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ETA: Thank you very much! I have enough information at this time. You ROCK, flist.
Okay, flist. I have a project due on Monday about professional ethics. I'll need input from at least:
2 nurses
2 non-nursing health care professionals (doctor, pharmacist, medical clerk
2 non-health care persons/ laypersons
I will screen the comments since this is an ethics (private, social and legal) debate and I don't want anyone to feel pressured or judged when they answer.
Christy is a 3 year old child, mature beyond her years owing to her suffering. She's dying of lymphosarcoma (cancer). For 3 months, she's been in and out of the hospital-- and this trip is the last one. Everyone knows that she is dying-- her physician, parents and nurses--. Christy's mom stays with her all day, every day, and her dad usually spends the night with her.
One night at about 12:30 AM, I went into her room. She was resting quietly but her mom had had about all she could take. Tears of exhaustion, pain, and grief were sliding down her cheeks. I sat down next to her and we all stayed together for a few minutes until her husband arrived. The floor was fairly quiet that night so I suggested that both of them go down for the cup of coffee and a little time together. I promised I would not leave Christy's room until they returned.
10 minutes after they left, Christy woke up. She was much worse and appeared to be very frightened. I called the LPN and told her to call the doctor, the supervisor and the chaplain and to send an aide down to call her parents. Christy was struggling to breathe and there was fear in hereyes. Suddenly, I remember what the mother had told her when Christy asked what it would be like to die. Her mother said it would be like when she fell asleep downstairs and Daddy would pick her up and carry her upstairs and everything would be all right. When you die, God picks you up and then everything will be fine. So, gently, I leaned over and picked her up and held her in my arms. She seemed o relax as she laid her head against my shoulder. She died like that-- quietly in my arms. I don't know how long I stood there holding Christy. it seemed like an eternity but it could not have been more than a few minutes.
Her parents rushed into the room. I looked at them and they knew Christy had died. As we were tucking her into bed, a young resident physician entered the room. He took one look at Christy and said, "My God, why didn't you call a code? (Code Blue-- Start CPR). He started to pound Christy's chest but her father stopped him. I turned to Christy's mom and said, "I am so sorry." She started to cry and so did I. I held her in my arms and she held me. In a few minutes, I was able to tell her how Christy died. The chaplain arrived about that time and we all went to the lounge. As he talked to them, I left to get coffee from the nurse's locker room.
The priest was talking with th parents and other children on the floor needed my attention so I didn't stay long. I made rounds then helped prepare Christy's body for the morgue. I thought the incident was ended-- although I knew I would never forget Christy or her parents. However the incident was far from over.
The next morning, I was called to the nursing office. Why hadn't I called a code on Christy? Hospital policy required that a code be called on all patients unless there's a written DNR (Do Not Recuscitate, Do not start CPR, do not call Code Clue) order. Her pediatrician had not written a DNR order. Who was I to make such a decision?
Do you think what the nurse did was right? Explain why was her decision right or wrong (ie. on the grounds of policy, religion, professionalism). What would you have done in her place?
Okay, flist. I have a project due on Monday about professional ethics. I'll need input from at least:
2 nurses
2 non-nursing health care professionals (doctor, pharmacist, medical clerk
2 non-health care persons/ laypersons
I will screen the comments since this is an ethics (private, social and legal) debate and I don't want anyone to feel pressured or judged when they answer.
Christy is a 3 year old child, mature beyond her years owing to her suffering. She's dying of lymphosarcoma (cancer). For 3 months, she's been in and out of the hospital-- and this trip is the last one. Everyone knows that she is dying-- her physician, parents and nurses--. Christy's mom stays with her all day, every day, and her dad usually spends the night with her.
One night at about 12:30 AM, I went into her room. She was resting quietly but her mom had had about all she could take. Tears of exhaustion, pain, and grief were sliding down her cheeks. I sat down next to her and we all stayed together for a few minutes until her husband arrived. The floor was fairly quiet that night so I suggested that both of them go down for the cup of coffee and a little time together. I promised I would not leave Christy's room until they returned.
10 minutes after they left, Christy woke up. She was much worse and appeared to be very frightened. I called the LPN and told her to call the doctor, the supervisor and the chaplain and to send an aide down to call her parents. Christy was struggling to breathe and there was fear in hereyes. Suddenly, I remember what the mother had told her when Christy asked what it would be like to die. Her mother said it would be like when she fell asleep downstairs and Daddy would pick her up and carry her upstairs and everything would be all right. When you die, God picks you up and then everything will be fine. So, gently, I leaned over and picked her up and held her in my arms. She seemed o relax as she laid her head against my shoulder. She died like that-- quietly in my arms. I don't know how long I stood there holding Christy. it seemed like an eternity but it could not have been more than a few minutes.
Her parents rushed into the room. I looked at them and they knew Christy had died. As we were tucking her into bed, a young resident physician entered the room. He took one look at Christy and said, "My God, why didn't you call a code? (Code Blue-- Start CPR). He started to pound Christy's chest but her father stopped him. I turned to Christy's mom and said, "I am so sorry." She started to cry and so did I. I held her in my arms and she held me. In a few minutes, I was able to tell her how Christy died. The chaplain arrived about that time and we all went to the lounge. As he talked to them, I left to get coffee from the nurse's locker room.
The priest was talking with th parents and other children on the floor needed my attention so I didn't stay long. I made rounds then helped prepare Christy's body for the morgue. I thought the incident was ended-- although I knew I would never forget Christy or her parents. However the incident was far from over.
The next morning, I was called to the nursing office. Why hadn't I called a code on Christy? Hospital policy required that a code be called on all patients unless there's a written DNR (Do Not Recuscitate, Do not start CPR, do not call Code Clue) order. Her pediatrician had not written a DNR order. Who was I to make such a decision?
Do you think what the nurse did was right? Explain why was her decision right or wrong (ie. on the grounds of policy, religion, professionalism). What would you have done in her place?