THAT GUT FEELING???!!!!!??

Published

Specializes in Pediatric.

We have all had it on multiple occasions. Some days we choose to ignore it and other days we can not act fast enough. This was my day yesterday! I am so glad I went with my gut!!!!

Student walks in mid morning. His first words are "Hey!", (first red flag! This kid is never not polite), proceeds after a few minutes with, "UMMMM, I need this (pointing at his arm) there is an ummm you know an umm bite. Can you fix it? OK!! This kid is more mature than most seniors I know and hes is 7 and he can't explain to me what is wrong. Red Flag again!!

I cover his bite and send him to class and call his teacher ASAP. She states she has not really started doing much with them yet but will watch him. Great! Maybe I am overthinking this?? (my thoughts at that point)

Give it maybe 25 minutes. Teacher calls me and at that moment I knew!! YES!!! something is not right.

Mom is an employee here and of course she gone on a field trip today!!

I do an exam. Can not walk a toe toe line without watching, unsteady and bumping into things, unable to really say what he wants without deep thoughts on what it is(confused), dropping things, and his pupils are dilated. VS good, low grade temp (99.5).

I call mom and inform her of what I see and my urge that he needs seen now! Dad arrives in 5 minutes and notes an issue 5 minutes into the drive to ER.

Mom updates with ER doc being phenomenal!! Ran numerous test and did a CT(which showed no masses up that high). No real answer as of this morning. He is set up to see Neuro today for an MRI of the brain stem to rule out a tumor there (which is where the doctor feels there may be). Labs associated with tumors are on the high end of normal. He has a strong H/O migraines and had one Sunday which left him asleep for over 16 hours.

Parents and Doctor did notice an improvement as the night went on, but his doctor was convinced something is wrong. Pupils remained dilated!

I have not spoken to her yet this morning.

My gut said something was not right and for a brief moment I doubted myself!! WHY do we do that!! LOL!!

I knew there was something off!!!! FOLLOW YOUR GUT!!!!!! 9/10 times it wont fail you!!!!

14
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.

Great job!!!

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Amen to that!

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.

Go you!

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.

Ugh...yay for you for the follow up...I hope it is not a tumor...BTDT too many times. Please keep us posted!

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Wow!!! Yay, you - great advocate for that student. Also yay that the parents took it seriously and that other medical professionals can see it, too.

Tox screen? I mean, he's 7 but that would be the easy button....

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric.
5 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

Wow!!! Yay, you - great advocate for that student. Also yay that the parents took it seriously and that other medical professionals can see it, too.

Tox screen? I mean, he's 7 but that would be the easy button....

I am very grateful for this mom whose words to me were, "I have 100% confidence in your gut. If you say there is something wrong I believe you!" She is also an amazing co-worker.

I am honestly not sure on that tox screen. I just spoke to mom and he is still not right. Speech is better but still much delayed. Pupils remain huge. They have an appt with Neuro.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×

You did a great job! Hopefully your student will be okay.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.

That gut feeling ...

Saved my bacon yesterday...kid ate something that was laced with what I do not know. Presented as looking sick, denied eating or drinking anything s/he shouldn't have. Abnormal VS, not looking any better after lying down and decreasing mentation...

Admitted to eating something after asked if the tox screen would be positive when mom picks up and transports to the ER...

Out the door feetfirst w/ EMS...gah

12
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Awesome job! Please keep us updated on this kiddo!

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
16 minutes ago, NutmeggeRN said:

Out the door feetfirst w/ EMS...gah

OY. and GAH. Good job!!! I do not miss the rapid decompensation of "I took something that will show on a tox screen."

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.
1 minute ago, ruby_jane said:

OY. and GAH. Good job!!! I do not miss the rapid decompensation of "I took something that will show on a tox screen."

Right??

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment