My story and a big thanks! Long...

[KCnTexas, ADN]

I have always wanted to be a nurse but for one reason or another, I just never got around to actually going to school.

In June of 2006, I left my job in AP to persue my dream of becoming a nurse.

I have completed all of my pre-req's and have my aceptance letter for fall and I am so thrilled to begin the journey.

I have a story from 1995 about a wonderful nurse who saved my now ex-husband's life and just encouraged me even more to become a nurse. I thought it might bring a smile or perhaps a warm feeling for someone who is otherwise discouraged.

About July of 1995, my husband started complaining that his rear was hurting, but we kind of brushed it off thinking it was just something minor. One Saturday he came in from a run (he is a truck driver) and told me that he just could not take it anymore that I needed to come and get him to take him to the hospital.

Of course, I am about 7 months pregnant by then and was miserable due to the heat and didn't want to get out and take him but I picked him up and off we went.

We went to the ER and they checked him over and the doctor told him he had a fistula (sp?) and prescribed anti-biotic's and advised to follow up with family physician.

So, as we are leaving, we stop at the ice machine getting some ice water for both of us and my ex casually asks the nurse taking us to discharge, "what does it mean when you are thirsty all the time and don't have any energy?". The nurse said, "Just talk to your primary physician on Monday."

So on to discharge, we sign all of the paperwork and leave the hospital and we get about halfway across the parking lot and the nurse he had asked his question of was yelling at us to stop. She said "Mr. & Mrs. C**, please come back in, we would like to check Mr. C's blood."

Ok, I thought what is up with all of this, but we went back in and they checked his blood on the portable machine and all it said was high so, "Mr. C would you please have a seat." Now I am like what in the world is going on??? (I am sure by now most of you know where this is going)

She then draws arterial blood and sends it off while we sit and wait for the results, they kind of tell us what is going on but not really.

We finally get the results back and the doctor comes in and tells us that my ex will be spending a little bit of time with them in the ICU becuase his blood sugar is 866. Of course after they explain it, I about faint and think I am going to join him....lol

They then hook him up to an IV and so I waddle and he walks himself up to ICU for his start of a month stay. They told us he was the first person they had seen not only not in a coma but still alive with that high of a blood sugar and he was the first person to walk himself up to ICU.

So, I am so thankful to this wonderful nurse who went out of her way to chase us down. Since we kind of caught her off guard with the question as we were leaving she just kind of brushed it off but she evidently thought about it after we left and realized it might be a problem. I don't think he would have made throught the weekend with his blood sugar already being that high.

So thanks to a wonderful nurse, surgery and insulin, my ex was still around to meet his daughter and is still going strong.

[deleern]

Wow! Good luck to you... in your new journey. You will be amazed at what you will learn in the next few years...

[Penguin67]

Interesting story. THank you for sharing it.

I had a similar experience working the adolescent floor with a CF patient. When I first got out of school, it was common practive for the MD's of a CF patient to write for 2-3 hour evening passes so they could get away from the hospital for awhile. (Wouldn't fly today.) One of my 19 year olds was going out on a routine dinner pass, but his bs check would be due in an hour, so I went on and checked it. It was 950-ish. Double checked that, roughly same thing. Called MD to cancel pass and let her know of the BS. No one could believe it was that high and he was walking around asymptomatic.

[dianah, ASN]

People certainly have different tolerance levels for high and low lab numbers. :)

KC, glad your husband and dd are doing well.

Congrats on your acceptance, and hang on tight for the ride, it WILL be worth it.

You will end up being a nurse like the nurse who ran after you and your husband because something clicked in her brain. :)

Each act, no matter how small, causes a ripple effect to be felt.