It must was meant for me to be a nurse

[shoegalRN, RN]

Today, on my way to work, I witnessed an accident. The SUV had hit the guard well and caught fire. I almost rear ended the car in front of me because they slowed down. I immediately noticed the back of the truck was not on fire and there was another SUV pulled over on the side of the road and a lady standing outside on her cell. I couldnt pull over because of the traffic jam. There was no medics on site or firefighters. I called 911 from my cell phone but was put on hold. I came on in to work, but couldnt get that scene out of my mind. I thought I sure hope help arrived and that the person did not burn to death. I also assumed the lady standing outside of the truck climbed over the seat and went through the back door, but the door wasnt open. I called 911 when I got to work to make sure help did arrive and they said it did. I just can't get this scene out of my head. I know I can't call the hospitals in the area to see if the person had made it. Then I wonder what I could have done to save this person had I been able to get to to them.

In the summer, I witnessed a police crusier get hit by a drunk driver. The passenger officer rolled out of the car holding his chest and I ran over to him to keep him still and from moving. The medics arrived and the firemen had to cut the driver officer out. Both officers were taken to the Level 2 trauma hopsital. I pulled over 2 police officers in traffic the next day to make sure the police officers were ok. They told me they were. I went as far as to send a get well card to the police department the next week.

I know I get emotionally attached, but is this going to be something that may hurt me once I become a nurse? I start nursing school on 01/17/07.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Yes, and no.

No because it shows you have compassion and empathy and this is badly needed in our practice.

Yes. Become too emotionally attached to patients may cause you to loose focus and concentration, and emtional distress.

There's a happy medium most of us have, where we were aren't robots, but we know how to deal with our feelings of loss, etc. and carry on to the next thing.

It's a process that doesn't happen overnight, or isn't taught in nursing school.

[shoegalRN, RN]

Well, I found out on the news the driver did survive. She was pulled out of the truck by two men and only suffered burns on 20% of her body. So, I feel good that she lived.