Old Women Hit by Car...What Would You Do?

Chicago, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2011

I would have acted or thought to act in the same way as you. When you come along a patient, and you DID NOT see them hit, but see they have been. YOU DO NOT MOVE THE PERSON. Nursing knowlege is not even required. Seems to be pure common sense. And as far as the old man, was he also hit? Why would he be "out of it?," and "not in the mood for your help.." Really???

Don't let this one situation make you feel that you couldn't have successfully done your job. From what happened, maybe he knew enough information that all of that wouldn't have been necessary. But with that being said, why respond to you in that manner, is beyond me. Some people just cannot and will not be helped. I commend you for even stopping. Take it as a lesson learned in this chaos we call LIFE.

Orange Tree · Feb 25, 2011

I would have tried to keep her from getting hit again and made sure that paramedics were on the way. I might also have gently suggested that she not be moved until the paramedics arrived. But if her companion decided otherwise and was of sound mind (regardless of occupation), I would not have interfered.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2011

so the other day i am driving along and come upon an old women laying in the street as she has just been hit by a car while walking across a cross walk. i pull over to see if there is anything i can do. there is an old man kneeling next to her. i tell him i am a nurse and ask if there is anything i can do to help. he tells me, "i'm a physician, she's just out of it, i mean i'm out of it too, but not that out of it and i'm not in the mood for your help right now." the woman is breathing, talking etc. however, she is confused. the police arrive on the scene and an ambulance is coming in the distance. at this moment before the ambulance arrives the old man/physician instructs the women to get up and helps her walk to the sidewalk. as a new grad nurse who hasn't started working yet i realize that i do not have much training in this area of nursing. however, my thoughts were abc's and do not move the women until the medical team arrives is able to stabilize the spine. if i would have been the only one on the scene i then would have moved on to assess as much as i could while waiting for more help to arrive. i mean it's an older women, which makes me think fragile bones, combined with a hard fall etc etc. what do you all think?? what would you have done in this situation??

whoa-how strange. i wonder if the "physician" was her husband?

noahsmama · Feb 25, 2011

He didn't move her, she moved herself (with his assistance, but sounds like she still got up and walked herself?). Seems to me that if she was capable of getting up and moving herself, there's no reason why she shouldn't -- but then I have no experience with trauma -- maybe someone who does have experience can let us know?

billyboblewis · Feb 25, 2011

I would try to help anybody in distress who was not already receiving assistance. I might also mention my availability to help if they were receiving assistance. I would do this regardless of possible lawsuits, etc.

ventmommy · Feb 25, 2011

As a paramedic, even if she walked herself to the curb, we would have placed her in a c-collar and on a backboard when we got there.

Doctor or not, most people would have kept her from moving until EMS arrived. I have taught ARC CPR & First Aid for years and we always teach to not move the patient unless imminent risk of death (ex. car is on fire).

noahsmama · Feb 25, 2011

As a paramedic, even if she walked herself to the curb, we would have placed her in a c-collar and on a backboard when we got there.
Doctor or not, most people would have kept her from moving until EMS arrived. I have taught ARC CPR & First Aid for years and we always teach to not move the patient unless imminent risk of death (ex. car is on fire).

Thanks for the info!

CathyLew · Feb 25, 2011

Whoa-how strange. I wonder if the "physician" was her husband?

yea, thats what I was thinking. and did anyone see her hit? or did she just pass out, lay down, faint, fall...

EDrunnerRN · Feb 25, 2011

Follow your ABC's. I would also want more info...was she hit by a car? If so, does she remember the entire event? Did anyone witness the event? How fast was the vehicle going? Where are the injuries? Did she hit her head and if so is she on blood thinners? If she was not hit by a car...what caused the fall? PMH..diabetic? Has anything like this happened before? I would also not move this patient. EMS will c-collar and backboad her, unless refused bythe pt.

As for the Doc, who knows, bad day??? Maybe just a crappy person? Who cares, you were doing what any good nurse would do and helping someone who needs it. Thats our job, what motivates us....

RNfaster · Feb 26, 2011

I am not sure about the right answer to your question... It will be good to hear from others. Here are my thoughts: If she was hurt and in the middle of the street, one should "secure" the scene before helping the hurt person (so one does not become a victim). --If the scene was secured, I'd do the ABCs and make sure the victim stayed still until help arrived. But if the scene was risky, and the persons you described did what they did, I would have let them do it. If I was alone and found such a victim --I know it would be important to secure the scene first and then render aid.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2011

I wouldn't have wanted to move her unless she was in danger from possibly being hit again?