Epic Beard Man
Bearded Philosopher
Very recently (approximately 15 minutes ago) we called a patient after the patient coded (medical term meaning to go into cardiac arrest). I, along with a nurse made an initial assessment. Patient came in with an altered level of consciousness. His behavior was somewhat abnormal, shortness of breath, sunken in eyes, very skinny. Patient's baseline was stable, but refused potassium medication. Patient eventually developed shortness of breathe but due to a faulty monitor. After our assessment and documenting the patient's refusal to being medicated, approximately two hours later and upon coming back from lunch, me and the nurse discovered our patient not breathing. We immediately started compressions, epinephrine shots, and defibrillation, nothing seemed to work. The physician eventually called it and asked us to give a moment of silence. I recall in all the years I've been in the medical field I've never experienced a patient who I was directly responsible for died. What perplexes me was that the patient came in talking and was somewhat responsive only to have died couple hours later.
The feeling I have of feeling powerless is the same I had when my mother died....I remember asking him "help me help you." The man couldn't convey what he wanted.
The man was homeless, very dirty and very sick.....If heaven exists I pray he finds peace on its shores, illuminating and exalted.
A small prayer our new EMT taught me:
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
The feeling I have of feeling powerless is the same I had when my mother died....I remember asking him "help me help you." The man couldn't convey what he wanted.
The man was homeless, very dirty and very sick.....If heaven exists I pray he finds peace on its shores, illuminating and exalted.
A small prayer our new EMT taught me:
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ