A Different Point of View
So I spent the day at the hospital.
Yes, I work at the hospital and spend most of my days that the hospital. But this was not a work day nor was it MY hospital.
I got a text message at about 0615 this morning (which I missed because I was sleeping and it was a text.) It was from my dad and it read: "Hi are you awake?"
At about noon when I was actually awake, I found the text and replied "I am now, what's up?"
My dad then replied that my mom had gone into the ER early that morning with heart attack symptoms and was currently in the ICU. They couldn't decide if it was a heart attack or a really bad esophageal spasm.
To which I replied. What the . . .??!! Next time CALL ME AND WAKE ME UP!
Good stars people! Remember what mom use to say: Don't wake me unless there is a fire or someone is dying? I think this falls under the 'someone is dying' category!!
So down to the hospital I went. Along the way I picked up my sister (who was hysterical) from work. Apparently I was the one who had broken the news to her. The others had kept it from her because they wanted to avoid the hysteria. How was I supposed to know??
We got to the ICU and mom was resting quietly and nicely. Turns out she wasn't feeling well this morning when Alex brought her in, but she had been moving under her own volition and whatnot. No CPR involved, (thank heavens!) She just felt like there was an elephant on her chest and someone choking her. Yes, she was in the ICU, but I think mostly it was because the doctor wanted her on telemetry, and this hospital's med/surg floor doesn't have that capability, whereas their ICU does.
Her primary care physician came in and asked the questions, did his exam and said that she was presenting more and more like a cardiac patient. So he went to speak with the cardiologist on call, who happened to be a long family friend and our Stake President. And he took her right to the Cath Lab.
Good news is her heart is great! Which means this was probably some nasty GERD gone worse. She slept for quite a while then they released her to home when she was awake and stable enough to go. (We left around 2200.) So its been a long day.
The experience was interesting though. Being a nurse, I understood what the doctors and nurses were saying very well. I heard the same things as my sister and parents, but our understandings on some things were so different it was amazing. For example, they kept thinking that the medicine was put in the large IV bag that was hanging there, even though she just pushed it through a syringe into the line as they watched. And the way they understood things was different. It made me realize the importance of really making sure my patients understand what I am telling them, and not what they think they are hearing.
Anyway. Mom is home and resting. She's going to "take it easy" for a couple of days. Read: (Dad and Boo will have to sit on her to keep her in bed and rest.) And things are looking okay. Boo is calm again and reassured. And we're all tired and ready for bed. What a day. Eventful, but not. At least things turned out well.
The thing that makes me worry is that I wasn't panicked. My sister was hysterical yes, but from word go, I was not panicked. I was concerned yes, but enough? I don't know. I feel like its difficult for me to judge how concerned I was or was not, or how concerned I should have been. I think part of that is because I am a nurse and have seen a lot and maybe have a better understanding of when to panic and when its not necessary. (I would like to think that this is the reason, and not because I'm just a cold-hearted wench.)
At the hospital I see so many different reactions to family members being hospitalized. And some are more appropriate than others. Usually, the parents who are freaking out the most and putting on the biggest show are the ones who have the LEAST sick kid on the floor. The ones with the sickest kids are often the calmest ones who just take everything as it comes. And of course there are all sorts in between. But It's an interesting paradox to me.
Anyway. That was my day in a nutshell.
Yes, I work at the hospital and spend most of my days that the hospital. But this was not a work day nor was it MY hospital.
I got a text message at about 0615 this morning (which I missed because I was sleeping and it was a text.) It was from my dad and it read: "Hi are you awake?"
At about noon when I was actually awake, I found the text and replied "I am now, what's up?"
My dad then replied that my mom had gone into the ER early that morning with heart attack symptoms and was currently in the ICU. They couldn't decide if it was a heart attack or a really bad esophageal spasm.
To which I replied. What the . . .??!! Next time CALL ME AND WAKE ME UP!
Good stars people! Remember what mom use to say: Don't wake me unless there is a fire or someone is dying? I think this falls under the 'someone is dying' category!!
So down to the hospital I went. Along the way I picked up my sister (who was hysterical) from work. Apparently I was the one who had broken the news to her. The others had kept it from her because they wanted to avoid the hysteria. How was I supposed to know??
We got to the ICU and mom was resting quietly and nicely. Turns out she wasn't feeling well this morning when Alex brought her in, but she had been moving under her own volition and whatnot. No CPR involved, (thank heavens!) She just felt like there was an elephant on her chest and someone choking her. Yes, she was in the ICU, but I think mostly it was because the doctor wanted her on telemetry, and this hospital's med/surg floor doesn't have that capability, whereas their ICU does.
Her primary care physician came in and asked the questions, did his exam and said that she was presenting more and more like a cardiac patient. So he went to speak with the cardiologist on call, who happened to be a long family friend and our Stake President. And he took her right to the Cath Lab.
Good news is her heart is great! Which means this was probably some nasty GERD gone worse. She slept for quite a while then they released her to home when she was awake and stable enough to go. (We left around 2200.) So its been a long day.
The experience was interesting though. Being a nurse, I understood what the doctors and nurses were saying very well. I heard the same things as my sister and parents, but our understandings on some things were so different it was amazing. For example, they kept thinking that the medicine was put in the large IV bag that was hanging there, even though she just pushed it through a syringe into the line as they watched. And the way they understood things was different. It made me realize the importance of really making sure my patients understand what I am telling them, and not what they think they are hearing.
Anyway. Mom is home and resting. She's going to "take it easy" for a couple of days. Read: (Dad and Boo will have to sit on her to keep her in bed and rest.) And things are looking okay. Boo is calm again and reassured. And we're all tired and ready for bed. What a day. Eventful, but not. At least things turned out well.
The thing that makes me worry is that I wasn't panicked. My sister was hysterical yes, but from word go, I was not panicked. I was concerned yes, but enough? I don't know. I feel like its difficult for me to judge how concerned I was or was not, or how concerned I should have been. I think part of that is because I am a nurse and have seen a lot and maybe have a better understanding of when to panic and when its not necessary. (I would like to think that this is the reason, and not because I'm just a cold-hearted wench.)
At the hospital I see so many different reactions to family members being hospitalized. And some are more appropriate than others. Usually, the parents who are freaking out the most and putting on the biggest show are the ones who have the LEAST sick kid on the floor. The ones with the sickest kids are often the calmest ones who just take everything as it comes. And of course there are all sorts in between. But It's an interesting paradox to me.
Anyway. That was my day in a nutshell.