No Silly Questions?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

So my nursing student and I were getting report on a 25yo female trauma patient from an ER nurse. My student was from a private all girls catholic college. I have had a bunch of them and they tend to be wicked smart, but not, let's say, wise in the ways of the world. So anyway the ER nurses says "and she has a cervical fracture" then pauses, clearly trying to remeber which cervical vertebra is fractured when my 20 year old nursing student jumps in with:

"HOW DID SHE FRACTURE HER CERVIX!!?"

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I wouldn't call that a silly question. More an "I forgot to think before I spoke because I was nervous" question. I could very easily see myself blurting out the same thing under pressure.

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"HOW DID SHE FRACTURE HER CERVIX!!?"

When I first started having problems with my neck last year I went to the community health center's convenient care clinic on a Saturday. They have MA's there and I knew right from the start she wasn't too bright when she kept insisting I step on the scale so she can weigh me because she had to. Problem was I had a cast on my ankle and on crutches. After receiving a "you're kidding" look from me and having to explain that there was no way I was going to be able to jump on that scale so she cab weight me she said okay let's skip it. I couldn't believe how stupid she was.

Then in the examining room I explained to her what was going on-that I had been to the ER and they said I had a cervical sprain. I forgot what I said that finally tipped her off that it was my neck but she suddenly laughs and says that she was wondering how I could have a cervical sprain and now she undertood. Dense, stupid, whatever you want to call it. I can give her a pass on the cervical sprain to some degree but insisting I get on the scale so she can weight me while in a cast and on crutches-that's just stupidity.

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Specializes in ICU.

If it were possible to break one's cervix, I imagine it would be called a "cervical fracture."

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Specializes in Orthopaedic Nursing; Geriatrics.

Oh, I teach a CNA class for teenagers! I have heard some very stupid questions - not this one yet though!

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Specializes in NICU.

In the NICU, talking with a student about respiratory distress in the newborn. Student asks "And how does the infant breathe in utero?"

Ummm,

Well,

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Everyone makes mistakes! And not everyone thinks before they spill words out ! Don't take comments/ questions to heart! I am sure you have messed up before ad you will in the future ! We're humans and we make mistakes! Yes , some comments are funny and make you laugh but it doesn't mean that person has no knowledge whatsoever! That person might be super smart! Just my opinion :)

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

So is a cervical fx the same as breaking your hymen?

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