They called 911 & sent me out. I learned a lesson!

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I was at work and wasn't feeling so hot. I was short of breath, and felt like there was a brick on my chest. I'm thinking it's anxiety and I went along doing my last rounds. So the nurse trots over to the ADON and they check my pulse ox which was 98%. But my pulse was 169. The ADON says keep an eye on her, and I go back to work. I was VERY confused. I couldn't remember my room assignment (and I had made the assignments!) and I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do. The nurse made me sit in the lobby and said she was going to get her paycheck. (She went to find the DON but she knew I'd hide if she told me that) The UC walked by and by that time my hands and arms had gotten all contracted and I couldn't move them, and my legs were starting to do the same. My mouth even got stuck in this funny pucker. So the DON called 911. They carried me out on a stretcher in front of God and everybody. Probably the most embarrassing :imbar moment of my life. They said it was because of hypokalemia. Whatever. They gave me potassium pills and discharged me.

Now I'm a CNA, and I'm pretty good about privacy and dignity and what have you. In the ER, they had to do the butt-naked body survey. I couldn't stand, so they had to throw me on the gurney. I have a brand new appreciation for what my residents go through. How scary it is to have to trust that you won't be dropped, how embarrassing it is to have to have someone dress and undress you (I couldn't use my hands) and have people looking at your naked body. For all the embarrassment and now the gargantuan bill, I will be a better CNA because of it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Anyone who has ever had to be a patient in a hospital has had humbling experiences. You were the only one who felt modest about what was going on and if it had been a anurism causing your problem you wouldnt be worrying about who saw what you'd be dang glad to be alive. If it was hypokalemia causing your problem your lucky you didnt have a bigger problem.

I'm glad it was a humbling experience, but it shouldnt take something like this to make people respect others with a bit more dignity.

I'm glad your ok.

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Specializes in Home Health Care,LTC.

So sorry for your experience but I sure am glad you are feeling better. take care

Angie

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I hope you are doing better....sounds like a frightening experience to me. Yes, and I do daresay, those who have never been hospitalized, cut open, relied on the care of their nurses/doctors for their very lives or wellbeing, have NO real appreciation for what their patients and residents endure daily. It is indeed humbling to be on the other side of that bedrail, and it keeps me mindful of my practices as an RN all the time. I do hope you are doing better....please let us know how you are.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

"They said it was hypokalemia." "Whatever."

You might want to explore the reason your potassium was low enough to cause these serious symptoms. This just doesn't "happen." There has to be something underlying. Don't mean to alarm you, but hypokalemia can cause cardiac arrest.

In the meantime....

Eat more bananas, spinach and baked potatoes!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Orange juice has potassium.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Anyone who has ever had to be a patient in a hospital has had humbling experiences. You were the only one who felt modest about what was going on and if it had been a anurism causing your problem you wouldnt be worrying about who saw what you'd be dang glad to be alive. If it was hypokalemia causing your problem your lucky you didnt have a bigger problem.

I'm glad it was a humbling experience, but it shouldnt take something like this to make people respect others with a bit more dignity.

I'm glad your ok.

Just for the record, I always treat my residents with dignity. I never expose more than what I'm working with. I do everything I can to protect their privacy. This experience simply made me understand what it's like.

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Wow, what an expereince. Glad you're ok. Get to your doc to try and find out why this happened.

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Thanks for sharing your story. I agree that it's a valuable lesson. I'm glad you're okay, too!

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I agree unless you have been on the other side of the bedrail you do your best but you don't really understand what your pts are feeling. I am glad you are ok but I agree get to your MD and find out why this happened to you. Sounds pretty serious to me. You sound like a great CNA we don't want anything happening to you.

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i had a similiar experience,,,thank goodness i can't remember it...i called my dtr and told her i felt i was having a stroke...my son came to ltc and i was locked in medicine room and they couldn't get the door open..had to get someone with a key to let them in...son took me to hospital...i woke up there at 5 am next morning...i don't know what the sx i was having that caused me to call dtr...but it has never repeated...md called it global amensia,,,i think that is another word for tia...scared me and everyone else to death

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Orange juice has potassium.

Most all fruits and vegetables have loads of potassium, as much as bananas. Bananas are usually what people suggest because they are so handy to grab and eat.

When I was in nursing school I was under a lot of stress and there were times I would feel my heart would do flip slops and it was pretty scary. Scary enough I went to the ER one day after school (the hospital was right next to my school). They told me my potassium was low. It still makes me cringe to remember that bill I got.

Just do what you need to take care of yourself.

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