RN student: "Hurts how - like you were sleeping on it?"
Husband: "Yeah", moaning louder and much more forcefully, while at the same time saying, "I don't feel so well"
RN student, jumping up and running to his side of the bed, while grabbing the phone: "Which arm!?"
Husband, still moaning, and now taking very unusual breaths, not saying much...
RN student to 911 operator: "I need an ambulance..." while checking Husband's pulse and attempting to get him to answer my questions while doing the Sternal Rub.
Fast forward a few minutes, sirens wailing and getting closer, Husband is now standing in the doorway as RN student frantically searches for aspirin in the bathroom cabinet:
"Call back and cancel - I'm fine."
RN student, with lots of adrenalin: "GET BACK IN BED and chew this aspirin - RIGHT NOW!"
This little exercise in acute care and how to respond happened Friday @ 0545 - by 0615 Husband was wrapped up nice and cozy in the back of said ambulance and on his way to the hospital - by 0640 both kids were dressed and in the car on their way to stay with relatives who would take them to daycare @ 0830 (thanks, Joo-Loo and Bob!) then I was quickly (but carefully ;) off to the hospital.
Labs and stress test were negative - so we were sent home around 1630; diagnosis most likely anxiety (lots of changes at work this week in addition to our already hectic lives) - although Husband states that in his opinion the diagnosis Munchausen by Proxy is more accurate.
I missed two classes while at the hospital, but perhaps I can get some points for observing health care in the acute setting! (and I'm now sleeping with the phone on MY side of the bed).
2 comments:
You did the right thing, Cin.
Glad it was not the real thing, but you didn't know that at the time.
Thanks - I know that, but it's hard to keep perspective when taking care of a very difficult patient! Good practice, I suppose...
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