Question for RN's

[sonja_alyssa]

My four year old son was riding his little bike down the sidewalk yesterday without wearing shoes (I know... what on earth was I thinking!). He was going pretty fast and before I could even get up he tried to stop using his feet. He cut up his big toe pretty bad. Basically a small chunk of his skin had peeled away. He was hysterical, dad was freaking out, etc. I yelled for my husband to get the first aid kit and went to work. I knew he wouldn't need stitches and had to firmly convince my husband that had it been his ankle or the top of his foot then we would definately head to the ER. My question to all of you is this. Now that you're a nurse, do any of your family members, friends call on you for advice before running to the ER? I can't imagine my sister coming to me before another nurse. Maybe it's because I'm her sister and that's just how she'll always look at me. Do you diagnose your own children? I'm just curious as to how many of you get phone calls from family and friends re: so and so is sick, here are the symptoms. I fell... Can you come look at my leg and tell me if you think I should go to the ER? Just curious:)

BTW my son is doing better today. I put two bandaids on his big toe. One around and one up and down. He is dreading the bath tonight and everytime I look at it I cringe because it looks so painful. I was right about letting it heal on its own right? The damage was right on the side of his left big toe. He wouldn't need stitches for something like that would he? It wasn't very deep and didn't bleed a lot. I'll feel horrible if I made the wrong decision:selfbonk: Thanks guys!!

Sonja

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I think we all get those calls at one time or another.

Im a "middle aged nurse" and grew up in a rural area. You wouldnt believe the things people my age survived without a doctor. Not that we couldnt have used a doctor, it just wasnt an option. You know the signs of infection, use your assessment skills.