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!
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.
Yes you will learn the skills, Nursing is very global, we do many MANY things.
EMS use universal precautions.
Backpack full of supplies? No. Knowledge BEFORE tools. If you don't know how to use it you don't need it.
My old Advanced Med Surg Professor used to literally take all of our supplies and tools away from use and tell use to do a comprehensive assessment and vital signs for a pt. No stethoscope, no flashlight, no BP cuff, no thermometer, no pulse ox no nothing.... He was an old Army Nurse who was used to treating trauma pts on cots with dirt floors. Starting IVs with bamboo kind of stuff.
Not to mention AIDs is not considered a terminal disease anymore, it is considered a manageable chronic disease, same class as diabetes...sucks to have but is not the super uber monkey Ebola it used to be.
Personally I would rather have AIDs than diabetes...at least you keep your legs with AIDS.
Yes you will learn the skills, Nursing is very global, we do many MANY things.
EMS use universal precautions.
Backpack full of supplies? No. Knowledge BEFORE tools. If you don't know how to use it you don't need it.
My old Advanced Med Surg Professor used to literally take all of our supplies and tools away from use and tell use to do a comprehensive assessment and vital signs for a pt. No stethoscope, no flashlight, no BP cuff, no thermometer, no pulse ox no nothing.... He was an old Army Nurse who was used to treating trauma pts on cots with dirt floors. Starting IVs with bamboo kind of stuff.
I agree that my backpack full of supplies is not going to help me if I don't know what to do. The backpack is really more of a personal survival kit than anything else, in case of disaster. Of course there are plenty of things I do know how to use in it, but as far as helping someone else out at an accident...yikes. Can't wait for nursing school!
If she was bleedning, how would you protect yourself from the blood? Assume she is HIV positive.
If you don't have an open wound and you protect your eyes with sunglasses or something, you really don't have to worry about getting HIV by touching blood.
It has to be transmitted sexually or blood on blood contact.
I'm going to buck the most of the trend here and say don't be a hero. Rubberneckers don't always see good Samaritans and what would you really be able to do other than CPR? I'm not quite sure how much good CPR would do for an MVA. (This is all assuming the situation the OP described on a highway. If you don't hear EMS coming, sure, help out if you're comfortable with it.)
Yeah, my husband is a paramedic, and the thing that was drilled in to them during school was personal safety- don't do anything unless you know the scene is safe, ever ever ever. Stopping at an accident scene can come with risks you might not be aware of. I think given your level of training at this stage, you made the right decision to not stop.
Interestingly enough, the Minnesota Good Sam law says that ANYONE must stop and give assistance if they know that someone has been exposed to or suffered grave physical harm "to the extent that a person can do so" and that not doing so makes one guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
I heard about the nurses having to stop in Minnesota and being guilty of a crime equivalent to abandonment from a podcast of a fundamentals class, apparently that is not entirely true. I can find no legal reference for it so I'll withdraw the remark as hearsay.
I heard about the nurses having to stop in Minnesota and being guilty of a crime equivalent to abandonment from a podcast of a fundamentals class, apparently that is not entirely true. I can find no legal reference for it so I'll withdraw the remark as hearsay.
The general consensus among the various state GSL's is that unless you are "on-duty" and emergency response is your job you have no legal duty to act. If, however, you stop and identify yourself as a nurse and make patient contact you are then obligated to stay with the patient until a higher level of care arrives. If you leave prior to that care arriving then you can be charged with abandonment and may have to face your BON.
The general consensus among the various state GSL's is that unless you are "on-duty" and emergency response is your job you have no legal duty to act. If, however, you stop and identify yourself as a nurse and make patient contact you are then obligated to stay with the patient until a higher level of care arrives. If you leave prior to that care arriving then you can be charged with abandonment and may have to face your BON.
Please check this website out. There is a lot of misinformation being thrown around about being sued for helping or not helping. It even has each states Good Samaritan Law hyperlinked. BTW those of you in Cali are covered regardless of a previous post.
Listen there are plenty of things on the internet that I don't believe and the one I really never believe is that reading an article online will protect me from an ambulance chaser. I don't care what laws are in effect, I still will not run the risk, but that is me.
Laws are written with blood in most cases, meaning someone died to have them put into place. Well I sweat for my livelihood and if someone bleeds on the pavement and there is a law protecting me....well guess we'll have to put that 7 minute average ambulance call time to the test.
Um...this was in response to those who said we could lose our licenses if we don't stop which, by and large, is not true and to those who were "quoting" their state's GSL's (none of them accurately I might add). It was posted as a resource so that each individual would have correct information on which to base their personal decision.
It was never intended to force anyone into believing that the GSL's are a blanket protection for those of us who do decide to act and, quite frankly, I'm as much confused as to how you came to such a conclusion from my post as I am you rather hostile tone.
How many times have you heard of someone being successfully suing by helping out? Granted someone can try, but they success rate is rare. You get sued for any reason these days. I could understand the fear if this was common, but really?
I understand there was one case in California where a lady pulled out her friend from a car she believed was in danger of being hit. She caused her friend to be paralyzed. She was sued successfully, since this was considered non-medical help. Since then they have changed the law to protect against that.
Seriously, I would rather not live in this world if I become afraid to help out my fellow man with whatever skills I do have. Even sitting next to someone and telling them help is on the way and to hold on, may make the difference. The human spirit is a funny thing.
Of course, make sure the scene is safe. That is number 1 in EMT training (and yes I was an EMT-B for 15 years). Nurses have learned their ABC's. They understand about shock and stabilizing a spine. So there are things they can do. You still have to work within your scope of practice as others have mentioned.
I understand if you feel uncomfortable stopping, fearful of your skills to help or just don't want to help. But let's make sure the facts are out there.
Asystole RN
2,352 Posts
Yes you will learn the skills, Nursing is very global, we do many MANY things.
EMS use universal precautions.
Backpack full of supplies? No. Knowledge BEFORE tools. If you don't know how to use it you don't need it.
My old Advanced Med Surg Professor used to literally take all of our supplies and tools away from use and tell use to do a comprehensive assessment and vital signs for a pt. No stethoscope, no flashlight, no BP cuff, no thermometer, no pulse ox no nothing.... He was an old Army Nurse who was used to treating trauma pts on cots with dirt floors. Starting IVs with bamboo kind of stuff.