There was a dialysis patient that was brought in by ambulance. He is a quadraplegic. I always spoke to him and inquired as to how he was feeling and tried to establish a connection with him. Yesterday I went on the side where he was and his head was over to the side and he looked extremely uncomfortable. I asked the tech if she thought he needed help. She said she didn't know???? So, I went over to him and called his name three times and got no response. I turned to her and said something is worng. I walked over to the RN and said "____is in distress".....her reply was for the tech to take his blood pressure. I waited and I went back to him. I looked at him carefully and went back to the RN saying "____'s airway is compromised, he can't breathe"....her reply was for the tech to take his blood pressure again. I told her that he needed help. To make a horrible story short, he coded and the oxygen tank was empty and by the time the EMTs got there, he was cold and not responsive at all. The RN had refused to do CPR or to let me or anyone else do it....he is now in a vegetative state in the hospital. I could not sleep last night. I can't even look at the RN now. I wanted to slap her yesterday. And true to her nature, she put a spin on what happened and went around telling everyone that she did everything she could. As soon as the ambulance left with him, she ordered oxygen!! I went straight to the doctor's wife and told her what time it was when I saw that he was not right and what time the RN left her desk to help him. I wish that I had called 911 as soon as I saw his distress. I'm sick about this.......pat

[SpazKatt]

I'm so sorry *hugs* I hope that you get the recognition you deserve and she is demoted or something *HUGS* you were right all along!!! Try not to take it out on yourself you knew somethine was wrong and tried to help *hugs*

thanks.......i feel so badly about it........feel like i should have done more.....should not have waited on her.......

OH my gosh Pat! That's just awful! Clearly she was negligent and damned well better be held accountable. Was he conscious when the ambulance brought him in? What a sad case of incompetance, and lack of heart on her part.

So sorry Pat! You tried your best to help that poor man. It seems like perhaps the damage was done by the time you found him? So sad.

Big hugs, emmy

[silver_queen]

That's horrible to read, faye. I'm sorry he had to suffer and that you saw him like that. But really, it's not your fault. You did as much as could be done in your position. If you had started calling in other help it could have compromised your job at worst because sometimes job officials don't like their staff doing what they see as 'overstepping their boundaries'.

Again, I'm really sorry that you had to see that and that the other person didn't do more to help .

[jagster]

Oh my gosh that is just awful. IM sorry you had to go thru that.

[vacantangel]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
That's horrible to read, faye. I'm sorry he had to suffer and that you saw him like that. But really, it's not your fault. You did as much as could be done in your position. If you had started calling in other help it could have compromised your job at worst because sometimes job officials don't like their staff doing what they see as 'overstepping their boundaries'.

Again, I'm really sorry that you had to see that and that the other person didn't do more to help .

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I totally agree with this. How horrible for you Pat. I understand your anger towards the RN. Please don't blame yourself sweetie, it wasn't your fault at all. ((((((Pat))))

[gardenergirl]

Oh gosh. That's just horrible. My first thought as I was reading your post was how lucky he was that he had you to care about him. I'm sorry your caring did not get him the attention he needed from the other staff. Did the tech even bother to come over and take his BP? It sounds like you were all alone in it for a time. How scary.

((((((Pat)))))))

That just sucks.

Take extra gentle care of yourself. Try to remember that even angels such as yourself have a limited capacity for helping others. I know you gave what you could.

gg

[Fuzzybear]

That is just horrible Pat I am so sorry ((((((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))))))

so sorry to hear what you went through.......you did what you could...........God bless and take care.....

Thanks to every one of you. I didn't sleep Friday night.......very little Saturday night. I am doing something about it. It was pure out and out negligence and the RN is really trying to do damage control now. The doctor told her to not tell anyone that the oxygen bottle was empty....fat chance of that not getting out! he's on a ventilator now and his family did not even get to say goodbye to him. I'm taking a second job and will phase this one out as soon as I can handle it financially. It was awful and just told me that I have to go ahead and get back in nursing school. I could have done more, had I had my license. xoxoxo pat

Pat,

You cannot second guess what happened. Of course with the license you would have jumped into immediate action but you don't yet and that is NOT the reason for this potential malpractice atrocity.

Please please please hear me when I say to you that you couldn't have changed one thing and do not hold yourself in any position of responsibility here. Those dreadful people you were unfortunate enough to work with are the ones responsible. NOT YOU!!!

(((Pat))) curl up with the pack tonight or a gd if you have one there

xoxo sweetie. cut yourself slack woman........please! I'm beggin' ya!!

[SweetCrusader]

((((((((Pat))))))))))

due to another complaint that a transient patient had, we're being inspected soon..........that should be interesting. the doctor's main message to us yesterday was "be nice to the patients".....

Wowsa...what a novel idea! Pretty sad that he had to TELL people that, ehh?? Jeepers. And what an inspiring speech!! "Be nice!". Um....I JUST said that to one dog who was biting another dog.....

hugs to patty poo

emsky

glad you saw what i'm feeling about him and his clinic.....be nice??? i've never seen anyone, barring the RN, be anything less than nice to the patients. it was the strangest "team" meeting i've ever been to. and on a lighter side.......his pants are too short and he always has a wedgie....

lmao at the wedgie!

the rest goes beyond surreal. as usual ((((Pat))))) love and all that supportive stuff your way.

You're missed a ton. Know we're with you even when you're not stuck reading our drivel.

Well, jeepers, if he pulled the pants outta his behind, maybe the pants wouldn't be too short! Sorta kill 2 birds with one stone, ehh? Maybe you need to send him some anonymous mail?

after the staff meeting, i told one of the LPNs that i thought it was meant to be a fashion statement.....i told her to look at the way the back was pleated as it went into the wedgie.......she became hysterical and wouldn't look at me anymore.......i do admit to getting a real laugh out of that..........any time we had eye contact, we got tickled....

Oh...I just did a GG *snort*!!

[gardenergirl]

Oh, is THAT what's on my screen?

LOL, Pat, that is a very funny image. Now you be nice now, you hear?

sheeesh.

gg

AND he pays hundreds and hundreds for those pants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe he is ENJOYING the wedgie?

Perhaps he has them custom tailored for extra wedging???

em

wouldn't surprise me a bit.......he is so gross but thinks he's god's gift to women........

[MacD]

oh, pat...i can't imagine having the emotional fortitude to do what you do...and i'm crying as i type this...because you obviously did the best you could in terrible circumstances...someone else failed this patient....but it wasn't you..you have my utmost admiration and sympathy...love grace