kloget

does the cardiac monitor sound different when a lead is disconnected offa chest patch from the way it sounds when it is a real flatline (will the monitor show flatline if just one is disconnected?) What is done after reconnecting the thing or will the monitor just start beeping again?

Stitches tore through his forehead zigzagging in several different directions, leaving a path of dried blood behind. Above that, his curly brown hair was replaced with white gauze bandages. They looked like a manufacturer's irregular-somewhere between a turban and a beanie. Blood had seeped through them in a couple different places. One particularly gross area was above his left ear. Beneath it the corner had lifted a bit and she could see train track looking staples sticking out from its edge. They looked like they were holding down swollen raw sausage. Getting just a glimpse of what was supposedly underneath there she was reminded of the upholstery staples that she had seen pulling free from the back of her couch at home. She had talked to Daniel about needing new furniture because of it, and now it was him that needed the fixing. Her thoughts seemed so bizarre, but maybe it was her way of coping with the disturbing images before her. She knew she couldn't be in her right mind if she was thinking about swamis, sausage, and sofas. Whatever was down the line for them couldn't be more frightening than this sight, could it?

Really appreciate the critique! I will work on those things as well as the head dressing which I neglected.....not sure how it looks except I am thinking maybe turban-like...but I will try to research some photos unless anyone has specifics....AGAIN, I SO RESPECT YOUR PROFESSION AND JUST WANT TO HONOR IT BY DOING A GOOD J0B ON THIS SCENERIO. SO MANY NURSES HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF ME THROUGH NINE SPINAL OPERATIONS, WELL, ITS THE LEAST I CAN DO SINCE THEY ARE SO UNAPPRECIATED SOMETIMES.

Thanks for all the tips and input regarding my text. Here is the revised version if anyone wants to critique it further. I so appreciate all who responded. My deadline is looming............... ""I am Doctor Fallon. I am in charge of your husband's care. Please sit down", he said as he motioned to the empty seats behind them. "I'm afraid your husband is in a coma" he continued, flipping through Daniel's chart. "Here is what we've deduced about his condition: He has suffered a traumatic brain injury from his car accident. The force of the impact from the left, the driver's side of his car, caused his brain to slam against the right side of his skull. The car spun around and slammed into a retaining wall which compounded the already violent back and forth motion of his brain. This is called coup-contrecoup." Megan's face had a puzzled look that came up on the fear and worry already there. "Let me explain further" the attentive doctor sustained. "Daniel has an epidural bleed which means he is bleeding between his brain and his skull. There is also severe swelling and that is why he is in surgery. You see, your brain is inside your skull. When trauma causes the brain to swell, the skull's confining space keeps it from being able to expand; so pressure builds up. Blood supply is then cut off and ischemia develops. This is a term that we use to define lack of blood flow or oxygenation to tissues. That could cause a stroke or even death. Unfortunately he has some internal injuries as well, and was in severe hypovolemic shock. These are the insults they are addressing in surgery right now. Though in critical condition, he is certainly lucky to be alive." The word "lucky" jumped out at her like a snake. She reviled back from the doctor. "Lucky?" "Quite frankly, he should have died in this crash-especially since he was not wearing a seat restraint. Now, Megan, let me explain the level of his coma. We use what is called the Glasgow Coma Scale. A three on this scale, is the lowest possible score of a person in a coma. A fifteen is of a normal appearing person. Your husband's evaluation revealed the score of...." Just then the doctor's pager beeped loudly, and it distracted him for a moment while he fumbled to turn it off. Their eyes reconnected. "Your husband's score was a five. I must be honest and tell you that his prognosis is not very good. We are doing everything we can for him, and he is in very good hands. Our team has tremendous expertise in traumatic brain injury but you should know that there is only so much we can do for him. This is not an exact science, and you need to prepare yourself for either outcome, Mrs. Tasselvan." "What kind of damage will there be if he survives?" she asked him, never allowing her eyes to avert his, in case she would miss meaning that couldn't be expressed with just words. "His neurological damage did not only occur at the moment of impact. It will evolve over the ensuing hours or days. Time will have to show us. These things are very unpredictable. If you are a praying woman, I would suggest that you pray for a miracle." THEN IN DANIEL'S ROOM THIS IS HOW I WROTE IT: After signing in, they were escorted to Daniel's bedside. Megan was immediately overwhelmed with emotion, and grabbed the Pastor's arm to steady herself. She thought she would be sick as she got a closer look. She knew it was Daniel, but didn't recognize the person laying there. Daniel's face was so puffed-up and bloated looking. His skin was pitted, probably from the glass that had shattered onto his face. There were still tiny glistening bits she could see imbedded in his ears. His eyes were swollen tightly shut and welts of maroon and deep purple bruises surrounded them. Stitches tore through his forehead zigzagging in several different directions, leaving a path of dried blood behind. Down the front of his gown were remnants of a brown liquid of some sort, smeared in the mop up attempt. Why didn't they give him a fresh gown? But how would they get this one off him? Tubes and wires seemed to be coming out of everywhere, his mouth, nose, and stomach. Multiple IVs were pricking his skin. Bottles with indistinguishable labels hung at varying heights around his bed. Standing guard over him, too, were machines and monitors ticking and beeping and whooshing. Their colored lights blinked at intervals, keeping watch with the rhythm of the room. The sight of it all replicated the set of a television trauma show she and Daniel watched regularly. Only now they were living it!

Thank you all for your input!!! The NICU I was speaking of is NEURO ICU....sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess all hospitals are different.

Would a first grade child ever be allowed in NICU to see her father who is in a coma? Would an exception ever be made for this?

Would a first grade child ever be allowed in NICU to see her father who is in a coma? Would an exception ever be made for this?

Thank you so much for your kind reply. It is extremely important that I do this with integrity. You see, I have had nine spinal operations myself (in real life) and am going through a painful time. I know what its like to be on the receiving end of treatment and I want to honor the nurses that have taken such good care of me time and time again. (I have written several into this script). It is important that I don't just blow off the facts, and that I remain sensitive to families who are actually going through TBI situations. So, thanks again and here are the specifics. You can email me at [email protected] if that would be easier than posting here and thanks again. I will use your name in the acknowledgments if you send it along with the answers. Facts without the fluff: Distracted driver runs red light at intersection. He is traveling north/ south, and is hit by driver going through green (east/west) at quite a clip. East/west guy dies and the subject of these questions is in a coma by the time he gets to the hospital. *Question#1 is "could the force of the impact from the left (driver's side) cause the following: He has TBI, with a Glasgow score of seven. "The force of the impact from the left, the driver's side of his car, caused his brain to slam against the right side of his skull. It bounced back and forth, wobbling his brain stem in the process.( It is a shearing injury, which means he has some tearing in his brain stem.) The car spun around and slammed into a retaining wall which compounded the already violent back and forth motion of his brain. There is swelling and bleeding. Also, He went into respiratory arrest and cardiac failure while being transported here by helicopter. Though in critical condition, he is certainly lucky to be alive." "Research has shown that there is a 50% chance that he will die or remain in a vegetative state. Only 30% recover. But please remember, too, that this is not an exact science." *Question#3 what would be done in surgery to help him? Question#2 is which of the following would he have in NICU after surgery Brain Stem Evoked Response Equipment, Catheter, Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), GI Tube, Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor, Respirator/Ventilator, Subarachnoid Screw, Tracheostomy Tube *Question #3 is "what would the family see when they walked into NICU?" (just need the facts) Here is what I have so far and would appreciate critique if it doesn't seem real. "Bruises belted the left side of his cheek and ran the length of his chin. Defined deeply in colors of blue and purple, with golden hues, they were like no bruise she had ever experienced. The bruise was pitted, probably from the glass that had shattered onto his face on impact. On the same side, his eye was swollen shut. Stitches worn on his forehead didn't follow a precise line, but rather zigzagged in several different directions. Was that an actual staple by his ear? He had a metal contraption at his throat and a long tube coming out of his nose. It was held in place by white tape. Down the front of his gown were remnants of a brown liquid of some sort, smeared in the mop up attempt. Why didn't they give him a fresh gown? Monitors by his bed were beeping and flashing lights at different intervals." *Later it was explained this way: "When the other car plowed into your son's car it was a violent collision. His brain was moved so radically inside of his skull that it caused severe bleeding and tearing of tissues. The skull was cracked and the bone's edge actually cut into the brain and caused bleeding. If he had been wearing a seatbelt..."

I am up against a deadline for a novel I am writing about a man who is in a coma. I want to be sensitive to those who are actually dealing with this situation, as well as the nurses involved in the coma person's care. BUT I have a few specific questions that I can't seem to find answers to. Is there a NICU nurse out there who would be willing to help me by providing accuracy to this fiction piece? I could email the questions to you, in context. Thank you.