Was I in the wrong to try to call 911?

[zombieghoast]

Hello. I am just a recent nursing graduate and I am just wondering if anybody can help me out with this problem I am having.

So I am doing a show that involves a lot of people. During rehearsal, I heard a young girl scream for help because someone was having a seizure. I immediately rushed to the area where the girl was and her friends said she fell and she also hit her head. I started calling 911 and the director told me to not call because it was at her mother's discretion. So I hung up. The "seizure" lasted about 3 minutes. One of the kids that knew her told me that she faked having seizures in elementary school and had this mental disorder where she fakes illnesses in order to seek attention. Was I in the wrong to try to call 911? I have no clue if the director knew she had the disorder. The reason I tried to call is that she could have injured herself by hitting her head and so there are no liabilities. Another thing that bothered me was that there are two RNs in the show and they were **** talking about the girl for faking the seizure and that they counted how long she was in the seizure for and there was no way she was really having a seizure for 3 minutes. My issues are 1. The nurses were no where in sight when it happened. 2. Seizures can be for 3 minutes(I thought so) and 3. God show a little empathy; if the girl has a serious mental disorder don't make fun of her. I have seen someone faking a seizure before in a hospital but I was able to pick up she was faking it, but this one looked real.

[SleeepyRN]

I would call even if the mother were there saying not to. If I see someone that looks like they may be hurt, I will seek medical attention every single time

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Ok, first, just have to point this out. Someone having a pseudoseizure is not "faking" a seizure. They are a symptom of mental illness and the person is not consciously saying "I am going to fake a seizure to get attention."

Personally, I wouldn't call 911 for a seizure that lasted 3 min and self-resolved but in the OP's situation, I don't think it was wrong to do so.

[resumecpr]

So what happened after her "seizure"? Did she get up and skip away?

[schnookimz]

A huge part of being a nurse is doing what you believe is right even when other people don't agree. You were being a good patient advocate by calling 911. Next time, go through with it! You never know what could have happened to the girl. What if she stopped breathing?

[barachi]

Well you chose safety as a priority! Thats what matters. If it looked real to you well it is a possibility unless shes very good at acting. I would of done the same with or without her mom giving you permission. You did the right thing. If I recall correctly you could seize for 3 minutes.

[barachi]

Although seizures seem to last a long time, they usually do not last more than 60 to 90 seconds. Time the seizure, if you can. If the seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes or the person seizing is pregnant (no matter how long the seizure lasts), call 911 or other emergency services immediately. http://Www.webmd.com... reference

[Carpediem1012, BSN, RN]

I'm with you! I would have called.

[T-Bird78]

Always call 911 if someone's having a seizure. If they're "faking" them let them explain that to the paramedics and foot that bill.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

If in doubt, better that you call 911 and find out EMS isn't needed and/or Mom turns them away...than you not calling 911 and tragically finding out that you should have.

[ReordonaSRN]

Call 911...