My bedside quirks...wakey wakey

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I was working last week, and for once my group was relatively easy. A nurse who was floated to our unit was having a rough day. She was behind on medications, had a patient needing stat medications, and a patient who was scheduled for a stat CT of his head.

The patient needing a stat CT of his head was a lethargic, bald, 'young 65' year old middle eastern man. His nurse was concerned because he wasn't waking up. Charge nurse, float nurse and I went into the room.

The patient was lying flat, his eyes slightly open with his eyes rolled back in his head. The patient looked a little ''iffy''. Float nurse prompted her patient while lightly touching his foot, "Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones can you hear me?" No response from Mr Jones. The charge nurse inquired, "Do you want to call a rapid?" The float nurse replied, "He has been hard to arouse all day".

My curiousity was heightened. From the side of the bed, I initiated a light sternal rub while prompting the patient, "Wakey! wakey!". At that exact moment his eyes roll forward and he wakes up.

:roflmao:

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

LOLOLOL....it is amazing what a little noxious stimuli can produce. I like raising the arm and seeing if it falls on the face....if it doesn't someone is faking. In the old days my fav was ammonia salts inside the 100%NRB or the mention of a foley cath to male patients.

It's a miracle they awoke!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

I had a resident a few weeks ago demonstrate all the symptoms of a CVA, and non responsive to pain and was 'this close' to calling an ambulance to get him accessed at ED.

The other staff were like "this chap hollywoods" and went in there and lo and behold he was right as rain. The concern I have is that one day it wont be an act

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.
LOLOLOL....it is amazing what a little noxious stimuli can produce. I like raising the arm and seeing if it falls on the face....if it doesn't someone is faking. In the old days my fav was ammonia salts inside the 100%NRB or the mention of a foley cath to male patients.

It's a miracle they awoke!

You crack me up, Esme.

Lol @ "the mention of a foley cath"!! :eek: Nobody wants that.

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Specializes in LTC.

We had a resident that wasn't waking up so the charge nurse took cold wash cloth and lightly washer her face.....surprise the eyes opened and "came" to!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

The sternum rub and dropping their hand are age old EMS "tricks". I haven't said "wakey wakey" since my youngest was about 4 though :locktopic:

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Specializes in Emergency/ICU.

This is a pet peeve of mine in the ED. Overly dramatic patient with minor ailment cannot be awakened when it is time to go home. The sternal rub works wonders, but I love Esme's techniques. Unfortunately, I think some of my patients would be willing to endure a foley if it would give credence to their drama bomb.

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Oh man we have so many dramatic patients that are not even sick (when compared to the others on the unit)

I wish we gave out more DramaMine

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Oh my gosh Dramamine! lolz!!

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

worked at a MR/DD facility had one lady who faked this until you said, wow, look at that good looking guy... she would sit up and say, where?where?

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