And suddenly everyone knew I was a nurse...
iHEARTcardiacnurses
Posts: 437 Member
Black Friday kicked my *kitten* this year. I was up cooking all sorts of tasty (and moderately low-cal) foods and since everyone in my family suddenly fell into a food-coma, I ended up playing with toddlers for three hours. I cleaned the whole house, put away leftovers, played some drums, and then hit the pavement for some serious shopping. I got out at midnight, hit the line at Belk, and shopped until seven. I arrived home EXHAUSTED. My mom decided she wanted me to go shopping with her (but but...no sleep? :grumble: ) and we went back to the mall! 28 hours and counting of being awake and active...
The mall was less packed than at three that morning but I had a game plan. iHome, jewelry at Claries, and a pair of shoes. I wrapped everything up and headed to Payless, stripped my shoes and socks off and went to town. Suddenly I hear a woman screaming "WE NEED A DOCTOR" and run out to find a man passed out on the ground. During this time, I'm thinking "They should really say 'We need a nurse' because doctors couldn't really do much in this situation..."
I went straight to work. Granted, I've only seen one code, never participated, and only was in the ER for 80 clinical hours but I just did what I was taught to do...assess. He was stable, came around a little dazed with a small pump on his head, was talking coherently, AAOx3, and even sat up. He looked at me, puzzled, and asked me where my shoes where. OMG. I'M BAREFOOT IN A MALL AND THERE'S EASILY FIFTY PEOPLE LOOKING AT MY FEET AND I HAVENT HAD A PEDICURE SINCE...WELL...EVER.
I flashed a bright red, especially when EMT's arrived and saw me without shoes. There I was, baggy t-shirt, hair a mess, baggy jeans, dark circles under my eyes and no shoes. I looked like a bum. The EMT's started collecting my patient when he smiled sheepishly at me and said "Thank you"...and that's when I saw it. His smile...a smile that spread only halfway across his face. My heart sank. I told him to smile for me again, and there it was, partial facial paralysis. I asked him to raise both of his arms, and the left arm didn't move.The head EMT suddenly realized what I was doing and rushed him out, calling the hospital on the way out the door (after they ran over my toes with the stretcher)....
Let's face it. It's not a legal obligation anymore to help when someone hits the floor. You do it because you were meant to do it, not because you have to. I am a nurse, and I will come to those in aid...even without shoes...
The mall was less packed than at three that morning but I had a game plan. iHome, jewelry at Claries, and a pair of shoes. I wrapped everything up and headed to Payless, stripped my shoes and socks off and went to town. Suddenly I hear a woman screaming "WE NEED A DOCTOR" and run out to find a man passed out on the ground. During this time, I'm thinking "They should really say 'We need a nurse' because doctors couldn't really do much in this situation..."
I went straight to work. Granted, I've only seen one code, never participated, and only was in the ER for 80 clinical hours but I just did what I was taught to do...assess. He was stable, came around a little dazed with a small pump on his head, was talking coherently, AAOx3, and even sat up. He looked at me, puzzled, and asked me where my shoes where. OMG. I'M BAREFOOT IN A MALL AND THERE'S EASILY FIFTY PEOPLE LOOKING AT MY FEET AND I HAVENT HAD A PEDICURE SINCE...WELL...EVER.
I flashed a bright red, especially when EMT's arrived and saw me without shoes. There I was, baggy t-shirt, hair a mess, baggy jeans, dark circles under my eyes and no shoes. I looked like a bum. The EMT's started collecting my patient when he smiled sheepishly at me and said "Thank you"...and that's when I saw it. His smile...a smile that spread only halfway across his face. My heart sank. I told him to smile for me again, and there it was, partial facial paralysis. I asked him to raise both of his arms, and the left arm didn't move.The head EMT suddenly realized what I was doing and rushed him out, calling the hospital on the way out the door (after they ran over my toes with the stretcher)....
Let's face it. It's not a legal obligation anymore to help when someone hits the floor. You do it because you were meant to do it, not because you have to. I am a nurse, and I will come to those in aid...even without shoes...
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There is no job with greater joy than being a nurse. And being able to help someone in need says it all. I recieved the greatest compliment when I was a young nurse (20+ years ago) when I talked to a dying patient and told her it was ok to die. She did not have to do all the treatment the doctor wanted them to do just becouse he said so. After she died her family found me in the cathateria at 3 am and hugged me, thanked me for giving her peace before she died. That made we aware of how inportant we were as patient advocates.
Keep up the good work you are a true nurse when you see things no one else notices!0 -
There is no joy, than being a Nurse, EMT, or PARAMEDIC and helping someone in need and them or a family member saying thank you. Sorry Nurses, even though I'm a RN, with ER and now field experience, I have to stand up for the EMT's and Paramedics, well thats how I paid for Nursing school, and I was those long before becoming a nurse.
Anyway great job, great catch, and keep up the good work.0 -
OK, I know this is old but it just caught my eye! As I was reading your post, I started to tear up when you recognized his symptoms, but then got a good chuckle when you mentioned the stretcher rolling over your toes!! LMAO~
Ahhh ... the joys of being a nurse!!0
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