What if the Boston bomber was your pt

Nurses Relations

Published

I'm just sitting here listening to the coverage of the terrorist attack.

The suspect is in the hospital, injured, and obviously being cared for by nurses. What if that nurse was me?

Related Article: Life after the Boston Marathon Bombing - Nurses Coping with the Trauma

Specializes in Oncology.

Maybe I missed something on the news but has anyone come out and said exactly *why* they are suspects? The only thing I keep hearing is that they have surveillance of them walking through the marathon with backpacks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I would care for him as any other patient, but would absolutely have some negative feelings about him. On one hand, I'd want to do my best to make sure he stayed alive for the appropriate people to question him. On the other hand, he brought so much pain and suffering to my hometown that I'd want him to experience some of that too. But as others have said, being judge and jury isn't my job. If I was assigned to him, I'd do my job as nurse. Anything less would be unacceptable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

There are thousands of facets to my personality, as there are to everybody. I'm several different people. It just takes different circumstances to "activate" each one.

I agree that the bomber is a kid. Probably scared. Definitely hurt and alone.

I just can't reconcile that person with the one who deliberately set a bomb down beside a child.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
Maybe I missed something on the news but has anyone come out and said exactly *why* they are suspects? The only thing I keep hearing is that they have surveillance of them walking through the marathon with backpacks.

Wow-you missed a lot! He was identifed in other surveillance photos leaving the backpack on the ground at the bombing site, and then was involved in a deadly shoot out with police yesterday before being apprehended hiding in a boat in someone's backyard. Either he or his brother killed one police officer and wounded another in addition the casualties from the bombing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I commend all of you that state you could care for this guy and give compassionate care. I don't think I could. I would have to decline.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I would give him the very best care possible, so that he would be able to face justice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I don't live in Boston. I think if I did and knew the people he hurt or killed it would be impossible for me to accept the assignment. But not knowing the victims personally, I could treat him. I would do my best to keep him alive because I think families deserve answers. Would I go out of my way to be nice to him and go above and beyond besides providing treatment? No. I wouldn't rush to bring an extra pillow. I wouldn't bring an extra pack of crackers just because. But I'd do what was required and I'd be cordial, because honestly a man like that is dangerous and I don't want to be on anyone's list ESP if they have ties to other dangerous crazies. But also I think I just don't have a vindictive personality and being mean scares me. I'm not comfortable being that way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Maybe I missed something on the news but has anyone come out and said exactly *why* they are suspects? The only thing I keep hearing is that they have surveillance of them walking through the marathon with backpacks.

You can "Google" various media stories but apparently when the photos were released a flood of tips and other information came to LE. According to news sources the two brothers were clam as cucumbers in the days after the blasts, but once their pictures were up they became very agitated. This lead to the attempted robbery and the rest of the story you know know.

So far FBI and LE have found several more explosive devices of the type used in the Boston marathon bombing in posessions connected to the two brothers. One even had an explosive vest (IIRC) around his body. LE is also guessing by the amount of material found that the brothers were planning either to plant more bombs or take out a sizeable area/amount of people if caught.

On another note persons at the Boston marathon bomb who saw the "suspects" place the backpacks/bags of explosives got a good enough look at them to be able to ID said men from photographs (video cameras). The deceased older brother in particular had (or has) a very distinct profile (that nose) which is something hard to miss and easily recalled apparently.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't live in Boston. I think if I did and knew the people he hurt or killed it would be impossible for me to accept the assignment. But not knowing the victims personally, I could treat him. I would do my best to keep him alive because I think families deserve answers. Would I go out of my way to be nice to him and go above and beyond besides providing treatment? No. I wouldn't rush to bring an extra pillow. I wouldn't bring an extra pack of crackers just because. But I'd do what was required and I'd be cordial, because honestly a man like that is dangerous and I don't want to be on anyone's list ESP if they have ties to other dangerous crazies. But also I think I just don't have a vindictive personality and being mean scares me. I'm not comfortable being that way.

Again being as all that may any nurse or healthcare worker involved in this young man's care would have to be on point and correct. This is *not* the patient you make a med or nursing error with, especially one that leads to a serious adverse outcome (death). It probably also isn't the patient to work out any passive-aggressive behaviour with either.

Am willing to bet Beth Israel of Boston nursing service did *something* about vetting staffing before the suspect was out of the ER if not before his arrival. A high profile patient like this suspect presents a hospital with all sorts of problems to manage, and they aren't likely to suffer long any "nonesense" from staff. This will include any leaks of patient information and or persons trying to take pictures for profit or "news information" purposes.

I mean can you imagine the chaos? In addition to the normal goings on in an ICU those nurses now have to manage federal and local LE *guarding* this patient. Family (if any) access, *and* keeping nosey family members of other patients at bay along with wandering staff from other departments.

I'd sooner call in sick/take off until the whole thing was over.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I'd work my butt off to keep him alive so he could go to trial and answer for what he did.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 4.

That is all very well and am inclined to agree with you, however in this 24/7 instant media coverage world we live in it can be *very* hard for even seasoned professionals to check their feelings at the hospital door.

The person who took this sweet innocent from this world is now your patient,

Yes, I've been there. In NO way do I agree with their actions but I don't have to like you, love you or agree with you to do my job & take care of you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This reminds me of that old photo of the ER nurses who are black taking care of a KKK member.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment