Re: Too Many Medics; A Long (Funny?) Story

[Guest guest]

Thought this was just too funny!

I had to share it!

Les

Jeff Brosius wrote:

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Went to a nursing home for a "full cardiac arrest, CPR in progress."

Was

just around the block, and was on scene in about 45 seconds.

Grabbed the

jump bag, monitor, and O2, ran up the three flights of stairs, and

looked

for the room. A nurses aide pointed me down the hall, where I

found a

patient on the bed, one nurse standing beside her (the pt.) hips, doing

compressions (rather like abdominal thrusts, but I'll get back to that),

and

another nurses aide trying to bag the pt whose head was turned away

towards

the door, rather than in a sniffing position. One singular RN was overseeing

the whole thing, giving orders.

My partner asked what happened, as I was hooking up the monitor: "Well,

we

walked in, and she wouldn't open her eyes. She's got heart troubles,

and

she's also got sugar problems." (Nice, specific history....could be

helpful)

When did you start CPR, I ask. "About five minutes ago,"

they say.

Hmm....Look at the monitor...appears to be sinus with 1st degree AV

block....that's interesting....hmm....

"Oh, Yeah," the nurse says, "we got some vitals signs for you."

You did?, I

think...shouldn't be any....."Her Blood Pressure is 132/78," (Good

job doing

CPR, for abdominal thrusts, I think), "And her PULSE IS 138."

Uh...say that

again? I ask...."Pulse 138," she says.

Hmmm....interesting. I tell the CNA to stop her abdominal thrust/chest

compressions, and place the ol index finger on a carotid.....well,

she's

right. About 138. Pretty regular too. Partner has

started the automatic

B/P cuff, and it shows 130/80 or so. Well, now....

I pull the BVM off the face of my patient, her head rolls towards me,

and

with wide, pleading eyes, she stares at me and softly says .....

"Help."

Every test was negative except for a slight UTI....and a contusion to

the

liver.....from CPR.

Respectfully,

Jeff B., NREMTP

Atlanta, GA

______________________________________________________

--

Les , NREMT-Paramedic

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