I saved my brother's life last night....

RNSC · Aug 11, 2008

I am embarrassed to say that last night my brother overdosed on cocaine, ambien, quinapril, and alcohol.

I hope I don't sound insensitive but why are you embarrassed? People choose to do stupid stuff all the time even brothers. Good work and you are both in my prayers.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 11, 2008

I am so proud of you. Your endorphins must be sky high right now. You are a real HERO!

Now take a deep breath and resist the urge to bop him in the head likke bunny-foo-foo. He needs some serious counseling, but from a disinterested party. Support yes, but resist the "I told you so."

Wanted to add I have only done full CPR 3x in my whole career...I mean without respiratory, code team etc. Once on a kitten that got hit by lightening......SAVE, once on a patient, temporary SAVE and once on my dear doggie in my avatar 3 weeks ago NO save.

But good on you.

jbjints · Aug 11, 2008

Thank you all very much. I just got back from the hospital and spoke to my brother who doesn't remember a thing. The Psychiatrist is making him go to a 30 day program and it does not matter if he wants to or not. I am not necessarily certain its a 30 day only program either, the hospital where he is going is part of the psychiatric ward of the hospital.

The Psychiatrist considers my brother a manic depressant and possibly bipolar. I can't disagree with the doctor. My brother and I work for the same plumbing company in NYC and we were supposed to leave work today at 3 PM to get him registered for the outpatient program which obviously did not come to fruition.

I am not going to give up on him, his 2 year old son needs him. I just hope he appreciates what I did for him but regardless as a human being I did my part, the rest is up to him.

rnmomtobe2010 · Aug 11, 2008

He may or may not appreciate it, but I say, "BRAVO!!!"

:yeah: :yeah: :bow:

MsKaz · Aug 11, 2008

I'm so sorry that happened to your brother but it's amazing how you saved his life. I find that really cool! Ha and people have the nerve to look down on nurses!

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 11, 2008

Our OP isn't a nurse yet, but will be a fine one, I say. He has courage and presence of mind in an emergency and is able to squash down those panicky feelings we all get when things start going sideways in order to do what needs doing. To have that capacity in an emergency involving a family member is indeed praiseworthy. But jbjints, please don't feel embarrassed by choices your brother made! With help he may learn to make better ones, but the ones he has already made aren't your responsibility. He is so very lucky that you were there... the outcome could have been much different.

suespets · Aug 12, 2008

Praise the Lord.

HappyPediRN · Aug 12, 2008

P_Rn. OT but sorry to hear about your puppy dog.

jbjints · Aug 12, 2008

Thank you jan for making that clear. I should have clarified that in my original post, I am currently a student nurse and not an actual nurse. Sorry for not making that clear in my OP.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 12, 2008

No problem. That info was in your post (not that it makes a difference to me) but there were some readers who didn't pick up on it. It takes nothing away from the fact that you saved a life and should be justifiably proud of that. I've never done CPR on a human in my 14 + years of nursing and only hope that should the day arrive that I'm called, I will answer with the same determination.

Batman24 · Aug 12, 2008

Congrats on saving your brother's life. That must have been very scary. I'm sure he will appreciate you saving him. I pray he concentrates on saving himself now for his sake and that of his son. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope this gets him on the road to recovery with the help of medical professionals and loved ones lending plenty of support.

allnurses Guide · Aug 12, 2008

AWESOME!!!!!!! Great job, and I pray for your brother and that he is going to be OK and able to kill the demons that are plagueing him...