Wednesday, December 03, 2003
I nearly killed someone today!
Ok Ok... I'll admit it.. it wasn't just my fault. I came on, (after not enough sleep and a late shift last night) and I am looking after this guy, he has an extensive history, we are talking about 3 files worth!
So he had an operation he was not advised to have, came back with lots of pain, ended up getting him written up for Morphine last night 2-3hrly. So this morning he has 4 lots of morphine from 2am to 11:30am plus an antinflammatory pain reliever. He was ok.. showing no major signs of trouble except for the fact that something worried me about him all day. His eyes were very bloodshot, he looked very flushed and sweaty though his temperature was fine. Just something worried me. I kept a little bit of an eye on him. At around 2pm I went into his room to get the man opposite ready for theatre and happened to look over at him. I went over and gently touched his shoulder, his breathing was a little off and he looked a little low in oxygen, he woke, looked at me with bleary eyes, I asked if he was ok, he couldn't form the words to answer. I rushed out, grabbed our obs machine and did his blood pressure, 205/95... owch. I am a lil freaked he may be having a stroke. I ask him to move his arms and legs, by this time he is able to respond, he can move his arms and legs, I breathe a little sigh and go call his doctor. We call to get him reviewed by one of the emergency doctors. I wonder at this point where I have narcotised/overdosed him with the morphine. I look back at his chart, 30mgs of morphine all up for 9 hours.. not excessive by any means, but his pupils are slightly non reactive, and its oxygen sats are down, both somewhat signs of too much narcotics in his system. It is not my fault really, I had called his anaesthetist in the morning asking about further pain relief, his pain had not been well controlled, and she had said, give him the morphine as it is written up till he is comfy. So this is all happening while I am trying to hand over my 8 patients to the afternoon shift and get people ready for theatre and stuff.
Oh well.. such is work.
had 14 patients between 2 of us last night, 7 post op patients, on half hourly obs, ick!
ok... enuff enuff... only one more week then I get holidays! WOOOOHOOOOOOO!
Ok Ok... I'll admit it.. it wasn't just my fault. I came on, (after not enough sleep and a late shift last night) and I am looking after this guy, he has an extensive history, we are talking about 3 files worth!
So he had an operation he was not advised to have, came back with lots of pain, ended up getting him written up for Morphine last night 2-3hrly. So this morning he has 4 lots of morphine from 2am to 11:30am plus an antinflammatory pain reliever. He was ok.. showing no major signs of trouble except for the fact that something worried me about him all day. His eyes were very bloodshot, he looked very flushed and sweaty though his temperature was fine. Just something worried me. I kept a little bit of an eye on him. At around 2pm I went into his room to get the man opposite ready for theatre and happened to look over at him. I went over and gently touched his shoulder, his breathing was a little off and he looked a little low in oxygen, he woke, looked at me with bleary eyes, I asked if he was ok, he couldn't form the words to answer. I rushed out, grabbed our obs machine and did his blood pressure, 205/95... owch. I am a lil freaked he may be having a stroke. I ask him to move his arms and legs, by this time he is able to respond, he can move his arms and legs, I breathe a little sigh and go call his doctor. We call to get him reviewed by one of the emergency doctors. I wonder at this point where I have narcotised/overdosed him with the morphine. I look back at his chart, 30mgs of morphine all up for 9 hours.. not excessive by any means, but his pupils are slightly non reactive, and its oxygen sats are down, both somewhat signs of too much narcotics in his system. It is not my fault really, I had called his anaesthetist in the morning asking about further pain relief, his pain had not been well controlled, and she had said, give him the morphine as it is written up till he is comfy. So this is all happening while I am trying to hand over my 8 patients to the afternoon shift and get people ready for theatre and stuff.
Oh well.. such is work.
had 14 patients between 2 of us last night, 7 post op patients, on half hourly obs, ick!
ok... enuff enuff... only one more week then I get holidays! WOOOOHOOOOOOO!
4:00 AM
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Writing since January 2003!
web-counter? Maybe one day
BJ T now was S
Born in April on the 21st!
Australian but living in the USA.
Allison
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