My first arrest

Nurses General Nursing

Published

A little background - I work as an auxiliary nurse / healthcare support worker in a hospital in the UK. I've worked in this job for about 7 months now. I attempted nurse training in 2013/14 but due to personal circumstances had to discontinue.

Anyway, my story/question is this...

I was down the corridor with a patient in a different bay when I heard the arrest bell go... We (me and colleagues) ran to the patient, who was on the bed, spread eagled, eyes wide open, vomit everywhere, there were two nurses attending to him and they shouted to put the call out for the crash team. One of my colleagues ran and got the crash trolley and the doctors who were on the ward already they began trying to save this man's life...

I will never forget the look on that man's face. I keep going over it in my head.

My question is, as a bystander, someone in the background, not actively participating, what could I do to help in this kind of situation? Having being trained in CPR I would have known what to do if I was needed, but I would like to try and be as helpful as possible.

Thank you in advance for reading, any comments would be appreciated :)

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

In this situation and with your current credentials the best thing you can do once the nurses arrive and have taken over is to be a bystander and do not impede their efforts. I would stay close by in case they want to send you to get some needed supplies or equipment or if they ask you to make a phone call.

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get out of the way but if you're trained /experienced well enough you can assist by anticipating equipments and medications that might be needed, make sure that they are within reach before they even request it, beyond that I think getting out of the way would be helpful in this case

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Specializes in ICU.

If there aren't many people on the scene yet, you can always go in and mention you can take over compressions if anyone needs relief.

If there are six or more people in the room already, they probably have enough help and just staying out of the way is best.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

OK- I read the title to this completely wrong......

I thought it was going to be another of those "I've been arrested for theft and selling drugs, why can't i be a nurse?" threads.

OP- being the 'runner' and getting supplies and relieving for CPR are such important jobs. Bless you- the first one is never easy, is it?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You did what you could and expected. If in a healthcare setting and doctors and nurses are around then offer your help and see what is directed to you.... being a runner will help free up someone qualified as well as supporting the staff working on the patient

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
OK- I read the title to this completely wrong......

I thought it was going to be another of those "I've been arrested for theft and selling drugs, why can't i be a nurse?" threads.

OP- being the 'runner' and getting supplies and relieving for CPR are such important jobs. Bless you- the first one is never easy, is it?

Glad I wasn't the only one who read the title wrong.

You sound like you did all the right things. If needed you can relieve someone providing CPR. Other than that stay out of the way and be a runner for supplies.

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Thank you for the comments and advice, it is much appreciated :)

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