Medical emergencies happen all around us. Freak accidents, sudden bouts of bad health, and general health complications lead to frequent ER trips. That’s the thing about the medical health sector, and we can rely on it when there’s an emergency and take solace in the fact that there are professionals who tend to our ailments.
When you walk into the ER, you are likely to be attended by a nurse rather than a doctor. There are more nurses on the floor than doctors trained to deal with just about any case that comes through the door.
However, how do they do that? What protocols do they follow when responding to emergencies that come through the hospital or take place in everyday life?
This article will highlight those aspects into an impromptu checklist that nurses follow when dealing with emergencies.
Holistically analyze the case
Extreme cases come through the door every day, and nurses need to understand the gist of the entire matter rather than looking at isolated parts of the incident. For example, if a person comes in with a severe injury, it would be wise for the nurse to gauge if they suffer from any illnesses, is intoxicated, or suffers from psychological issues.
Understanding a person’s medical case within the first few minutes is extremely difficult, but nurses are working tirelessly to do so.
Their education and experience help them understand complex situations and make the best out of a bad situation. Moreover, with remote education, nurses are pursuing higher degrees to help gain better experience in the ER. A masters nurse practitioner programs online degree is popular among health professionals looking to climb up the career ladder and help navigate through the struggles of the healthcare sector more professionally.
Tend to the most the immediate issue first
It would be wise to tend to the most extreme medical issue first. Though you need to rule out comorbidities, it would be wise to tackle the immediate problem, as mentioned in the first point.
If a person is has sustained an injury because of their illness, tend to the wound first and then look at the cause. For example, someone falling over and suffering a concussion because they had a bad case of vertigo.
The immediate injuries in some cases may be so severe that they could be fatal if not addressed swiftly. Hence the reason why it’s crucial to prioritize the immediate and deal with other medical issues later.
Clear the crowd
Naturally, as human beings, we are concerned for the people that we bring into the hospital. We are worried, panicked and sometimes our emotions get the best of us. We want to be around our loved ones and make sure that they are safe and secure in every way possible.
As a result, we might get in the way of the medical professional. In our attempt to show concern for our loved ones, we may cause hindrances for the doctors and nurses trying to do their job. Don’t take it personally if nurses forcefully remove you from the area, and they are simply doing what they have to do to save the patient’s life. They can’t work if they have people yelling and crying all around them.
You may see frantic family members desperately trying to access the OR as the patient is rushed into surgery. Difficult family members are a real issue is, but we can’t blame them; because sometimes our emotions get the best of us.
Watch the vital signs
A person may come in with an issue and seemingly appear normal but collapse within a few minutes of discharge. This was extremely common with primitive medicine, where nurses and doctors weren’t equipped (nor were they aware) to check a person’s vitals.
A person’s vital signs indicate what’s going on inside the patient’s body. Blood pressure, sugar levels, heart rate, and other symptoms give us a better idea of what the person is dealing with and what the body is going through.
Discharging without adequately gauging the vitals is criminally unethical. A nurse could lose their job if they don’t conduct themselves properly and ensure that the patient is in proper health before being released. In extreme cases, the patient could sue the health facility for not checking them out properly before letting them go.
Conclusion
The nurses in our communities are heroes in their own right and deserve massive amounts of respect. Not only do they work tirelessly to save our lives, but they don’t get the credit they deserve. With that said, let’s take a moment to appreciate these professionals and the roles they play in our society. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to fall back on the healthcare sector for our medical issues the way we do.
Hopefully, this checklist will give you a newfound respect for how they do their job. Thanks, nurses, we wouldn’t be where we are without you.
