Yesterday I saw a car accident. Looked like some young man in a sports car probably went to fast and hit a truck from behind. The truck was fine and the people in the truck were out walking around. I was going probably 5 mph on the highway strolling by this accident and all I could think about was "I wish I were a nurse so I could help!"
No ambulance yet, but I know the hospital was only 5 minutes away so I knew it would only be a minute before they got there. He was lucky to crash at that exit. He was right by the exit too.
I saw the young man laying in the grass, face up, eyes closed. About 10 people around him. I didn't see any blood or anything, and assumed he hadn't died by the way the people were acting around him. I mean, I'd assume people would either be freaking out or attempting CPR.
Part of me wanted to pull over and help, but honestly, the only thing I know how to do is take vitals. I mean, I haven't done any nursing clinicals. The only clinical I have had were nurse aide clinicals. So what was I going to do? Yell at the people to give him some space and take his pulse and respirations? As soon as that thought came into my mind, I heard the ambulance coming. Had I not heard them coming, I probably would have done the above. lol.
Nurse or not, I know the mistake #1 they made was pulling him out of that car. Hopefully they didn't damage his back.
I do think I am going to sign up for my BLS class next quarter and maybe do a first aid class as well. You never know. I may need those skills sometime before I become a nurse!
Obviously I wouldn't put my own life in danger, but if the scene is safe, then I'll can jump in. I wouldn't dive head-first into a firery crash at the bottom of a ravine, but a less severe accident on the side of the road...then yes.
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The highway this accident was on was not very busy, and there are large shoulders, which is where people were pulled over. The only reason the little traffic that was there was going slow was because there was debris all over the road.
I wouldn't exactly stop in the middle of the road or pull over where there was no where to pull over either. I mean, if it's a really busy highway, there would be a good chance someone wouldn't be paying attention and would hit my car, which could cause more injuries.
I wouldn't pull over if it meant I could cause an accident as my intention would be to help, not make matters worse.
My husband is training to be an EMT, and he is all about being super prepared for all sorts of situations. We keep a full backpack in the trunk of our car with all kinds of first aid and survival supplies like food, water, an extra change of clothes, etc. I think it's the smart thing to do whether you're a health care provider or not.
I am also curious, exactly what kind of first aid/emergency response training do nursing students typically get? I will be starting NS next month. I almost wonder if it would be worth getting some kind of first responder training, or does NS cover anything like that?
It doesn't exactly seem like a part of the curriculum as far as I can tell, but I sure hope they would train us in stuff like first aid. Or do you basically just learn that through other capacities like when you learn wound care, etc?
Most schools require you to get what any hospital you might work or learn in would require as a minimum:
BLS for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association is what my school requires. This entails CPR on adults, children and infants with one and two responders, the use of an AED and choking response. It's an all day course.
Beyond this I am sure we will be learning all sorts of things but we probably won't be legally authorized to use them even in emergency situations until we're licensed.
You mentioned wound care, it would seem to me that basic wound care, provided the injured person is capable of being bandaged without being moved or is entirely ambulatory would be something a student could do, but I really don't know, maybe some one else could speak to that.
My husband is training to be an EMT, and he is all about being super prepared for all sorts of situations. We keep a full backpack in the trunk of our car with all kinds of first aid and survival supplies like food, water, an extra change of clothes, etc. I think it's the smart thing to do whether you're a health care provider or not.
I am also curious, exactly what kind of first aid/emergency response training do nursing students typically get? I will be starting NS next month. I almost wonder if it would be worth getting some kind of first responder training, or does NS cover anything like that?
All students are required to have BLS/CPR before entering clinicals. Programs vary but generally you recieve a decent amount of first responder training or rather, what you can do with two hands training. 99% of healthcare is about what's in your head, not whats in your hands.
It doesn't exactly seem like a part of the curriculum as far as I can tell, but I sure hope they would train us in stuff like first aid. Or do you basically just learn that through other capacities like when you learn wound care, etc?
You first large exposure to outside emergencies will be in BLS/CPR but you will develop a deeper and more thorough understanding of the entire situation throughout Nursing school. A Registered Nurse's education and scope of practice is very broad enabling the Nurse to work in many many different fields, including emergency medicine.
You may not be an expert but you know the basics by the time you are done.
I just got my AHA BLS certification...but my BLS course didn't cover anything about C-spine precautions, etc. I'm just curious if we would get the kind of training to enable us to help in a situation like a car wreck. One day I did witness a car wreck at a busy intersection. The woman in the car appeared to be stable but was bleeding, and let's just say maybe she had some burns and a broken rib or limb...what would be the right thing to do in order to help this woman? Will nursing school prepare me for things like this? Sorry if I sound naive, I really just don't know. Of course I would call for EMS, but other than that...should I, or could I, do anything else to help?
I just got my AHA BLS certification...but my BLS course didn't cover anything about C-spine precautions, etc. I'm just curious if we would get the kind of training to enable us to help in a situation like a car wreck. One day I did witness a car wreck at a busy intersection. The woman in the car appeared to be stable but was bleeding, and let's just say maybe she had some burns and a broken rib or limb...what would be the right thing to do in order to help this woman? Will nursing school prepare me for things like this? Sorry if I sound naive, I really just don't know. Of course I would call for EMS, but other than that...should I, or could I, do anything else to help?
If she was bleedning, how would you protect yourself from the blood? Assume she is HIV positive.
Something tells me you are not a Nurse Donald nor have your CPR/BLS...
What can you do without gadgets or supplies.
Hold someone's hand.
Provide CPR.
Provide BLS.
Apply pressure to a bleed.
Open an airway.
The basics...and again, the first thing they teach you is "When reasonably safe."
P.S.
You assume EVERYONE has HIV. Universal precautions.
No, I am not a nurse (yet) but I did take an EMT course a few years ago. So while I obvivously don't know as much about giving care as most people here, I do have significant knowledge when it comes to first responders.
You say you can apply CPR. But do you carry a mouthguard with you? What if the victim vommits into your mouth. Sounds really disgusting, but it can happen.
If she was bleedning, how would you protect yourself from the blood? Assume she is HIV positive.
I don't know. I'm really just curious as to whether we learn skills in school that could be of use in this type of situation.
The scenario I gave is just a for-instance. What do EMS workers do around blood? I haven't learned universal precautions yet (start classes next month). I do keep a backpack in my car with lots of first-aid supplies including gloves.
No, I am not a nurse (yet) but I did take an EMT course a few years ago. So while I obviously don't know as much about giving care as most people here, I do have significant knowledge when it comes to first responders.
You say you can apply CPR. But do you carry a mouth guard with you? What if the victim vomits into your mouth. Sounds really disgusting, but it can happen.
Taking an EMT course is far from the same thing as being an EMT nor does it qualify as having significant first responder knowledge, not to be mean.
Yes I do actually have a mouth guard. Even if I didn't i would not hesitate to do mouth to mouth, done it before, do it again. Someone else's vomit in my mouth is a very small price compared to a human beings life. Vomit, blood, guts, feces, urine, semen, lady partsl fluid, spit, mucus...I live in these fluids. Doesn't bother me anymore.
Besides...CCR is the wave of the future. Look it up, cardiocerebral resuscitation.
And yes I have had someone else's vomit in my mouth, several times actually. Blood, spit, mucus, and I suspect urine to lesser extent. No one said being a Nurse was pleasant.
P.S. To refer to previous posts...did you look up your CPR/BLS guidelines? Remember "Reasonably safe?"
I just got my AHA BLS certification...but my BLS course didn't cover anything about C-spine precautions, etc. I'm just curious if we would get the kind of training to enable us to help in a situation like a car wreck. One day I did witness a car wreck at a busy intersection. The woman in the car appeared to be stable but was bleeding, and let's just say maybe she had some burns and a broken rib or limb...what would be the right thing to do in order to help this woman? Will nursing school prepare me for things like this? Sorry if I sound naive, I really just don't know. Of course I would call for EMS, but other than that...should I, or could I, do anything else to help?
Nursing school will teach you exactly what to do. The good ol' ABCs and snap assessment. I could write pages on what you're going to look for in your assessment of the person and the interventions you would do but from the limited info you gave you would simply keep her calm, keep her still and keep her talking and wait for the cavalry to arrive.
Depending upon furthur assessments your interventions will change.
Good Lord, you can't get HIV through your skin, take precautions...carry a pair of gloves with you.
Honestly, HIV is actually very hard to get. Only 20% of mothers with the virus even pass it placentally to their babies. Now, be careful, of course, but even people with HIV or Hep C deserve help if they've been in an accident.
Nursing school will teach you exactly what to do. The good ol' ABCs and snap assessment. I could write pages on what you're going to look for in your assessment of the person and the interventions you would do but from the limited info you gave you would simply keep her calm, keep her still and keep her talking and wait for the cavalry to arrive.
Depending upon furthur assessments your interventions will change.
Aha, thanks! I was just honestly curious as to whether we will be able to apply the skills we learn in nursing school to emergency situations. I have heard in the past about nurses who wouldn't know what to do on the scene of an accident and nurses wishing they had taken first aid courses. I'm hoping that stuff will be covered!
happy2learn
1,118 Posts
The highway this accident was on was not very busy, and there are large shoulders, which is where people were pulled over. The only reason the little traffic that was there was going slow was because there was debris all over the road.
I wouldn't exactly stop in the middle of the road or pull over where there was no where to pull over either. I mean, if it's a really busy highway, there would be a good chance someone wouldn't be paying attention and would hit my car, which could cause more injuries.
I wouldn't pull over if it meant I could cause an accident as my intention would be to help, not make matters worse.