This pt made my night!!(The things pts say)

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I was taking care of an incomplete quad who had a trach and on the vent. The tech and I were in the room changing out the linen. We had turned the pt to do so, when the vent starting alarming high pressure. I look down and the pt is mouthing "I can't breathe." I pop the pt on 100% and flip the pt to supine. No change so I try to suction, the catheter won't pass. I yell for respiratory and they come in and can't sx either. I yel out for the other RT on the unit, run for the crash cart and have the HO paged STAT to the unit. A whole bunch of folks come pouring in to help. The pt is cyanotic, HR dropping but still AWAKE. Pt is lying as still as a statue but eyes are as wide as saucers. Finally, second RRT gets new trach in and, Woohoo!!, we can now bag, and color, sats rapidly improve. Pt shakily brings arm up that has IV, the signal for ativan. I said, after all that I bet you need it!. So I give it then tell the pt we have to finish what we were doing. So the tech and I start again changing linen and the pt mouthes to me, "Like TV!" I say, "Huh? And the pt agains mouthes, "LIKE TV!!" And I said, " What this is ER and you are the STAR of the show?" And the pt nods enthusiastically, "YES!!!" I just started laughing. I told the pt, "You have a great sense of humor but let's not do this again, I already have to many grey hairs!!" The pt just smiled at me. Gotta love it!:chuckle

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I was taking care of an incomplete quad who had a trach and on the vent. The tech and I were in the room changing out the linen. We had turned the pt to do so, when the vent starting alarming high pressure. I look down and the pt is mouthing "I can't breathe." I pop the pt on 100% and flip the pt to supine. No change so I try to suction, the catheter won't pass. I yell for respiratory and they come in and can't sx either. I yel out for the other RT on the unit, run for the crash cart and have the HO paged STAT to the unit. A whole bunch of folks come pouring in to help. The pt is cyanotic, HR dropping but still AWAKE. Pt is lying as still as a statue but eyes are as wide as saucers. Finally, second RRT gets new trach in and, Woohoo!!, we can now bag, and color, sats rapidly improve. Pt shakily brings arm up that has IV, the signal for ativan. I said, after all that I bet you need it!. So I give it then tell the pt we have to finish what we were doing. So the tech and I start again changing linen and the pt mouthes to me, "Like TV!" I say, "Huh? And the pt agains mouthes, "LIKE TV!!" And I said, " What this is ER and you are the STAR of the show?" And the pt nods enthusiastically, "YES!!!" I just started laughing. I told the pt, "You have a great sense of humor but let's not do this again, I already have to many grey hairs!!" The pt just smiled at me. Gotta love it!:chuckle

And, after that laugh, I would have had to collapse on the floor! That was cool.:up:

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Wow! I think I want to cry and throw up at the same time just thinking about being in that situation. I am glad things turned out well, and for the patient, you gotta love his/her attitude.

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

That's a great story! I'm glad it all turned out well and the patient (and you!) maintained your sense of humor, despite some horrific odds!

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

Wonderful acknowledgement of your skill and care. Great job!

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