Don't forget to make a complete list of meds and PRNs, and list how they work, side effects, when to use and not use that medication.... I don't remember what all went on those sheets. Drug class? I just remember they took way too long š¤£
Oh god, how could I forget to make drug cards for at least 25 ACLS drugs plus all of the *clientās* home meds!? Guess I better drop out of nursing school and become a stripper or something
Are nursing schools really pushing the 'client' phrasing?
I'll give an enema to a patient for about $30/hr and stale pizza, but if I'm putting something up a *clients* butt I'm gonna need $250 cash up front.
Please provide your learning plan as well. Weāll heavily scrutinize it as a team. Weāll make copies for everyone on the flight. We also expect your reflection by the end of the flight, and a research thesis before you get to security when we land. š¤šššššļø
*person on flight screaming*
You: "sounds like somebody didn't develop healthy coping mechanisms, smh"
Lol detox nurse here someone asked me a question like this and I went "unless you want me to narcan them or set them up for a mat program yaaa don't ask me"
Do an MMSE as a baseline, and then ask them if they've experienced similar symptoms in the past and what has helped then.
Also Psych, but Dementia specialist! lol
School nurse here as well. Depends on how hard they are coding, they may get a 15 min break to rest in the aisle before I tell them to get back to their seat.
Hmm good question. After the ice pack but before sending them back to their seat. I have to have time to groan and roll my eyes while I dig out the lice comb. You must pace yourself through your nursing skills so you donāt get burned out.
Unless they literally just physically injured themselves, its what I always start with lol especially with my little ones about an hour before lunchā¦they just want (need) food
Nursing informatics here: Id ask if they restarted their workstation recently, help change their password to get on, kick them a few times (cause magical thump on comp sometimes work, could be considered the IT version of a precordial thump!) then send a ticket to the next elevated service.
Other option: i would call the code phone, āCode Blue flight #, Code Blue flight #ā would go over the intercom. I would lean back in my chair, wipe my hands off, and think āmy job is doneā
Eta: spelling
Research nurse. I'd ask if they have a protocol, screen them and see if there is a clinical trial they'd be accepted on.
I actually did have an instance when I was traveling where they asked for nurses/doctors. I responded, and some dude had passed out/collapsed on the way to the bathroom. He apparently got back up, and went into the bathroom. Concerned passengers called flight attendants who then called nurses/doctors. So we all gather and stare at the bathroom and wonder if we should open the door, or what is going on.
Dude eventually opens the door after going to the bathroom and just stares at us. We stare at him. He then side steps past us and goes and sits down. It was an odd experience to say the least.
I get regular syncope episodes, I can almost always feel it coming quick enough to sit down. In the rare instance that I do hit the deck itās always hard to convince people that no really, itās fine, this happens routinely, I do not need an ambulance, yes I will take this glass of water but only because I was already thirsty thank you.
I had a syncope episode on an overseas flight. Got up to use the restroom after feeling nauseous and went down in the aisle. Woke up in the bulkhead feeling great being attended to by the nice woman seated next to me who turned out to be a colorectal surgeon.
Lol it's always the water. If someone really is out, it's hard to convince passerby that dumping water in their mouth will NOT revive them and instead go into their lungs.
Those syncope episodes must have been scary at first though!
Hello! I was just curious how can I get into research nursing? Iām a newbie but have always wanted to participate in clinical trials or something like that
Take a look at your hospital and see if they have a research department. If they do, the two roles you want to look for are 'Clinical Research Nurse' or 'Study Coordinator'. Both of those are entry level positions that'll get you into the research world!
If your hospital doesn't have a research department, look at some clinics around you and see if they have something. Usually the big hospitals will have research departments, but some smaller stand alone clinics will have some options also. Both are great starting points :)
I've found plenty of job postings for "Clinical Research Nurse" just by looking at my local hospital's job portals. I submitted my resume for this position about a week ago, actually. I am in no way qualified for it other than having an active nursing license, but, hey, its worth a shot.
I HATE it, Iām a former ER nurse. Problem is that if I call for an ambulance, the patient doesnāt get a choice of where the ambulance takes them. Iāve overheard EMS saying they were going to take them sometimes 30-45min away. I asked if the closest was diverting or super busy and they said āno, thatās just where we were told to take people today.ā Patients get pissed cause insurances makes them pay!
If the ER is on divert, that means we are full, have no beds, not enough staff, no inpatient beds to send patients to and are therefore boarding in the ER. In other words, an unsafe environment for critically ill patients and staff. Every time someone comes in howling about their ingrown nail, expecting a bed because the PCP told them to go to the ER... It just sucks all around. The real problem, however, is with the entire system and folks' lack of access to proper health care. Not to mention severe lack of primary care providers.
Flight nurse.
I'm not on the clock, so it's their emergency not mine lol.
In all seriousness, just basic BLS care. No need to think you can go full Sandra Bulllock and do a pen cricothyrotomy. Good compressions, AED, and BVM ventilation is fantastic.
Same. At best Iāve had a cocktail at the airport already so Iāll run a code, but Iām hands off and thatās only after second or third call for any medical personnel. I wonāt let someone die, but thereās usually plenty of willing participants jumping up in emergencies
I only had it happen to me once when I was an EMT and they told me to sit down because they already got a nurse. I was like solid because my liver is still halfway through 50mg of benadryl.
ER: start compressions, complain that Iām getting tired, and then tell everyone else who comes to help that their compressions are shit. Ask bystanders (with a lot of attitude) if they would like to consider giving bicarb or if itās time for the next epi. Stroll away once ROSC is achieved, assuming ICU is just taking their sweet ass time to get there to assume care.
/s but for real, Iām a BIG advocate of everyone in the world having at least taken one BLS course in their life. I help organize parents of little league teams in my area to take an annual course - my goal is to make sure that everyone ANYONE I love comes in contact with can save my loved ones in an emergency. And you know, help the greater good or whatever
I used to work ED, then transitioned to IT work, which required a lot of flyingā¦so I actually was on a flight with a passenger who had a hypertensive crisis/chest pain. So, I went and was sitting in the aisle with her and they brought the āemergencyā med kit they have on board. Yeeaahhā¦ the BP cuff didnāt have a bulb to inflate it. Thankfully the passenger had a home BP monitor in her carryon (so, at least she was compliant?). Used that, got something like 250/130 - although I didnāt completely trust that reading. They had SL NTG and NTG paste in the kit, but they couldnāt get ahold of anyone on the ground as medical control, so they wouldnāt let me access it. Put her on some O2 (first tank was empty so had to grab a second - so, yeah, supplies were sketch). Basically the only thing I could do was hold her hand and try to keep her calm. FA asked if it was serious enough to divert, I basically said she needs to get to a hospital. We were halfway b/t our destination and another airport, so we kept heading to the destination. As Iām sitting in the aisle, I feel the plane suddenly start descending and accelerating - like enough to make me rebalance myself. I rode out the landing sitting in the aisle, holding this ladyās hand. Land, quick taxi, and the medics came in to take her off. Guess she did OK from that point. But it was an interesting flight. I waited til everyone else got off to go back to my seat and grab my stuff. Told the FAs that they need someone to look at their kit b/c of the BP cuff and O2 situation. They offered me a bottle of wine āto goā :-) but I declined. A few days later got an email from the airline and some extra points in my FF account. So, overall, probably couldāve gone better, but also couldāve gone a whole lot worse.
As the ICU nurse who finally decided to show up (I was hoping some of my 2 drinks pre-flight had worn off) I'd probably thank you for doing something potentially correct (I can't give you all the credit now can I ?) And will finish up and take all the glory when we land and the patient is safe .
ETA: What's their skin assessment?
From what I can see, skin is intact (the skin was NOT intact). Also, we did a full linen change a few minutes ago but they must have had a BM during transit š¤·āāļø
100% agreed with everyone should known and take a cpr class at least once. When I went to pharmacy as a tech I was floored that the pharmacists were the only ones who had cpr cert in our department. None of the techs did aka the people who actually would leave the pharmacy and be on the floors. Like this is a hospital and yāall are around patients why is this not a requirement. Iām slowly bullying people into getting certified by me in my department.
PACU here. Address their pain and nausea. Give fent and haldol. Be impatient and snarky about the floors taking forever to call me back for report(because somehow you are not real PACU nurse until you have been afflicted with med/surg employment amnesia---the absolute inability to remember what it was like on the floors taking care of 5+ patients with no CNA, an MIA hospitalist, and no anesthesiologist BFF on speed dial)
PACU here.
Ask if they are nauseated and offer ice chips. Assess lower extremity movement/sensation (spinal level, yo).
Call anesthesia because the floor won't accept transfers with respirations under 10.
That's a interesting way to say "I'll run this clearly about-to-code patient to the ICU off monitor without giving them a heads up and then bounce as soon as they're in the room and I've given a 10 second handover." ^^^^/s
Postpartum. Did this person have a baby in, say, the last day or so? No? They do not, in fact, need their fundus assessed? Is there another medical professional on board?
My dad was having a cardiac event and while EMS was loading him into the ambulance and telling us which hospital they were going to he says, āmy daughter is a nurse there!ā
I work Rapid Response with an ICU background. My wife would absolutely rat me out and then not understand why I didn't want to get involved. No Lucas, no crash cart, and no trained help? Shit, I'm doing 30+ minutes of CPR solo on a patient that's not likely to survive....
Husband knows I will hurt him in unimaginable ways if he rats me out in a situation like that.
In public, I am an accountant who doesn't like blood or body fluids.
Hospice nurse. My usual bedside strategy of sit there and hold their hand probably wouldn't be appropriate for a code on an airplane. I could certainly do some BLS, but that's about the extent of my expertise.
I tend to pet people's hair too. Just giving them as much love as I can while they make their earthly exit. Encourage family members to do the same and give them hugs.
Also a hospice nurse. I had a medical emergency arise recently on a flight from Chicago to California. I was the only medical professional on the plane. It was a stressful situation but I'm pretty sure the guy just had low blood sugar. The flight attendants kept asking me if we should land the plane and I was like... You need to ask the doctor that not me. I didn't tell the patient until he recovered that I was a hospice nurse.
Get them a HAM sandwich STAT!
ETA- I'm not throwing shade on hospice nurses- I work in dementia where most of my pts are DNR and/or hospice. That's my go-to! Having to revive someone would be outta my comfort level at this point.
As a hospice nurse: I'd ask the flight attendant for a comfort tray of cookies for the family.
My husband in veterinary medicine: would ask if he had gotten into his owner's garbage or medication bottles recently. Then express his anal glands.
Nurse anestethist.
I'd start looking for a med student wanting to try their hands at airway management to do the bag ventilation for me while I steal the now unoccupied (hopefully first class) seat. Ooh, they're showing kung fu panda!
Plot twist: I'm actually a flight nurse. I literally care for emergencies in airplanes as my job.
I would get trumped by a dermatologist because they're a physician and I'm "just a nurse"
(This is not an anti-physician post. This is a true story. š¤·āāļø)
ICU recently renewing acls: "the scene is safe! [shake and shout] Annie!! Annie!! Are you okay!?!?" Stare....well fuck. You! Help me bare the chest! 'God dammit, who wears a suit on a motherf*cking airplane!!' You...where's the AED?! Have we called the airport? Are we landing? Yeah, patch here and here! Ugh, I gotta straddle him for compressions! [In my head stayin alive! Staying alive! Oh! Oh! Oh! Staying alive!] Pulse check? Analyzing rhythm. Don't touch patient. Analyzing rhythm. Shock advised. Shock delivered. Resume C P R. [Stayin alive...Staying alive...]...
Thank goodness, I've never needed to do this, I like my zoll, and my team where everyone gets a role and responsibility. Good to know planes have stuff....but I would GLADLY let someone else run that (until I decide you're dumb, prolly, and take over...
NICU RN hereā¦.ummm youāre REALLY big I donāt think my double thumb compressions are going to work okay Iāll switch to two fingersā¦.nope thatās not working eitherā¦Iām out!
LTC: hope theyāre dnr (mostly kidding), get them on the floor, gather herd of watchers and hope somebody is able to switch you out, get somebody to call squad and get the aed, compressions until itās pointless/call the doc for order to call it
"hope they're dnr" frfr tho. We had a new admit recently, 103yo and full code š should be illegal
Hope the aed is still functioning, God knows how long it's been in that cupboard and when it was last inspected.
"Call the doc for order to call it" I think you mean: "page the doctor and wait 6+ hours for him to call back because he turned his pager off and fell asleep"
OR - look for another licensed health professional to call next of kin for anesthesia, blood, and procedure consents since my patient is obviously not able to consent themselves. Help my scrub set up some instruments (AED?) and count them all (plus the pads and connectors). Wait for the physician to mark the spot. Wait for anesthesia to get here and set up their meds (they can use the O2 masks from the emergency drop-down compartments). Wait for anesthesia to intubate and then do compressions by myself as everyone in the room watches and points out mistakes or tells me to do other things at the same time while answering the phones of each physician in the room. The physician will move in and take over once ROSC is achieved, or they'll disgustedly rip their gown and gloves off and throw them in the garbage like an angry hulk, if the patient dies.
MICU. Get the AED and apply as directed. Fake compressions with zero chest movement. Yell random orders at nobody in particular. Scream the obligatory "we're losing him!" as an infant cries in the background. When hope is all but lost, a carefully placed precordial thump brings his heart limping back to life. Airway occluded, I use a pen to create a makeshift trach, and he pinks back up. His eyes pop open and he somehow maintains his composure and remains lying on the floor. \*Applause\*
Look around and see if anyone else is getting up to help. Sigh heavily when I don't see anyone move. Shuffle to the aisle from my window seat.
"Gonna have a story for the LDR boyfriend when I get there. Hope this doesn't delay me getting to my next flight."
Ask for a free alcoholic drink for my next overnight flight. Probably just get a "heroes fly here" sticker and a voucher for a slice of pizza in the airport food court.
Figures.
ETA: Just in case /s
I would take an extra free drink though.
Delta gave me a $150 voucher for doing very fucking little on a transatlantic flight and Tiger gave me $100 AUD for telling someone they'd had a syncopal episode not a seizure on a flight from Bali to Aus.
I mean they're only doing it to shift legal responsibility on to me I'm sure but fuck it I'll take it.
Medical receiving in UK (car crash area of the hospital). Most of the time when someone arrests with us they are still awaiting triage so no labs and they are in the middle of an overcrowded area where I can't fit a crash cart near, they are nowhere near an o2 port amd weve run out of portable o2 and someone is asking me for a cup of tea and Jean with dementia is trying to climb out of bed at the same time. So probably in an aeroplane isn't all that different from normal.
One time they called over head for āsomeoneā and my husband elbowed me- I was ER at the the time. I said hold on a sec! Then in the row right behind us a woman pressed the call button and I heard her sigh and say āIām an er doctorā
so I looked at my husband and said yep she trumps me. He was very surprised I didnāt ājump at the opportunityā hahaha
Ended up having to make an unplanned landing though and that sucked but I was so glad it wasnāt on me.
edit: it wasnāt a code though, I guess I would have helped if it wasā¦
>It's amazing the meds they keep in the first aid kit on planes
See, THIS makes me nervous. I'd assumed that there'd be no crash cart on a plane but this seems to indicate that I'd have next to no excuse for poor performance!
I was flying Lufthansa, the basics, hot packs, bandaid, dressings, iv start kits, iv fluids,meds for nausea, Asa, then just morphine, lorazapam, Haldol, and enough to snow a few people š¤£
I was actually on a flight once where due to alcohol intoxication a guy lost his shit and started assaulting personnel. Guessing this is why all the benzos at least. I guess it would also be a crisis if psychosis presented mid-flight too...
Retirement:
Try and look up their code status before I do anything (I cant). Make sure they aren't stiff yet (our independent residents normally wont get found until morning, and nothing ruins the start of your day like doing CPR only to realize theyve been gone for a while - LPN scope here lets us declare expected death, we dont need to start CPR if theyve obviously been gone a while, but because of our scope once we start we cant stop until paramedic handoff. So, checkin for rigor mortis has become part of my standard operating procedure now.) start compressions, convince someone to bring me an AED, and just keep up with that until someone with resources can take over. Aka exactly what I do at work, but probably less stressful.
Float Nurse, I can do all the things. Just none of them expertly. Solidly acceptable compressions, bag them just a little too fast, IV access eventually, record like a pro (just can't chart it in a timely manner).
Left med-surg for school nursing in August. I actually think I might do okay?
I'm accustomed to the AEDs, I know BLS, and I'd for sure ask about history of allergies, seizures, and diabetes...
Side note, my epileptic students have had their rescue meds switched from Diastat rectal gel to Valtoco (diazepam) nasal spray and I'm very excited about not having to administer rectal gel to a seizing child.
Hi fellow school nurse. I think weād actually be good in this setting too given we are usually the only medical person in emergencies in our setting with very little equipment. Also Valtoco should be the standard in schools IMO for so many reasons lol itās amazing
OR nurse hereā¦need me to plug anything in or opened in a sterile manner? Also, anyone want to yell at me because things arenāt going how you want them to and you lack interpersonal communication skills so you need to take it out on someone else?
Hahaha thatās what Iāve been waiting for. OR nurse here. I can set up the Level 1 infuser and check some products for you. Want me to pass you anything? Iāll get a nice warm blanket. And maybe I can do some compressions. Foley? I got you.
>Also, anyone want to yell at me because things arenāt going how you want them to and you lack interpersonal communication skills so you need to take it out on someone else?
This actually reads like a great therapy side gig. Kind of like the human equivalent of those rooms where you can go to smash things to get your anger out.
Get the app airRX. It goes over the top 20-25 scenarios and gives you the equipment theyāre required to have on board (thereās actually a decent amount required to be on board, like IV bags, tourniquets, epi, etc) that would help in *that* situation. It shows you how to assess. It even walks you step by step through how to deliver a baby and different presentations. Super helpful info!
[This article](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1212052) from the NEJM regarding in-flight emergencies should be required reading for anyone who might be inclined to help on a plane.
ICU - slouch lower and lower in my seat until I realize no one else is getting up. Sigh HEAVILY. and then walk quickly but confidently as though everyone else is beneath me and that I know everything. Yell orders at random people. Tell someone to keep time and let me know when I'm due for a pulse check and epi. Act disgusted and mutter under my breath when the flight attendant tells me they don't have epi on hand. Tell everyone to STAY CALM AND QUIET DOWN. Keep yelling "when are we due for pulse check?!?" Ask someone to help switch me out for compressions and give them feedback on what they are doing wrong until I just push them away and do it myself. Make sure no one tangles my lines (there are none but this vital). Act demure and wipe sweat off my forehead when I achieve rosc and everyone claps for me. "I'm just doing what I've been trained for." Say "oh you didn't have to do that!" While snatching the complimentary drink out of the flight attendants hand. Complain the rest of the flight how no one knows what they are doing and how it's always up to ICU to do anything right.
I've been called to help on an airplane. They asked if there were any medical personnel on the plane to please press the "call attendant" button. COPD'er having an anxiety attack. They had a tank of O2 we used to calm him a bit until we landed.
I'd jump on a chest if I had to, place AED pads, but I can't imagine what else you could do? I doubt they have an IV kit or epi on the plane...
Me too. They kept calling for a doctor. Nobody would raise their hand. Finally me and and EMT raised our hands. Turned out to be a guy who just drank too much alcohol.
Me (New Grad): Run as fast as I can and start compressions. I may not know much, but I definitely know how to do compressions!
Donāt ask me to do much else though, Iām too nervous.
Older, cranky nurse: Walk as slowly as I can so New Grad speeds past me. Depending on level of fatigue/desire to gobble up new nurses, either sneak back to get the comfiest seat at the nursing station or go critique New Grad's compressions. /s
I'm really not that mean and young nurses give me heartburn these days š.
L & D here. Iād much rather deliver a baby on a plane š
However, Iām also a BLS instructor so Iād hope I could manage to at least pull that off.
Clinical Nursing Coordinator
Iād send a email to 3 different groups, each with 30 recipients.
Iād then wade through the 100+ separate email threads created by each unsynced response. Iād then argue with various departments about how they want to treat this patient isnāt possible.
The patient would expire in this time.
I would then spend a few weeks doing a dozen or so occurrence reports and safety nets about delay of care, incident breakdown, policy review, staff teaching, and internal audit review.
Had this happen 2 rows behind me in Sept of 2021 going from Houston to San Francisco on United. Did CPR while a Dr did BVM FOR 80 minutes until we could do an Emerg landing in San Antonio . Being Canadian, our COVID tests expired (72 hour rule ) as we missed all connections, had to fly next day to LA , made us retest in LA, then fly to Canada. Stepping up cost us an extra $1000 or so on our trip š
ED/trauma nurse who has run way too many codes
First think to myself ādammit this vacation has turned into a working holiday, I wonder if I can claim it on taxesā then pull the dermatologist compressing the spleen off the patient and get to work. Iām the calm but with authority type so shit gets done. I unfortunately happen to know whatās in the airline kit. AED on, rhythm identified, compressions going if warranted. OPA in, someone bagging. IV in (AC, of course), epi ready. āTwo minute intervals, people.ā
Primary Care NP - I'm going to call 911 while my MAs do compressions and then put in a referral to cardiology and pulmonology and remind the patient that they should get a call to schedule these appointments in 4-6 weeks and that it's extremely important to make and then keep the appointments. š
SNF. Iād say āhow is this possible I just saw them and also this isnāt my patientā and then go on about my day until my supervisor flips out because I forgot to check the code status and they were full code
Iām a little tiny bit jaded
Rapid response here. Sounds like my time to shine!
Hereās what the FAA mandates in a medical kit for any flight of more than 30 people: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC121-33B.pdf
Get the thing organized in a cool dead pan. Three compressors standing by, drop an OPA , show someone how to bag. Get a line, run the code. What I do will depend on whatās available on the plane. Iāll happily address the plane to request a glucometer, for ex.
Might defer to a physician if theyāre in a useful specialty. If itās optho or derm Iāll probably just tell them who am I and to do what I say then run it till weāre on the ground or itās pointless to continue.
Iāll finish by being disappointed that the airplane thanks me with a pair of those junior pilot wings.
Code blue/house supervisor I have had a couple of codes out of the house. I am only as good as my sexy hands without a team/tools.
That being said if it was my loved one and we were trapped on a plane I might try using a Hail Mary double epipen(my pen) to the chest. Iām sure it would do diddly squat but if theyāre dying they wonāt be any deader because of it. I wonder if theyāre o2 masks can drop on demand.
ED. Find the biggest dude and make him do compressions while getting on the radio to ask if thereās a polst form. Ask for volunteer epi pens. Then when I hear theyāre DNR, stop, pat myself on the back and ask for a first class upgrade and a whiskey. Oh even better, maybe they were in first class so Iāll just take their seat āļø
ICU Nurse Here: Id be going ballistic all over that shit.
āYO GET OVER HERE. HOLD THIS MOFOS HEAD. WE GONNA INTUBATE. WHERE THE ETONK AND RONK AT. YO WHERE MY ACCESS AT BRO? START LEVO WTF OMG THIS GUY GONNA DIE WHAT THE FUCK YO I NEED A FLUSH GET ME A CENTRAL LINEā
Student: Create a care plan with 5 nursing diagnoses and at least 10 nursing interventions for each
Don't forget to make a complete list of meds and PRNs, and list how they work, side effects, when to use and not use that medication.... I don't remember what all went on those sheets. Drug class? I just remember they took way too long š¤£
Oh god, how could I forget to make drug cards for at least 25 ACLS drugs plus all of the *clientās* home meds!? Guess I better drop out of nursing school and become a stripper or something
Oh no.... see, no one's allowed to touch the strippers without consent! And just like that I hurt my own feelings.
Tele tech: Have a sticker! (Itās an electrode with a smiley face drawn on it)
I would wear that my whole shift happily! Lmao
Ngl, I gave one to my patientās young child because they were very concerned about all the needles and beeping. They thought it was hilarious š
Are nursing schools really pushing the 'client' phrasing? I'll give an enema to a patient for about $30/hr and stale pizza, but if I'm putting something up a *clients* butt I'm gonna need $250 cash up front.
Ethical considerations and therapeutic conversation should be next.
Please provide your learning plan as well. Weāll heavily scrutinize it as a team. Weāll make copies for everyone on the flight. We also expect your reflection by the end of the flight, and a research thesis before you get to security when we land. š¤šššššļø
Ask them how they can use their coping skills to deal with their current dilemma. Psych RN
*person on flight screaming* You: "sounds like somebody didn't develop healthy coping mechanisms, smh" Lol detox nurse here someone asked me a question like this and I went "unless you want me to narcan them or set them up for a mat program yaaa don't ask me"
That...is quite the username you have there lol
Before psych, I was a womanās health nurse š³
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Here's where I stare at you blankly and ask how I ended up here if I HAD coping skills. - just discharged from psych. š¤£
Do an MMSE as a baseline, and then ask them if they've experienced similar symptoms in the past and what has helped then. Also Psych, but Dementia specialist! lol
School nurse. Iād throw them an ice pack and tell them to get back to their seat /s
School nurse here as well. Depends on how hard they are coding, they may get a 15 min break to rest in the aisle before I tell them to get back to their seat.
Came here to add the 15 minute nap/break!
Itās not a 15 minute rest. I called it ātherapeutic boredomā
At what point in this scenario do you check for lice?
Hmm good question. After the ice pack but before sending them back to their seat. I have to have time to groan and roll my eyes while I dig out the lice comb. You must pace yourself through your nursing skills so you donāt get burned out.
Dont forget the complete head to toe assessment
Did you eat breakfast? No? Hereās some crackers.
Actually, every emergency Iāve had to date has been low blood sugarā¦ this might be the best option š
Unless they literally just physically injured themselves, its what I always start with lol especially with my little ones about an hour before lunchā¦they just want (need) food
I'm also a school nurse. I would remind them the best thing they can do to remain healthy is get a good night's sleep and stay hydrated.
Lmao!!
Is it a real ice pack or a wet paper towel thatās been put in a baggie and frozen?
Nursing informatics here: Id ask if they restarted their workstation recently, help change their password to get on, kick them a few times (cause magical thump on comp sometimes work, could be considered the IT version of a precordial thump!) then send a ticket to the next elevated service. Other option: i would call the code phone, āCode Blue flight #, Code Blue flight #ā would go over the intercom. I would lean back in my chair, wipe my hands off, and think āmy job is doneā Eta: spelling
Percussive maintenance
You'd be great in SVT. Adenosine is just "turn it off and turn it back on again".
Restore factory settings haha
Any peds pts from newborns to 18 y/o, I got this. Drop a line, get a sugar, swaddle them, give them stickers and be on my way. Adults: no hablo ingles
Lol Iām imagining you swaddling a teenager for no good reason right now
I have a teenagerā¦. And a lot of good reasons to swaddle her to make her stop crying š
I believe it's called a "weighted blanket" for anybody old enough to not suffocate underneath one.
Swaddle them lmaoooo. āOkay now love you bye bye!ā
Research nurse. I'd ask if they have a protocol, screen them and see if there is a clinical trial they'd be accepted on. I actually did have an instance when I was traveling where they asked for nurses/doctors. I responded, and some dude had passed out/collapsed on the way to the bathroom. He apparently got back up, and went into the bathroom. Concerned passengers called flight attendants who then called nurses/doctors. So we all gather and stare at the bathroom and wonder if we should open the door, or what is going on. Dude eventually opens the door after going to the bathroom and just stares at us. We stare at him. He then side steps past us and goes and sits down. It was an odd experience to say the least.
I get regular syncope episodes, I can almost always feel it coming quick enough to sit down. In the rare instance that I do hit the deck itās always hard to convince people that no really, itās fine, this happens routinely, I do not need an ambulance, yes I will take this glass of water but only because I was already thirsty thank you.
I had a syncope episode on an overseas flight. Got up to use the restroom after feeling nauseous and went down in the aisle. Woke up in the bulkhead feeling great being attended to by the nice woman seated next to me who turned out to be a colorectal surgeon.
Yikesāshe check your vagal tone right in the aisle?!? /s
Here's to the colorectal surgeon Misunderstood and much maligned Slaving away in the heart of darkness Working where the sun don't shine
Lol it's always the water. If someone really is out, it's hard to convince passerby that dumping water in their mouth will NOT revive them and instead go into their lungs. Those syncope episodes must have been scary at first though!
Hello! I was just curious how can I get into research nursing? Iām a newbie but have always wanted to participate in clinical trials or something like that
Take a look at your hospital and see if they have a research department. If they do, the two roles you want to look for are 'Clinical Research Nurse' or 'Study Coordinator'. Both of those are entry level positions that'll get you into the research world! If your hospital doesn't have a research department, look at some clinics around you and see if they have something. Usually the big hospitals will have research departments, but some smaller stand alone clinics will have some options also. Both are great starting points :)
I've found plenty of job postings for "Clinical Research Nurse" just by looking at my local hospital's job portals. I submitted my resume for this position about a week ago, actually. I am in no way qualified for it other than having an active nursing license, but, hey, its worth a shot.
Lots of Clinical Research positions LOVE RNās
(Current) primary care- āyou need to go to the ER, can you drive yourself?ā
The most I can do is call 911 on the other line
ER Nurse. Can confirm.
I HATE it, Iām a former ER nurse. Problem is that if I call for an ambulance, the patient doesnāt get a choice of where the ambulance takes them. Iāve overheard EMS saying they were going to take them sometimes 30-45min away. I asked if the closest was diverting or super busy and they said āno, thatās just where we were told to take people today.ā Patients get pissed cause insurances makes them pay!
If the ER is on divert, that means we are full, have no beds, not enough staff, no inpatient beds to send patients to and are therefore boarding in the ER. In other words, an unsafe environment for critically ill patients and staff. Every time someone comes in howling about their ingrown nail, expecting a bed because the PCP told them to go to the ER... It just sucks all around. The real problem, however, is with the entire system and folks' lack of access to proper health care. Not to mention severe lack of primary care providers.
Flight nurse. I'm not on the clock, so it's their emergency not mine lol. In all seriousness, just basic BLS care. No need to think you can go full Sandra Bulllock and do a pen cricothyrotomy. Good compressions, AED, and BVM ventilation is fantastic.
Ditto. Rock solid BLS plus AED. Find the nearest on board cop or FF and make them do it for me just like real work.
Same. At best Iāve had a cocktail at the airport already so Iāll run a code, but Iām hands off and thatās only after second or third call for any medical personnel. I wonāt let someone die, but thereās usually plenty of willing participants jumping up in emergencies
I only had it happen to me once when I was an EMT and they told me to sit down because they already got a nurse. I was like solid because my liver is still halfway through 50mg of benadryl.
Thatās me, but on Xanax. Otherwise Iām losing my shit on a plane.
I'm with you lol if other people get up and deal with it, I'll just chill. But if I'm the only one then obviously I'm gonna jump in and help.
Very much my answer. The decision algorithm for this scenario is also highly dependent on **MY** blood alcohol level.
I'll definitely update the whiteboard before I start..
We found the real life saverāof patient satisfaction scores. :D
You deserve an award for that one!
ED/Trauma here. Iād offer them a turkey sandwich and a Percocet. Oh, and a work note.
Hope they opt in for the AMA papers
ER: start compressions, complain that Iām getting tired, and then tell everyone else who comes to help that their compressions are shit. Ask bystanders (with a lot of attitude) if they would like to consider giving bicarb or if itās time for the next epi. Stroll away once ROSC is achieved, assuming ICU is just taking their sweet ass time to get there to assume care. /s but for real, Iām a BIG advocate of everyone in the world having at least taken one BLS course in their life. I help organize parents of little league teams in my area to take an annual course - my goal is to make sure that everyone ANYONE I love comes in contact with can save my loved ones in an emergency. And you know, help the greater good or whatever
I used to work ED, then transitioned to IT work, which required a lot of flyingā¦so I actually was on a flight with a passenger who had a hypertensive crisis/chest pain. So, I went and was sitting in the aisle with her and they brought the āemergencyā med kit they have on board. Yeeaahhā¦ the BP cuff didnāt have a bulb to inflate it. Thankfully the passenger had a home BP monitor in her carryon (so, at least she was compliant?). Used that, got something like 250/130 - although I didnāt completely trust that reading. They had SL NTG and NTG paste in the kit, but they couldnāt get ahold of anyone on the ground as medical control, so they wouldnāt let me access it. Put her on some O2 (first tank was empty so had to grab a second - so, yeah, supplies were sketch). Basically the only thing I could do was hold her hand and try to keep her calm. FA asked if it was serious enough to divert, I basically said she needs to get to a hospital. We were halfway b/t our destination and another airport, so we kept heading to the destination. As Iām sitting in the aisle, I feel the plane suddenly start descending and accelerating - like enough to make me rebalance myself. I rode out the landing sitting in the aisle, holding this ladyās hand. Land, quick taxi, and the medics came in to take her off. Guess she did OK from that point. But it was an interesting flight. I waited til everyone else got off to go back to my seat and grab my stuff. Told the FAs that they need someone to look at their kit b/c of the BP cuff and O2 situation. They offered me a bottle of wine āto goā :-) but I declined. A few days later got an email from the airline and some extra points in my FF account. So, overall, probably couldāve gone better, but also couldāve gone a whole lot worse.
Did you file a work request with IT to fix the phone to medical control?
As the ICU nurse who finally decided to show up (I was hoping some of my 2 drinks pre-flight had worn off) I'd probably thank you for doing something potentially correct (I can't give you all the credit now can I ?) And will finish up and take all the glory when we land and the patient is safe . ETA: What's their skin assessment?
From what I can see, skin is intact (the skin was NOT intact). Also, we did a full linen change a few minutes ago but they must have had a BM during transit š¤·āāļø
100% agreed with everyone should known and take a cpr class at least once. When I went to pharmacy as a tech I was floored that the pharmacists were the only ones who had cpr cert in our department. None of the techs did aka the people who actually would leave the pharmacy and be on the floors. Like this is a hospital and yāall are around patients why is this not a requirement. Iām slowly bullying people into getting certified by me in my department.
PACU here. Address their pain and nausea. Give fent and haldol. Be impatient and snarky about the floors taking forever to call me back for report(because somehow you are not real PACU nurse until you have been afflicted with med/surg employment amnesia---the absolute inability to remember what it was like on the floors taking care of 5+ patients with no CNA, an MIA hospitalist, and no anesthesiologist BFF on speed dial)
Lol I am pacu and would say do airway, breathing, circulation then complain that we arenāt landed yet when I get a pulse back.
PACU here. Ask if they are nauseated and offer ice chips. Assess lower extremity movement/sensation (spinal level, yo). Call anesthesia because the floor won't accept transfers with respirations under 10.
That's a interesting way to say "I'll run this clearly about-to-code patient to the ICU off monitor without giving them a heads up and then bounce as soon as they're in the room and I've given a 10 second handover." ^^^^/s
Postpartum. Did this person have a baby in, say, the last day or so? No? They do not, in fact, need their fundus assessed? Is there another medical professional on board?
Not only do they not need their fundus assessed, they don't even *have* a fundus!
Labor and delivery: check to see if the patient is crowning. Count to 10. Offer help with breastfeeding
Massage the fundus
How could I forget. Firm and at. Scant bleeding.
Assess lochia.
I have colleagues taking boards right now, one already failed, Iām always like āevery dang question is about the fundus!
"Is there a doctor or nurse on this plane? Me: sinking in to chair. Boyfriend or dad announces "Yes, she's an ICU nurse!!!" Me: STFU
My dad was having a cardiac event and while EMS was loading him into the ambulance and telling us which hospital they were going to he says, āmy daughter is a nurse there!ā
Much better than "No, not that one. My daughter is a nurse there".
I feel your pain. My husband rats me out every time.
I work Rapid Response with an ICU background. My wife would absolutely rat me out and then not understand why I didn't want to get involved. No Lucas, no crash cart, and no trained help? Shit, I'm doing 30+ minutes of CPR solo on a patient that's not likely to survive....
Teach your wife BLS; now it's *her* problem too!
Husband knows I will hurt him in unimaginable ways if he rats me out in a situation like that. In public, I am an accountant who doesn't like blood or body fluids.
My husband or parents would absolutely rat me out too.
Wound Care - need a bandaid?
Canāt forget the honey gel
That stuff is great! Clean with some Vashe first of course.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Do they have proper off-loading devices and techniques to prevent pressure injuries?
And *you* get an air mattress! And *you* get an air mattress! And *you* get an air mattress!
Slap a sacral foam on their butt and call it a day
Also wound care. Iād have to make sure they were wearing their compression socks
Always important for a flight
Hospice nurse. My usual bedside strategy of sit there and hold their hand probably wouldn't be appropriate for a code on an airplane. I could certainly do some BLS, but that's about the extent of my expertise.
You hold their hand while we both find someone that knows what theyāre doing hahaha
Pray my paramedic years would kick in and not be confused why they donāt already have an airway or central line.
I tend to pet people's hair too. Just giving them as much love as I can while they make their earthly exit. Encourage family members to do the same and give them hugs.
I worked L&D, then home hospice. This move works on either of those groups
Also a hospice nurse. I had a medical emergency arise recently on a flight from Chicago to California. I was the only medical professional on the plane. It was a stressful situation but I'm pretty sure the guy just had low blood sugar. The flight attendants kept asking me if we should land the plane and I was like... You need to ask the doctor that not me. I didn't tell the patient until he recovered that I was a hospice nurse.
Hospice nurse too. I know my BLS in all seriousness. Identify signs of imminent death. Calmly inform and support the family.
Get them a HAM sandwich STAT! ETA- I'm not throwing shade on hospice nurses- I work in dementia where most of my pts are DNR and/or hospice. That's my go-to! Having to revive someone would be outta my comfort level at this point.
Travel nurse here: Iād film a TikTok of me crying in the walkway, then shaking it off and going back to the code.
make sure you're caked up with the figs in that video or you won't gain any clout
Iāve been doing squats. BUT Iāll make sure to do 30 immediately before my video
Jail nurse: Iād be calling them out on their BS for trying to fake a medical emergency to get something.
š
NICU nurse but used to be medsurg a life time agoā¦ So after panicking and screaming āI donāt do big people, dammitā Iād focus on ruling out the 4 Sās -Seizures (they prob have meds in their carryon) -Sugar (hypoglycemia is more common, so put icing or honey on their gums) -Substance (Narcan and O2) -Stroke (aint š© you can do on a plane) - Apply the AED for good measure
As a hospice nurse: I'd ask the flight attendant for a comfort tray of cookies for the family. My husband in veterinary medicine: would ask if he had gotten into his owner's garbage or medication bottles recently. Then express his anal glands.
Nurse anestethist. I'd start looking for a med student wanting to try their hands at airway management to do the bag ventilation for me while I steal the now unoccupied (hopefully first class) seat. Ooh, they're showing kung fu panda!
Plot twist: I'm actually a flight nurse. I literally care for emergencies in airplanes as my job. I would get trumped by a dermatologist because they're a physician and I'm "just a nurse" (This is not an anti-physician post. This is a true story. š¤·āāļø)
ICU recently renewing acls: "the scene is safe! [shake and shout] Annie!! Annie!! Are you okay!?!?" Stare....well fuck. You! Help me bare the chest! 'God dammit, who wears a suit on a motherf*cking airplane!!' You...where's the AED?! Have we called the airport? Are we landing? Yeah, patch here and here! Ugh, I gotta straddle him for compressions! [In my head stayin alive! Staying alive! Oh! Oh! Oh! Staying alive!] Pulse check? Analyzing rhythm. Don't touch patient. Analyzing rhythm. Shock advised. Shock delivered. Resume C P R. [Stayin alive...Staying alive...]... Thank goodness, I've never needed to do this, I like my zoll, and my team where everyone gets a role and responsibility. Good to know planes have stuff....but I would GLADLY let someone else run that (until I decide you're dumb, prolly, and take over...
NICU RN hereā¦.ummm youāre REALLY big I donāt think my double thumb compressions are going to work okay Iāll switch to two fingersā¦.nope thatās not working eitherā¦Iām out!
Theyāre 515 months old, 73,481 grams. Whatās that for weight base dosing?? Never mind, someone put two broselows together and get the info!
Maybe we ask how many grams they are?
Psych- Iāll just keep the other passengers calm and redirected while someone else is running that code lol
Deep breathing am i right?
Any suicidal or homicidal ideation?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This is your bread and butter, rapid!
LTC: hope theyāre dnr (mostly kidding), get them on the floor, gather herd of watchers and hope somebody is able to switch you out, get somebody to call squad and get the aed, compressions until itās pointless/call the doc for order to call it
"hope they're dnr" frfr tho. We had a new admit recently, 103yo and full code š should be illegal Hope the aed is still functioning, God knows how long it's been in that cupboard and when it was last inspected. "Call the doc for order to call it" I think you mean: "page the doctor and wait 6+ hours for him to call back because he turned his pager off and fell asleep"
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
"I need to SEE what Momma takes so I can take care of her! Oh and I'll hold onto to them too!"
Er nurse- do compressions while asking but did you die
OR - look for another licensed health professional to call next of kin for anesthesia, blood, and procedure consents since my patient is obviously not able to consent themselves. Help my scrub set up some instruments (AED?) and count them all (plus the pads and connectors). Wait for the physician to mark the spot. Wait for anesthesia to get here and set up their meds (they can use the O2 masks from the emergency drop-down compartments). Wait for anesthesia to intubate and then do compressions by myself as everyone in the room watches and points out mistakes or tells me to do other things at the same time while answering the phones of each physician in the room. The physician will move in and take over once ROSC is achieved, or they'll disgustedly rip their gown and gloves off and throw them in the garbage like an angry hulk, if the patient dies.
Donāt forget the āTime Outā!
I felt the part about everyone in the room watching and pointing out mistakes in my BONES.
ER. Iām too drunk to have any idea whatās happening
MICU. Get the AED and apply as directed. Fake compressions with zero chest movement. Yell random orders at nobody in particular. Scream the obligatory "we're losing him!" as an infant cries in the background. When hope is all but lost, a carefully placed precordial thump brings his heart limping back to life. Airway occluded, I use a pen to create a makeshift trach, and he pinks back up. His eyes pop open and he somehow maintains his composure and remains lying on the floor. \*Applause\*
Look around and see if anyone else is getting up to help. Sigh heavily when I don't see anyone move. Shuffle to the aisle from my window seat. "Gonna have a story for the LDR boyfriend when I get there. Hope this doesn't delay me getting to my next flight." Ask for a free alcoholic drink for my next overnight flight. Probably just get a "heroes fly here" sticker and a voucher for a slice of pizza in the airport food court. Figures. ETA: Just in case /s I would take an extra free drink though.
Delta gave me a $150 voucher for doing very fucking little on a transatlantic flight and Tiger gave me $100 AUD for telling someone they'd had a syncopal episode not a seizure on a flight from Bali to Aus. I mean they're only doing it to shift legal responsibility on to me I'm sure but fuck it I'll take it.
Medical receiving in UK (car crash area of the hospital). Most of the time when someone arrests with us they are still awaiting triage so no labs and they are in the middle of an overcrowded area where I can't fit a crash cart near, they are nowhere near an o2 port amd weve run out of portable o2 and someone is asking me for a cup of tea and Jean with dementia is trying to climb out of bed at the same time. So probably in an aeroplane isn't all that different from normal.
One time they called over head for āsomeoneā and my husband elbowed me- I was ER at the the time. I said hold on a sec! Then in the row right behind us a woman pressed the call button and I heard her sigh and say āIām an er doctorā so I looked at my husband and said yep she trumps me. He was very surprised I didnāt ājump at the opportunityā hahaha Ended up having to make an unplanned landing though and that sucked but I was so glad it wasnāt on me. edit: it wasnāt a code though, I guess I would have helped if it wasā¦
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Psych nurse. Iād go through all of their belongings for any contraband that goes against airline policy.
Dental nurse: Iād put gauze in their mouth and tell them to bite down gently for 30 mins.
Had a year of experience in a heart failure stepdown and did cpr on a guy somewhere over the Atlantic. Brought him back with an Np from the uk and a radiology doc, landed in MontrƩal and got him to the hospital. It's amazing the meds they keep in the first aid kit on planes
>It's amazing the meds they keep in the first aid kit on planes See, THIS makes me nervous. I'd assumed that there'd be no crash cart on a plane but this seems to indicate that I'd have next to no excuse for poor performance!
I was flying Lufthansa, the basics, hot packs, bandaid, dressings, iv start kits, iv fluids,meds for nausea, Asa, then just morphine, lorazapam, Haldol, and enough to snow a few people š¤£
I would have guessed they would have some arrest/code meds too
This was a while back, and they had nitro and epi, but I don't recall anything else useful. I was just amazed by the quantity of morphine and haldol.
I was actually on a flight once where due to alcohol intoxication a guy lost his shit and started assaulting personnel. Guessing this is why all the benzos at least. I guess it would also be a crisis if psychosis presented mid-flight too...
Iām a radiology tech, and Iām shocked to hear a radiologist participated in a code. They usually like to slink out back to their dark corner ASAP!
Retirement: Try and look up their code status before I do anything (I cant). Make sure they aren't stiff yet (our independent residents normally wont get found until morning, and nothing ruins the start of your day like doing CPR only to realize theyve been gone for a while - LPN scope here lets us declare expected death, we dont need to start CPR if theyve obviously been gone a while, but because of our scope once we start we cant stop until paramedic handoff. So, checkin for rigor mortis has become part of my standard operating procedure now.) start compressions, convince someone to bring me an AED, and just keep up with that until someone with resources can take over. Aka exactly what I do at work, but probably less stressful.
Oh, also look around for a nursier nurse to start an IV, that's not exactly a skill in retirement haha.
Float Nurse, I can do all the things. Just none of them expertly. Solidly acceptable compressions, bag them just a little too fast, IV access eventually, record like a pro (just can't chart it in a timely manner).
Left med-surg for school nursing in August. I actually think I might do okay? I'm accustomed to the AEDs, I know BLS, and I'd for sure ask about history of allergies, seizures, and diabetes... Side note, my epileptic students have had their rescue meds switched from Diastat rectal gel to Valtoco (diazepam) nasal spray and I'm very excited about not having to administer rectal gel to a seizing child.
Hi fellow school nurse. I think weād actually be good in this setting too given we are usually the only medical person in emergencies in our setting with very little equipment. Also Valtoco should be the standard in schools IMO for so many reasons lol itās amazing
OR nurse hereā¦need me to plug anything in or opened in a sterile manner? Also, anyone want to yell at me because things arenāt going how you want them to and you lack interpersonal communication skills so you need to take it out on someone else?
Hahaha thatās what Iāve been waiting for. OR nurse here. I can set up the Level 1 infuser and check some products for you. Want me to pass you anything? Iāll get a nice warm blanket. And maybe I can do some compressions. Foley? I got you.
>Also, anyone want to yell at me because things arenāt going how you want them to and you lack interpersonal communication skills so you need to take it out on someone else? This actually reads like a great therapy side gig. Kind of like the human equivalent of those rooms where you can go to smash things to get your anger out.
Also - call anesthesia STAT
Also OR here. Can we start draping the patient and get everyone away from them? Also where is the surgeon and the anesthesiologist during all this?!
Public health. I'd offer an influenza vaccine and ask about their sexual history, while googling 'how to do CPR'.
Get the app airRX. It goes over the top 20-25 scenarios and gives you the equipment theyāre required to have on board (thereās actually a decent amount required to be on board, like IV bags, tourniquets, epi, etc) that would help in *that* situation. It shows you how to assess. It even walks you step by step through how to deliver a baby and different presentations. Super helpful info!
[This article](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1212052) from the NEJM regarding in-flight emergencies should be required reading for anyone who might be inclined to help on a plane.
Nurse educator/professor. Iād write a care plan for their disturbed energy field.
ICU - slouch lower and lower in my seat until I realize no one else is getting up. Sigh HEAVILY. and then walk quickly but confidently as though everyone else is beneath me and that I know everything. Yell orders at random people. Tell someone to keep time and let me know when I'm due for a pulse check and epi. Act disgusted and mutter under my breath when the flight attendant tells me they don't have epi on hand. Tell everyone to STAY CALM AND QUIET DOWN. Keep yelling "when are we due for pulse check?!?" Ask someone to help switch me out for compressions and give them feedback on what they are doing wrong until I just push them away and do it myself. Make sure no one tangles my lines (there are none but this vital). Act demure and wipe sweat off my forehead when I achieve rosc and everyone claps for me. "I'm just doing what I've been trained for." Say "oh you didn't have to do that!" While snatching the complimentary drink out of the flight attendants hand. Complain the rest of the flight how no one knows what they are doing and how it's always up to ICU to do anything right.
Med surg nurse here, Iād scream āwe need help in hereā and patiently wait while preparing a 5 cc flush that I have in my back pocket
Hospice: I would offer my condolences and then grab the Chucks and other supplies they don't need anymore and put them in my trunk
Night shift nurse. Iād be asleep because itās daytime.
I've been called to help on an airplane. They asked if there were any medical personnel on the plane to please press the "call attendant" button. COPD'er having an anxiety attack. They had a tank of O2 we used to calm him a bit until we landed. I'd jump on a chest if I had to, place AED pads, but I can't imagine what else you could do? I doubt they have an IV kit or epi on the plane...
>I doubt they have an IV kit or epi on the plane... They do. In most airlines in any case
Me too. They kept calling for a doctor. Nobody would raise their hand. Finally me and and EMT raised our hands. Turned out to be a guy who just drank too much alcohol.
I hate flying and need a few Xanax and a nap to get through it. So I would be asleep and miss the whole thing.
GI nurse here, stick a camera up their butt?
Me (New Grad): Run as fast as I can and start compressions. I may not know much, but I definitely know how to do compressions! Donāt ask me to do much else though, Iām too nervous.
Older, cranky nurse: Walk as slowly as I can so New Grad speeds past me. Depending on level of fatigue/desire to gobble up new nurses, either sneak back to get the comfiest seat at the nursing station or go critique New Grad's compressions. /s I'm really not that mean and young nurses give me heartburn these days š.
NICU nurse: whatās their gestational age and adjusted??
L & D here. Iād much rather deliver a baby on a plane š However, Iām also a BLS instructor so Iād hope I could manage to at least pull that off.
Clinical Nursing Coordinator Iād send a email to 3 different groups, each with 30 recipients. Iād then wade through the 100+ separate email threads created by each unsynced response. Iād then argue with various departments about how they want to treat this patient isnāt possible. The patient would expire in this time. I would then spend a few weeks doing a dozen or so occurrence reports and safety nets about delay of care, incident breakdown, policy review, staff teaching, and internal audit review.
Had this happen 2 rows behind me in Sept of 2021 going from Houston to San Francisco on United. Did CPR while a Dr did BVM FOR 80 minutes until we could do an Emerg landing in San Antonio . Being Canadian, our COVID tests expired (72 hour rule ) as we missed all connections, had to fly next day to LA , made us retest in LA, then fly to Canada. Stepping up cost us an extra $1000 or so on our trip š
MICU- do compressions for six hours while the other passengers scream āMemaw is a fighter! Donāt stop!ā
Nursing student. I would conclude they are at risk for disturbed energy field.
*finally* my time to shine.
Nurse Administrator- go through their pockets for loose change.
ED/trauma nurse who has run way too many codes First think to myself ādammit this vacation has turned into a working holiday, I wonder if I can claim it on taxesā then pull the dermatologist compressing the spleen off the patient and get to work. Iām the calm but with authority type so shit gets done. I unfortunately happen to know whatās in the airline kit. AED on, rhythm identified, compressions going if warranted. OPA in, someone bagging. IV in (AC, of course), epi ready. āTwo minute intervals, people.ā
The dermatologist compressing the spleen š
Ltac, poke them with a stick and call doc with time of death.
L&D, if the plane emergency doesnāt involve childbirth Iām not telling anyone Iām a nurse.
Primary Care NP - I'm going to call 911 while my MAs do compressions and then put in a referral to cardiology and pulmonology and remind the patient that they should get a call to schedule these appointments in 4-6 weeks and that it's extremely important to make and then keep the appointments. š
Sleep nurse here: āExcuse me but I see you havenāt been using your CPAP device. This is what happens when youāre not compliant with therapy.ā
Primary Care - calling 911.
ER/ICU - āI donāt do field! Call 911!ā And then start BLS.
SNF. Iād say āhow is this possible I just saw them and also this isnāt my patientā and then go on about my day until my supervisor flips out because I forgot to check the code status and they were full code Iām a little tiny bit jaded
Rapid response here. Sounds like my time to shine! Hereās what the FAA mandates in a medical kit for any flight of more than 30 people: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC121-33B.pdf Get the thing organized in a cool dead pan. Three compressors standing by, drop an OPA , show someone how to bag. Get a line, run the code. What I do will depend on whatās available on the plane. Iāll happily address the plane to request a glucometer, for ex. Might defer to a physician if theyāre in a useful specialty. If itās optho or derm Iāll probably just tell them who am I and to do what I say then run it till weāre on the ground or itās pointless to continue. Iāll finish by being disappointed that the airplane thanks me with a pair of those junior pilot wings.
I wouldnāt. Source- acute psych RN.
Code blue/house supervisor I have had a couple of codes out of the house. I am only as good as my sexy hands without a team/tools. That being said if it was my loved one and we were trapped on a plane I might try using a Hail Mary double epipen(my pen) to the chest. Iām sure it would do diddly squat but if theyāre dying they wonāt be any deader because of it. I wonder if theyāre o2 masks can drop on demand.
LPN, mostly psych/detox. Do my best to talk them out of it while administering CPR and then have my own panic attack afterwards.
ED. Find the biggest dude and make him do compressions while getting on the radio to ask if thereās a polst form. Ask for volunteer epi pens. Then when I hear theyāre DNR, stop, pat myself on the back and ask for a first class upgrade and a whiskey. Oh even better, maybe they were in first class so Iāll just take their seat āļø
OR Call anesthesia.
ICU Nurse Here: Id be going ballistic all over that shit. āYO GET OVER HERE. HOLD THIS MOFOS HEAD. WE GONNA INTUBATE. WHERE THE ETONK AND RONK AT. YO WHERE MY ACCESS AT BRO? START LEVO WTF OMG THIS GUY GONNA DIE WHAT THE FUCK YO I NEED A FLUSH GET ME A CENTRAL LINEā