floor, UNCONSCIOUS, still breathing. Now, when someone falls, we are to take their vitals, and call the family, and assess them to see if they are ok or not. Well what would you do in a situation like this? would you still take vitals even though she was unconscious?? And would you try to locate the charge nurse or just call 911?? I feel that someones life could be jeporadized if something similiar to this happened, and we have to run to get the crap to take vitals, ATTEMPT to contact the charge nurse...all while someone is laying there unconscious..
I checked her pulse to make sure she had one, then I ran out to the phone called the guard and asked him to get the charge nurse. When I went back into the room, the lady was conscious. Extremely confused as to why she was on the floor though..I got her up, took vitals, all ok. The lady said she was ok, she remembered getting her shower, but didnt remember falling. Would you send someone like this to the hospital?? The charge nurse said "just keep an eye on her" which is pretty much their answer all the time, because they never want to come to AL. (not dissing them, I know they are extemely busy) Later that night the lady was so dizzy and sick, so i did send her to the hospital. But does anyone have any advice on what i could have done better? Thanks for listeninggg!

I would have done EXACTLY what you did! :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

OldNurseEducator · Mar 22, 2011

I was just going to post something like this : If you found someone on ground not moving what would you do?
I would first check ABC, call help, start CPR if necessary, tell someone to call 911 if necessary if we are doing CPR because they coded, after that they are gone to the hospital, i would call family, DOC, then the doctor..
Am i messing anything here or is something out of order? thanks
For your case anytime someone falls and any suspension that they are dizzy or lightheaded its better to check their mental status and send them out to hospital just to be safe because if you were not their how would you know that they didn't hit their head on ground on the way down.? Checking VS when unconscious is not really gonna give you a good read, so i would think its better till their awake

Always call the doctor and the family! :)

purse · Mar 22, 2011

Thanks!! I hate how we have to call the charge nurse first like we are little idiots running around:rolleyes:

The charge nurse didnt want to send her even after she was feeling dizzy!! I said I thought it was a good idea, turns out the lady must have hit her head because they found blood on one side of her head!

OldNurseEducator · Mar 22, 2011

Thanks!! I hate how we have to call the charge nurse first like we are little idiots running around:rolleyes:
The charge nurse didnt want to send her even after she was feeling dizzy!! I said I thought it was a good idea, turns out the lady must have hit her head because they found blood on one side of her head!

Good job! Don't ever doubt yourself! It sounds like you are a very caring nurse! :nurse:

purse · Mar 22, 2011

Im not a nurse yet but I am really thinking it is what i want to do!!

OldNurseEducator · Mar 22, 2011

Im not a nurse yet but I am really thinking it is what i want to do!!

Then go for it! :nurse: :)

purse · Mar 22, 2011

I think I am, I wasnt acepted to the nursing program last year, so I kind of gave up and decided to go with a different major, but something keeps drawing me back to nursing.

OldNurseEducator · Mar 22, 2011

I think I am, I wasnt acepted to the nursing program last year, so I kind of gave up and decided to go with a different major, but something keeps drawing me back to nursing.

Ther's more than one way to skin a cat..... :clown:

sweetnepenthe · Mar 22, 2011

Always check vital signs even if the pt is unconscious, after having done the airway/breathing/circulation assessment to see if CPR is needed. Call for help immediately, just as you did. If they fall unconscious, something--whether low heart rate and/or low blood pressure or stroke or some other condition--has caused it. Vitals may help figure out the possible cause. If you have a crash cart with a heart monitor and you know how to hook up the patient to get a EKG strip that may be helpful.

If someone regains consciousness, do not get them to their feet immediately even if they seem ok. If they seem ok, you might let them sit up a little bit--then take vitals again. If your charge nurse is unable or unwilling to come to assess the patient, I would call 911. I would send them to the hospital, or at the very least notify the physician and see what he/she wants to do. A fall may cause a head injury, so even if the doctor does not send the patient to the hospital right away, check the patient frequently for signs of confusion, unequal pupils, etc.

Cover yourself--CYA is important--and chart thoroughly all your findings.

Good job

Guest1030824 · Jul 23, 2017

Sending her to the hospital was the right thing to do. She could have a blood clot in her carotid artery which could be causing lack of blood supply to her brain and causing her to pass out. Good call!