Is there a nurse on the plane?

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 25, 2011

I was on a flight from Newark to Vegas when a man had a syncopal episode. Poor guy was incontinent of stool and looked like he may have vomitted coffee grounds. Not to mention the smell. There were 2 doctors on the plane that took immediate control of the situation and got on the sky phone with the flight tower, I basically just set up the medical supplies that were on the plane for them. We did argue, however - I thought it would be better to land the flight at the nearest airport, get the guy off the plane and sanitize the aircraft. The doctors disagreed with me, stating that the man had stabilized. The tower said they would do what the doctors advised....So the poor guy had to sit in soiled clothing and the rest of the plane had to endure the associated odors. The flight attendants agreed with me - that we should land - that it wouldn't have added too much time to the arrival time in Vegas.

nicu4me · May 25, 2011

Flare your pix is like ROP exams, why?

LuckyinKY · May 25, 2011

And this also has me fired up (from a doctor in the comments section):

"Of note, there was an NP on board in the first class section (same as the patient). Although she was useful, quite frankly, nurses and PA's were never trained to fully view symptoms from a pathological standpoint and hence their differential diagnosis could seriously harm or delay proper care. It's not their fault, just compare their training to the number of years of training that we had to go through. As a surgeon that makes 10 years before becoming boarded (not including college). Some may argue that decades of nursing experience counts. True. But those that continue to participate in academic/educational/CME enriching activities AFTER they graduate from training is the rare minority."

Umm we have continuing education, go to conferences, and read relevant journals as well. And an NP will spend anywhere from 6-10 years in school depending on whether they are an MSN or DNP. My goal is to be an NP, and I will have spend 6 years in school after graduating with my ADN, and will spend another 4 years at least to get my DNP.

Jenni811, RN · May 25, 2011

Not in flight, i'm scared to death of flying.

I've handled a situation on the ground though.

I was driving to work and i found a man lying flat on the sidewalk, nobody around. I pulled over to see if he was ok. Again, nobody around so i wasnt able to tell anyone to call 911 so i called and started compressions. Luckily had a CPR mask.

Ambulance was there within minutes as we were only a few blocks from the hospital.

Never knew what happened with this guy, but im guessing its not good. Out of hospital cardiac arrest never is....and who knows how long he had been lying there?

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · May 25, 2011

Flare your pix is like ROP exams, why?

The pic is a screen cap from the movie A Clockwork Orange.

The real question though is, are there Snakes on the Plane? :eek:

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · May 25, 2011

-- Quick note from a Golden Oldie --

Back when commercial aviation began, you had to be an RN in order to become a 'stewardess'. Maybe they had the right idea? I'm not quite that old, but it's an important aspect of Nursing History.

Note to anyone who did not recognize Flare's iconic picture of Malcom McDowell (in Clockwork Orange) undergoing adversive conditioning (while listening to Beathoven).... shame on you for your pop cultural incompetency -- LOL.

caliotter3 · May 25, 2011

The pic is a screen cap from the movie A Clockwork Orange.
The real question though is, are there Snakes on the Plane?

I always thought Flare's avatar was a very surprised firefighter. If there are snakes on the plane, I sure don't want to see them. :eek:

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 25, 2011

I always thought Flare's avatar was a very surprised firefighter. If there are snakes on the plane, I sure don't want to see them.

Nah - it's actually an example of how I conduct vision screenings on my students.... well, that's how some of the kids and parents see it!! :lol2:

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · May 25, 2011

Nah - it's actually an example of how I conduct vision screenings on my students.... well, that's how some of the kids and parents see it!!

Trying to prevent the ultraviolence early on?

caliotter3 · May 25, 2011

Nah - it's actually an example of how I conduct vision screenings on my students.... well, that's how some of the kids and parents see it!!

I like that. "Can you see it now?" "CAN YOU SEE IT NOW?!"

psu_213, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

Well this story invoves a doctor (specifically my father), but this happened well before I was a nurse...

Long flight, about an hr from the destination. We we on vacation with a group (from my Grandparents' township association). Couple in the group that we in their 70s or 80s. Heavy (and I mean very heavy) smokers...both of them. On this flight, the wife had an episode of SOB. FA were going to put O2 on...someone else in the group knew that my father was an MD and called him in. Directed them on the oxygen, met by paramedics at the gate, lady taken to the hospital...I don't know any of the F/U on the situation.

Anyway, once we got home, my father was talking to my mother (also a physician...a general surgeon, so probably not as much help in that particular situation) about what happened. He said that the FAs said they were only authorized to put O2 on at the "high" setting. I guess their O2 tanks only had high and low settings (sidebar: why can flight attendants put on high flow O2, but nurses cannot without a doctor's order?). My father made a comment that he had them put the O2 on at the low setting and this may have saved her life. At the time this did not make sense to me, but now I know the dangers of giving a 'COPDer' HF oxygen. Not exactly open heart surgery on the plane, but I was nice to see him make a difference.

For those who have helped with emergenices on a plane: what supplies are carried on commercial airliners? I know people have mentioned IV supplies (what do then have in terms of fluids?) Stethoscope? (most doctors and nurses travelling for pleasure don't take on vacation) Just curious...thanks.

FLArn · May 25, 2011

RE: the docs disappointed that they weren't offered free flights in return for their help. Is it only nurses who are no longer covered by Good Sam laws if they accept ANYTHING for assistance rendered outside of the job site? Just wondering.