"I'm Here To Start Your IV"

As you move back into the perception of your own reality; and even though you have been taken on a "heart" field trip around the Emergency Room, it has not nor will it ever, change the perception you have of your own reality.  

You've now been in the Emergency Department approximately forty-five minutes.  You have seen the ER physician, you have seen the ER registrar, who has taken all of your personal information and health care insurance (or not) information;  and now, you are headed toward your treatment phase.   Ready?

As the curtain draws back, an RN or ER Tech enters your room as thought they've already been given permission to do anything and everything they need to do as far as your care is concerned.  We all do it.  It's not intentional.  It's a mind-set of not only accomplishing the task we have before us but of getting your results back as quickly as we can so that we can propel you forward in your treatment.  Many times, we are as anxious to get your results as you are because it will help us start putting the parts of your "illness" puzzle together in our own minds as we work with our ER Doc.

Remember, you are not our only patient, normally, we have a ratio of one RN to four ER patients.  Bear in mind; Our other three patients could be critically ill, and in a moment, our whole world as an ER RN could turn on it's axis, we never, ever, know what will happen from second to second in the Emergency room.  Ever.    And so while we may have no choice but to be "hurried" we should still be informative, caring and compassionate.

And so, when we pull that curtain back a little bit too briskly and approach you as though we have a 'RIGHT" to YOU ~ it's not meant in an offensive manner.   HOWEVER:   This is how it will go unless YOU take some control of your "life" situation.

Curtain draws back;    An abrupt "Hi, I'm your RN, I'm here to start an IV and draw some blood, we're also going to be getting some Xray's and I will be giving you some medication in the IV  and I will be hanging some fluid to hydrate you a little bit.   I need some urine.  If you do not feel that you can give me a urine sample at this time, I can give you a few minutes but if you can't accomplish this pretty quickly, I may need to put a tiny catheter into your bladder to pull some urine, so that we can get your results back as quickly as possible."   Dear Patient, did your brain just say "What?"   It should have.  Did you manage to get the words from your brain to your mouth?   Or are we already tying a tourniquet onto your arm as we wipe the area with an alcohol pad?

Dear patient;  This is where you SHOULD and I think any good RN or ER Tech would ENCOURAGE you to say something along the lines of " what is the IV for?  Will the blood be drawn from the IV so I don't have to be stuck again for the blood?  What kind of tests did the Doctor order, what kind of medication are you going to give me?  Why?  What's it for, and what will it do for me?"  

Maybe this would be a good time to tell the RN or ER Tech which vein you know to be a pretty good vein from having your blood drawn previously or having had an IV before.  The RN should heed to you - you know your body better than we do.  It's at least worth a look, don't you think?  Point it out to us.  This is YOUR body;  

We will not be able to tell you what the Doc is "looking for" because nurses are not diagnosticians.  While most of us have advanced assessment skills and have drawn our own diagnostic "idea's" we are not your ER Doc and we will never assume (or shouldn't) assume that position. 

Do not be afraid to tell us if you are in pain.  We will talk in great detail about RN's that snort at the thought of giving their patients pain medication or (gasp) being your advocate to assure you DO get the pain medication you need - but for today let me just say, if you are hurting, tell us.   We are the bridge to your ER Doc, we have the power to help you with that pain.  Ask us.  It's time that patients are given back their "rights" in health care.  The age of "don't speak" needs to find its end.

Do not be afraid to tell us if you do not want one of the treatments we are here to deliver.  A caring devoted, compassionate RN will attempt to encourage you (not intimidate you) into the treatment by explaining why it is beneficial to you.  If you still do not want it, we will notify our Doc's and ask them to come talk further with you. 

How many times have I said the words "don't be afraid" as we moved to start your IV in today's blog?   Has it even entered your consciousness that you should have never been afraid to begin with?  You chose to come to this Emergency Department.  Your choices do not end when we put a name band on you and you should never be "afraid" of talking with Emergency room staff.  Not ever.

Tomorrow let's talk about your last trip to a department store;   It's all related;  But for now Dear Patient;   I'm here, to start your IV.