When a patient falls...

Here's the story. We had a patient fall on my unit last night. Patient put on bathroom call light and 30 seconds later we heard a very loud noise coming from the room. Walked into room to find patient laying on the floor unresponsive with snoring and very slow respirations. Someone called a code. They were screaming "He doesn't have a pulse." The patient had a normal radial pulse. I grabbed the ambu bag and was going to use it when patient became responsive. He picked his head up off the floor and blood just started pouring out. The resident ordered a CT scan and a trauma consult. The patient had to have hit his head on the counter before hitting it on the floor. Everyone is sitting around trying to figure out what to do next. I suggested a backboard and c-collar. They agreed with that after hestitating for a few moments. Apparently they didn't seem to think it was necessary. I was out of the room when the c-collar was placed on the patient. They asked me to come back in when it was time to get patient on backboard. As we were getting ready to move patient onto backboard I asked if someone was going to maintain c-spine. I was told "We don't need to, he has the c-collar on." I was a medic for 4 years before becoming a nurse and I know better than that. After getting patient onto board and onto the stretcher, they wanted to take patient off the backboard.

So tell me, was I wrong to suggest that c-spine be maintained? What would you have done? Does your hospital have a protocol for this type of incident? Have you been trained on how to handle a patient with a possible head or neck fracture?

This whole incident bothers me sooooo much. Many times I feel like the nurses I work with really put their patients in danger. They could have worsened any head or neck fractures with their incompetent (in my opinion) behavior and actions.

Sorry this was so long. Looking forward to your replies.