msgas

Interesting. And you are a NURSE? Lots of anger and rage in your post. I don't know I would be glad to see you coming in to the ED.

Know anybody that ever woke up and said I think I'll be a drunk, opiate addicted, crack prostitute today? Destroy my family, my potential. Be eaten up by guilt and shame whenever/if ever I'm not high. I wonder about the treatment choices in your ED. If this guy was so combative, why didn't the treatment team assess him, realize he wasn't going to cooperate and tube him, paralyze him for the CT? Too much trouble? I agree you have to protect yourself and others. That's the job. In the field tazer is an appropriate response at times. In the ED, it's not. Lots of other options. Most of us got in to nursing because of our calling to be caring, compassionate and nurturing. I know it is hard for me to treat everyone that comes through the door with those qualities. I am human. I get tired. I have opinions on things. I see people with severe COPD or lung ca that continue to smoke and it's hard for me. The unwed young mother with no prenatal care having baby#x. The morbidly obese. The child suffering from abuse or neglect. IMHO, it's not mine to judge them. I have to look at what they are touching inside of me to cause the feelings I have. I chose to be a nurse. Not everyone can do what we do. It's a calling and a privilege. It also has responsibilities to be a caring patient advocate for all who enter our care. Sometimes to put ourselves aside to care for the patient. I'm not saying I'm perfect at it nor that it's easy, but it's there. You mention that he didn't have a head injury. If he had, would you have treated him differently? How about if he had been a decompensating schizophrenic? Sorry you had a bad night. msgas

Hi Anne. How's it going? I'd be glad to talk with you, pm, email whatever. I have heard good things about Pine Grove in Hattiesburg, MS, Bradford in Birmingham, AL and of course there is Talbott. Scary time for you I imagine. msgas