All in This Together
In the Emergency Department, I frequently interact with EMTs and paramedics. I receive report from them and assume care of the patient that they have started. Sometimes a lot of things have been done. I know I feel grateful for their assessment and interventions, but I don't think I say it as often as I could. It was few weeks ago that I was able to have a bird's eye view into exactly what happens inside an ambulance. It was this experience that taught me how valuable pre-hospital EMS care can be.
My family gathered together a few days after Thanksgiving. We were laughing, talking and celebrating. The atmosphere was light, playful. The time had come for all of us to say good-bye. My mother was making the rounds, plopping kisses on her offspring when my grandmother, Nana, started to not feel well. In a few seconds, she was pale and unconscious on my kitchen floor.
I had been summoned to her side just before she passed out. My nurse mode kicked in, allowing me to maintain control over the situation. Each and every family member present assumed a role and helped out. Even before my Nana regained consciousness, an ambulance was on its way, my brothers had caught her and removed her jacket, and I started a full assessment on her.
It's at times like these that I am thankful I am an ER nurse, but at the same time feel cursed with too much knowledge. In a split second, ten different diagnoses crossed my mind; none of which were very positive. While I waited for the ambulance, my Nana slowly woke up. She began to follow commands, move all extremities and speak. What my family (and I assume most families) didn't know, was that I was able to rule out so many different diagnoses just from interacting with her. I was feeling calmer by the second, while they waited anxiously for answers.
Westfield Fire arrived, carrying their gear and acting confident. I recognized the paramedic, but didn't know his name. I felt immediately grateful for their presence and backed off to let them do their thing. For the first time, I allowed myself to hope that everything would be ok.
In the ambulance, the medic started an IV, did a twelve lead EKG, full set of vitals and a head to toe assessment on my Nana, all before we left my driveway. I was amazed at how much he accomplished in so little time; I had never been inside an ambulance. This experience confirmed what I had always said about calling 911: care starts at the door, not when you arrive at the hospital.
Paramedics can do so much more than the average person realizes. I think they do more than many ER nurses realize, too. They function under direct scrutiny of an anxious family in almost any setting. And yet, they are so frequently overlooked as an essential part of emergency care.
Well, after this experience, I want to make it a point to value them, no matter what. A good paramedic makes my job as an ER nurse easier. As a family member, they took the burden of care off me. I was able to return to being a concerned granddaughter with someone else in control of the situation.
My Nana ended up being ok. She spent a few days in the hospital, receiving stellar care from everyone, from the ER to the telemetry floor. I don't think there is anyway to express the gratitude I feel to everyone that was involved. I know she feels the same way. So, I'd like to take this time to thank everyone who helped. You are remembered and appreciated.
It is said that experiences change us and evolve us into who we are today. I hope that as this event moves further back into my memory, I can continue to appreciate all the skill sets that each level of hospitalized care provides. After all, as the song from High School Musical says, we are all in this together.