Why I Keep Coming Back

[rwright15]

Today I was called in extra to tech. I thought, great, this would be easy. I can basically float and not have the normal responsibilities of a normal hectic day. It was a busy but mudane day with all the usual abd pains, chest pains, mvc, ect... I teched as well as iv's and caths all day. Well about 2200 we get the call.. Trauma, 4 mo old baby, life flight can't make it for an hour. I overhear this while splinting a fx and my heart starts racing, like a kid the night before Christmas or something. (I know that sounds morbid.) So I hear them come in and take off running to the trauma room. It was a traumatic closed brain injury with swelling and bleeding out of the R ear, intermittent periods of apnea and seizure like activy to listlessness. Anyway, we immobilized, started lines, the babe was intubated, got some meds, ran labs, then we packaged her up for her short flight to the closest pediatric level one trauma ctr. When I actually saw the injury, a lump came up in my throat as I thought, "oh my, that's bad...". I quickly put that feeling aside to be able to think clearly and try to have a small part in saving this little one. Life flight arrived, 2 RN-EMT's, and I stepped back in awe to watch as they just came in and took over. After all, they are the true heroes who would fly this babe in 11 degree weather while keeping her immobilized and meds going. After all the adrenaline is gone, my face is flushed and my reserves are expended. I am exhausted. I wonder if she will make it.

[Larry77, RN]

Those are the cases that you never forget...I remember all my really bad pediatric trauma's and codes. Great job and your dept is lucky to have you!

[MikeyBSN]

Ped traumas are tough. I remember one of the first major traumas I had as an RN was an MVC with 2 young kids (5 and 7). Both of them had traumatic brain injury. The little boy herniated and eventually died, I'm not sure what happened to the little girl. We flew them both out to a pediatric neuro center. Those are always the tough cases you remember.

On a side note, are you an RN and also work as a tech? I don't understand why people do that. I hope you all realize that you have the same libabilty as an RN with less than half the pay.

[rwright15]

On a side note, are you an RN and also work as a tech? I don't understand why people do that. I hope you all realize that you have the same libabilty as an RN with less than half the pay.

I am an RN, called in to float and help with basic tech duties. I did not go in for less pay (at least not intentionally). I just didn't have to take rooms like an average day. I still ended up running a NSTEMI, triaging EMS's, IV's ect... I will say this, after your post, I will be calling Mon morning to make sure they don't try to only pay me tech pay! That was never discussed when asked to come in and help tech. Anyhow, that was my first peds trauma. Being a level 3 with Vandy right up the road, we don't see that many. I don't think I'll forget this one.

[rwright15]

Those are the cases that you never forget...I remember all my really bad pediatric trauma's and codes. Great job and your dept is lucky to have you!

Thanks for the compliment! As I stated earlier, this was my first and I will never forget it. Something that really bothered me, the injuries weren't consistent with the parent's story. I hate to assume the worst, but things just didn't add up. I think that's what made it so much harder. The police were there and everything. I sure hope that baby lives.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

On a side note, are you an RN and also work as a tech? I don't understand why people do that. I hope you all realize that you have the same libabilty as an RN with less than half the pay.

All 3 ERs I have worked in fill empty tech shifts with department RNs who function as techs for that shift - at the same rate of pay as any other work day. The ICU I work in does this as well.