She Was Barely Responsive . . . We Knew We Had to Act Fast

NURSING.com, Some nights in the ICU, the stakes feel even higher than usual. You’re not only taking on the weight of your patients’ needs but also battling for what you know is right – even when others don’t see it. I REMEMBER ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS WELL. I was on the code team, and we got an emergency call to the med-surg floor. When we arrived, we found a patient in serious trouble – she was barely responsive, low on fluids, and showing signs of internal bleeding after surgery. Her surgeon stood at the foot of the bed, reluctant to move her to the ICU. “She’ll be fine here,” he insisted, wanting to avoid transferring her to critical care. But I knew this wasn’t fine. My team knew it too. We needed to get her to the ICU now if we were going to save her. Every second counted, and with each passing moment, her condition was slipping. IGNORING THE HESITATION FROM HER SURGEON, WE ACTED FAST. ICU patient As I searched desperately for a vein, my partner was squeezing blood directly into her IV – a makeshift solution when there was no time to wait for equipment. At last, we managed to secure a line and started moving her down the hall ourselves, the surgeon finally falling in step as he saw we weren’t giving up. THE NEXT EVENING, I WENT TO CHECK ON HER IN THE ICU. She was awake, stable, and on the road to recovery. She looked at me and said, “THANK YOU FOR GETTING ME HERE.” Moments like that remind me why we fight for our patients. It’s about more than medical care – it’s about giving everything we have to make sure they’re seen, heard, and treated with the respect they deserve. And just as we stand up for our patients, we also need to stand up for ourselves. Nursing is intense, and I know the journey can be overwhelming. That’s why I want to hear from you: What would make your nursing journey easier?  Visit NURSING.com/vote to share your needs with us. We want to help make things less stressful. Happy Nursing! -Jon Haws, RN p.s. we love your guys . . . I sincerely hope this helps What Would Help You Get Your Life Back? NURSING.com, 11918 Division Street #2114, PORTLAND, Oregon 97266, United States