What if the Boston bomber was your pt

[imintrouble]

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

[RNfaster]

I would treat a prisoner differently than an ordinary patient. I would expect armed guards with the prisoner and also to have the prisoner shackled to the bed. I've worked in a hospital that had a contract with a prison system. We were not allowed to bring any "extras" to the prisoners - including snacks. We weren't to engage in any "favors" as such activity could allow prisoners to play us off each other and be manipulated. Sometimes narcotics were restricted, as well. We were not to have our badges visible and we weren't to tell them our names. We were not to allow them to use our phones --and we were to be careful of our phones around them. With prisoners, it's also important to be very aware of anything that might be used as a weapon --and track it and not take it into the room if it's not absolutely necessary. It's also important not to inform the prisoner of planned movements ahead of time.

Sometimes the prisoners can seem so sweet and nice...and it can be shocking to learn that a seemingly sweet person committed a heinous crime. --I would care for the prisoner if I was assigned and did not know someone affected by the tragedy. I would maintain a greater distance and use precautions as outlined earlier--and that I do not take with ordinary patients. I would treat the prisoner with dignity and respect, and as another mentioned, help get them well enough to face justice.

[carson456]

No, its not sad that this is a discussion. This is an exceptional case - it is not every day that you have someone responsible for such a magnitude of destruction (4 deaths, 170+ injuries) coming through the doors. Everyone is human and this is a very sensible thread to have on the boards. As Esme wrote, I'd also respect the nurse who refuses the assignment, and, I echo TakeTwoAspirin's post.

Exactly! I hate when people act like real issues that would affect the normal person wouldn't affect them. They took an oath, they are immune to conflicting human emotions. Give me a break. We are people...not robots.

[Caffeine_IV]

I wouldn't want to take care of him if I knew someone he hurt personally. I suppose I could do my job at the most basic level but for compassion, sympathy, a kind ear to listen...I'm not the nurse.

[Julius Seizure]

I think that's definitely a fair reason to ask for a different assignment. Just the same as it would be difficult to care for your own family member who was seriously ill. I'm not saying every nurse should be able to always care for everyone.....just that I think the patient should have that care from a nurse that is able to do it......hope that make sense? It was hard to word it right.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

If I was his nurse, I'd see about hanging this up in his room. Then I'd have all his (living) victims sign it with get well wishes.

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,

[Vespertinas]

Maybe you guys are having trouble internalizing the situation. Forget the Boston bombing. The point was this person did something unthinkable to a great many people. If he tortured and murdered your entire immediate family, you would give me this shpiel about 'professionalism'?

For the record, I would refuse. I have high regard for my duties BUT there are still things I value ABOVE the code (of my per diem job to which I've already sacrificed many considerable things) like... my love of humanity.

[Vespertinas]

I have taken care of worse.

Worse?

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Guy hasn't been convicted yet. However likely it is that he is guilty, there's a large group here that I hope never get someone like you taking caring of you if you're falsely accused of something. Would suck to be falsely accused AND given an air embolus...

While it would completely suck to be the one getting an air embolus and being falsely accused of a crime, it would be an even greater wrong to be the one giving the air embolus to anyone accused of a heinous crime, whether the accusation was false or not. While I may be sorely tempted to do it, I will absolutely not ever jeopardize my license, livelihood, or my freedom because I think someone needs to be punished for their misdeeds, perceived or real. Punishment is not my job.

I don't have to be nice, but that doesn't mean that I won't be anything less than completely professional about the care that I provide.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Worse?

Yes. There are things that people can do that are worse. So bad, in fact, that they must be segregated from all other prisoners for their own safety.

Just ask a cop, or better yet, a prison corrections officer.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Interesting thread!

I'd give him the same care as anyone else. I am a perfectionist, and I take pride in doing my job. When you're talking about nursing, doing your job involves smiling, therapeutic touch, and building a trusting relationship with the patient. Even though this guy's responsible for a lot of death and suffering, I couldn't look myself in the mirror if I didn't give him the exact same care I'd give my own family. That's my job, and I'm not going to let who my patient is get in the way of being the best nurse I can be. I am a better person than that.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

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.

And now he alone needs to answer for all of this. What was entirely telling to me was the fact he ran his older brother over to get out of the area. I am personally sickened by all of the actions of these two. But my job as a nurse is focused. If we all stopped and got the entire history of the sick stuff that a number of our patients could/would/did participate in, no one would want to take care of anyone. A nurse doesn't need to get into rationalizing patients actions or inactions. If the police on the scene did that this kid would have been dead on the spot. Someone needs to be held accountable. But we are not the judge and jury in this.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

When he is convicted, come back and have this discussion. Right now he remains legally innocent. I have no idea about the thought process that would come to this fruition, ie the bombing, and I would like to know about it.