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The ravages of meningococcal septicemia
Feb. 17th, 2021 09:33 pmMr 27 IVDU T1 respiratory failure from last week passed away.
I used to be on the end of life care committee before I left for midi and they never took me off the mailing list.
Whilst the emails are annoying, they do give closure if I see a name on the list that I've nursed.
We are generally not informed regarding outcomes. Mostly its word of mouth "so and so went to the ward did you see?" or "so and so passed away, so sad". But if they got better or went home or went to rehab, we wouldn't have a clue. So sometimes when patients or their families ask me how long they may need to stay in ICU, or how long their recovery will be, I genuinely tell them I have only ever worked in ICU (pretty much - one track career girl.... it has it's downsides ) and therefore have no idea. Once a year a patient will come in to thank us (and you'd have to be lucky to be on) and then you can see how well they're doing or their family will email our manager with an update and that gets passed on.
But otherwise when someone dies, it's not something that gets broadcasted. You'd have to ask (or be on the end of life committee mailing list).
There's a new Miss 27 and she's pretty cool even though her story ( sounds chilling )
I've negotiated her wash time (she prefers morning) and she'll tell me when she wants to roll.
I've been reading articles on breastfeeding and how covid-19 has impacted it; and figuring out her history; and now I might do some HETI. It's only 22:30...
It's going to be a long night.
Miss 27 is currently on a video call with her family at the moment and there is a lot of gesturing for someone who is on a ventilator. Certainly no one sided conversation going on there. I'm trying not to eavesdrop and allow her some privacy.
Imagine being her family. You've taken care of this child whom is now a toddler - for 2 years. They became unwell quickly and life and death decisions leading to limb amputation and transplant decisions being made over a 2 year period. It quite well may have taken over their entire lives for the last 2 years. If one parent was working; they may possibly have had to quit in order to keep up with all the decisions and treatments being made. And after all of that; you are left with a child with no legs, and 3 stumps on either hands for fingers, a lot of scarring all over her body and who knows what other damage - psychological - and to her future options are left.
It makes me think of friends whom I have felt have pushed me away after they had children. Or perhaps it was I who pushed them away. If their child went through an event such as meningococcal septicemia would I return? Would I offer to help out? Or would I just leave it be and remain in my bubble. Where I am me. With my cat and my Pete. And I just observe the lives of others. Taking care of them for a shift or two, and going home and just writing about what I think from afar.
I know that wouldn't be me. But I'm not an initiative taker - I offer help; and if they ask I'm more than happy to pitch in and provide, but if they say thanks and don't actually ask; or; if they do ask and I find it doesn't seem genuine I get the shits and feel used.
( non work related random updates )
I used to be on the end of life care committee before I left for midi and they never took me off the mailing list.
Whilst the emails are annoying, they do give closure if I see a name on the list that I've nursed.
We are generally not informed regarding outcomes. Mostly its word of mouth "so and so went to the ward did you see?" or "so and so passed away, so sad". But if they got better or went home or went to rehab, we wouldn't have a clue. So sometimes when patients or their families ask me how long they may need to stay in ICU, or how long their recovery will be, I genuinely tell them I have only ever worked in ICU (pretty much - one track career girl.... it has it's downsides ) and therefore have no idea. Once a year a patient will come in to thank us (and you'd have to be lucky to be on) and then you can see how well they're doing or their family will email our manager with an update and that gets passed on.
But otherwise when someone dies, it's not something that gets broadcasted. You'd have to ask (or be on the end of life committee mailing list).
There's a new Miss 27 and she's pretty cool even though her story ( sounds chilling )
I've negotiated her wash time (she prefers morning) and she'll tell me when she wants to roll.
I've been reading articles on breastfeeding and how covid-19 has impacted it; and figuring out her history; and now I might do some HETI. It's only 22:30...
It's going to be a long night.
Miss 27 is currently on a video call with her family at the moment and there is a lot of gesturing for someone who is on a ventilator. Certainly no one sided conversation going on there. I'm trying not to eavesdrop and allow her some privacy.
Imagine being her family. You've taken care of this child whom is now a toddler - for 2 years. They became unwell quickly and life and death decisions leading to limb amputation and transplant decisions being made over a 2 year period. It quite well may have taken over their entire lives for the last 2 years. If one parent was working; they may possibly have had to quit in order to keep up with all the decisions and treatments being made. And after all of that; you are left with a child with no legs, and 3 stumps on either hands for fingers, a lot of scarring all over her body and who knows what other damage - psychological - and to her future options are left.
It makes me think of friends whom I have felt have pushed me away after they had children. Or perhaps it was I who pushed them away. If their child went through an event such as meningococcal septicemia would I return? Would I offer to help out? Or would I just leave it be and remain in my bubble. Where I am me. With my cat and my Pete. And I just observe the lives of others. Taking care of them for a shift or two, and going home and just writing about what I think from afar.
I know that wouldn't be me. But I'm not an initiative taker - I offer help; and if they ask I'm more than happy to pitch in and provide, but if they say thanks and don't actually ask; or; if they do ask and I find it doesn't seem genuine I get the shits and feel used.
( non work related random updates )
