What would you do?

[cowgurl89]

So here's the back story....one of the nurses on the unit went into respiratory distress. She was yelling and screaming for oxygen and a nebulizer treatment no one did anything except call 911. The supervisor stated that he did not want to lose his license and the administrator said it was against the facility policy to give any type of treatment. The nurse died on the unit before the ambulance came. What would you have done in this situation? Would you have risked your license if you believed that you could have possibly saved the nurses life?

[payitforward]

This scenario sounds way too hypothetical for me, BUT I would have given her some O2 and called 911. If she went down, then CPR would be in order.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

The other scenario I see a lot here is a disgruntled family member trying to get others to be equally righteously angry. Let me find a quick example and edit it in...

Here.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/accident-scenes-do-791590.html

[MatrixRn]

Well, I do remember a news story VERY similar to this story that happened in a nursing home that focused on recreational rehab.

Oy. I cannot remember the state. But there was a 911 call stating an elder was in distress and they asked for an ambulance. During the course of the call the 911 operator asked if the woman had stopped breathing and the person on the phone said yes.

The 911 operator said, 'give CPR" and the response was the nurses in the facility cannot do that or they will lose their jobs. The operator asked for the manager. The manager got on the phone and confirmed that the staff could not give CPR or they risk losing their jobs.

The operator asked if there was anyone walking by who could give CPR...The answer again was no.

In the end the ambulance arrived but the elder passed away.

A few notes from this:

1. The daughter of the elder said the issue was handled correctly, because her Mom was a DNR.

2. If the elder was not a DNR, certainly the Good Samaritan Law would have protected the bystanders from giving CPR.

3. If the staff at the facility were nurses. They would be expected to give CPR and be protected under the Good Samaritan Law.

[MatrixRn]

So to answer the question if this person is someone trying to answer a question in one of their classes.. yes maybe...

Is it a troll....doubtful. A similar scenario did happen and it is a good topic for discussion.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

The other scenario I see a lot here is a disgruntled family member trying to get others to be equally righteously angry. Let me find a quick example and edit it in...

https://allnurses.com/emergency-nursing/just-question-understand-786861.html

[Guest219794]

I would have let her die. After all, I would hate to lose my nursing license, and, given this economy, it should not be too hard to fill her position.

Why do you ask?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Well, I do remember a news story VERY similar to this story that happened in a nursing home that focused on recreational rehab.

Oy. I cannot remember the state. But there was a 911 call stating an elder was in distress and they asked for an ambulance. During the course of the call the 911 operator asked if the woman had stopped breathing and the person on the phone said yes.

The 911 operator said, 'give CPR" and the response was the nurses in the facility cannot do that or they will lose their jobs. The operator asked for the manager. The manager got on the phone and confirmed that the staff could not give CPR or they risk losing their jobs.

The operator asked if there was anyone walking by who could give CPR...The answer again was no.

In the end the ambulance arrived but the elder passed away.

A few notes from this:

1. The daughter of the elder said the issue was handled correctly, because her Mom was a DNR.

2. If the elder was not a DNR, certainly the Good Samaritan Law would have protected the bystanders from giving CPR.

3. If the staff at the facility were nurses. They would be expected to give CPR and be protected under the Good Samaritan Law.

1) That was in an assisted living facility where nursing was not provided, not a rehab facility

2) The family was well-aware of the no-nursing clause before she came to live there-- that was specifically why they chose that facility, because there was no medical/nursing treatment to be had

3) Neither the patient nor the family wanted CPR

4) The family was glad no CPR was done

5) The facility never should have called 911 in the first place

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

1) That was in an assisted living facility where nursing was not provided, not a rehab facility

2) The family was well-aware of the no-nursing clause before she came to live there-- that was specifically why they chose that facility, because there was no medical/nursing treatment to be had

3) Neither the patient nor the family wanted CPR

4) The family was glad no CPR was done

5) The facility never should have called 911 in the first place

Yes, people would do well to keep in mind that sensational news stories that sound too outrageous to be true.... usually aren't.

[sandyfeet]

They become a rapid response and are brought to the ER. I have treated several patients that were visitors or staff of my hospital and needed medical care for some reason.

Now, if trauma comes through the doors, they get an exam from a physician and then we call 911 to get them transported to a trauma center. This always strikes me as kind of funny--I guess there is no other way for them to be transported urgently.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

I find it very doubtful that one would lose a nursing licence for providing first aid/CPR. You might lose your JOB if your bosses and administrators are heartless jerks. But not your licence. I don't think any BON would take away the nursing licence of someone who was trying to save a life, so long as it was done within scope of practice.

As another poster said, I'd check O2 sats. Depending on that, I'd give O2. I would not give nebulizers, unless this person had them in her possession in the first place. But yeah, CPR and first aid is a given IMO.

[crystalp02]

if this person is a coworker you should be more emotionally inclined to help them start CPR or place the O2, definitely i would have tried to help them. Regardless of policy

[cgonzalez]

as a nurse you should have the priority of life before anything. That is why you became a nurse to help people. yes your license is very important but ethically how can you call yourself a nurse. especially it being your coworker.