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

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'd take care of him same as I would any other patient. Doesn't necessarily mean that I have to like it--or him. Or that I condone his actions in any way. Or that I wouldn't be affected by having to take care of him. But he would still be entitled to the same level of care that I'd give any other patient of mine.

[Biffbradford]

Who's to say that he's accepting much of nursing care being offered anyway? "Go away! I don't want it." We've all seen pts like that.

Errr ... latest reports sounds like he's probably intubated and sedated. The best kind of patient!

Just thinking that if he's got a thoat injury that maybe they trached him to protect his airway? That would surely **** off the FBI!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I seriously doubt it.....he will be heavily guarded but I know hospitals and they do not have special secluded ICU units for intubated prisoners. They may limit admissions to that unit if they can.....but the are usually in the general population and you wouldn't "know it"

I, and probably the poster you were responding to, was referring to prison, not hospital. If he survives his wounds, makes it through trial, is convicted & sent to prison, and they put him in genpop... he won't survive that. He'd be safer in hospital than he'd be in prison. He'd be administratively segregated from the other prisoners. For some prisoners, having another life sentence for another murder isn't going to amount to a whole heck of a lot...

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't want to be his nurse and would hope another coworker might volunteer. But if I HAD to, I could do it. I'd have to sort of detach, but I could be professional. But I'm thousands of miles from Boston. I can't imagine how very difficult and emotionally painful it must be for some of the nurses there to handle. Some of whom may have taken care of the victims or be personally effected by the marathon bombing. I will keep them in my thoughts.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Somebody just asked me that recently. I just took care of prisoner. I treated that person with compassion as I would any other. I took an oath and I take it seriously. It is not for me to judge.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

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.

Would it be easy? No. But someone has to do it. I'm not his judge or jury. I'm certainly not God. So I do my job. Which isn't to judge my patient but instead to give compassionate competent care. If I start picking and choosing who is "good enough" to get my care, not many are going to make the cut.

Said better than I can:

I'd take care of him same as I would any other patient. Doesn't necessarily mean that I have to like it--or him. Or that I condone his actions in any way. Or that I wouldn't be affected by having to take care of him. But he would still be entitled to the same level of care that I'd give any other patient of mine.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

It is sad that this is even a discussion. When I took my oath it didn't exclude rapists, terrorists, child molesters, thieves, and etc. I would provide the same care I would to any other individual.

It is sad that you are showing so little compassion to your fellow nurses.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Somebody just asked me that recently. I just took care of prisoner. I treated that person with compassion as I would any other. I took an oath and I take it seriously. It is not for me to judge.

This situation is somewhat different than the one you describe. I've also taken care of prisoners, not a big deal. BUT nurses at this Boston hospital are also taking care of the victims at the same time.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

It is sad that this is even a discussion. When I took my oath it didn't exclude rapists, terrorists, child molesters, thieves, and etc. I would provide the same care I would to any other individual.

It is hard here....the city reves up for the marathon and the hospitals revere up in case there is an increase of ER visits for dehydration etc. You go to work thinking...I am NOT in the mood for a crazy day...you think....I have SO much to do tomorrow (it's your day off)

You are going about your day, you watch the clock for the day to end, to go home, relax, hug your kids, have a beer........and your worst nightmare comes true. You hear explosions, see smoke you hear people screaming...see people running. You see normally clam leader of your floor scared and trying not to cry. You are glued to the TV. All you hear is the continuous cacophony of sirens that never end.

Your activate the disaster plans that you hope never to use...you are frightened. You see armed guards in your normally peaceful and safe workplace. You worry about friends and family....You think...will this day ever end???? More explosions....is that the police or just more bombs how many more injured will be coming......the SWAT team come and searches your floor with guns and dogs....your patients are frightened.....you calm them and try to pretend to be normal...when there is NOTHING normal any more.

You see injuries you have never seen.....and see those injuries over and over again. How many are coming? How many have died? How many more bombs are out there....2? Four? Six? You wish the news would get it straight...what do they mean the Kennedy library is on fire!!!! What the heck is going on????

Finally....three dead...one is a little boy....as your never ending day comes to a close and you are searched to go to your car only after your car has been searched....you leave.....only to go through more roads blocks to get home.

You endure this everyday you work...they don't know where they are....you are at work it's midnight...you family calls you that they hear gun fire near by...A LOT of gun fire! By morning you can't go home your family/neighbor hood have been evacuated or are on lockdown and there is no traffic allowed on the road...AT ALL!!!!

Finally they get him...you are at work...they bring him in....he's seriously hurt.....

What are you feeling? Are you angry that this guy has shut down your city, endangered your family? Are you relieved that they finally have him off the streets? Do you feel sorry that he's been chased all day? Can you empathize the he is frightened, alone and hurt...barely conscious? Are you afraid he is going to tell you something because now he thinks he's going to die? Can he still hurt you?

A myriad of emotions encompass you all at once but the professional prevails and you care for him efficiently...professionally....and if you can't you should have the professionalism to know that you need to step away.

It's important to have these conversations, examine how we feel. It doesn't predict how you will actually react if faced with this dilemma...but having the dialog will help.

Kudos to the staff at all the Boston Hospitals!!!

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I would care for him the same way I care for any other patient.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

To me it is sad. It is MY opinion, that is all. I'm not saying that I'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside when taking care of him, but I will respect him and provide the best care I could. I'm well aware of what he did, and it still doesn't change my opinion. May God bless all those who suffered and died due to this senseless act of violence.

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.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I actually take back what I originally said. I really didn't mean it in the context it showed. I think this is a great thread and it is healthy for nurses to discuss. Sorry if anyone got offended. It was my opinion, in that I would hope we would do our job to the best of our ability even if the person did a horrible crime. Obviously some people feel different and that is ok.

It is sad that you are showing so little compassion to your fellow nurses.