by xKALECx » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:32 pm
Well been off a couple of days but the last night I worked....
1. Started off very busy with a ton of patients. Most were not nearly as sick as they perceived themselves, and 90% were bitching about the wait.
2. Had several ambulances from 7p-12a including 3 drunks. One I kicked out of the ER after he took 2 swings at one of my staff. (Yes this is illegal unless you can throw the "you have the right to refuse treatment" line in there at some point, which I usually do under my breath)
3. Sent one guy to cath lab who was having a MI (heart attack).
4. Did the usual work of pt care, starting IV's, giving drugs, listening to complaints, arguing with physicians etc...
5. Had a 3 hour lull from 1:30-4:30 where we finally cleared most every pt out. I watched Southpark clips on youtube for awhile.
6. Had a 28 day old infant come in in cardio-pulmonary arrest. Worked the code but we were unsuccessful. Spent the rest of my shift dealing with LOPA, the Coroner, comforting staff, reviewing the code, and most importantly, helping the family. It was there first child and they were devastated. After the coroner and everyone was done, I cleaned up our work, I let the family come in and hold her and did the best I could to comfort them. I've done a lot of pediatric codes. Many successful and many not. They are always the hardest thing to do.
7. Gave report to my relief supervisor, got in my truck and cried on the way home for the first time in many years, as I thought about my own children, and hoped this family would get back on their feet soon. Yes, it was a full day at work.
Kalec Brotherwolfe - Retired Hierophant of EQ