Today, we all met up to go to our mass briefing, Combat "O". We never made it because when we finally got there no one told us it was being moved. Another well planned event. While we were sitting at breakfast, we all came to the consensus that although we've been here a week, it feels more like a month. I have been assured by others that feeling will go away and when it's time to leave we'll all feel like it's flown by.
Yesterday I took care of a local national (LN) and an Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW). Interesting, I NEVER thought I have that type of patient. The LN had pelvic surgery yesterday and came back a mess. Heart rate high, BP low, K 6.3, BS 272....everything was completely whacked out. I had commented his K was high because of the blood he was given but things still weren't being corrected. I asked the anesthesiologist if this patient could be bleeding and the answer was "no". Well this morning I found out they returned the patient to the OR because, yes he was bleeding. I needed that validation! It has been so long since I took care of a truly sick patient.
So this is a blog on my thoughts and anyone reading this and getting offended does not have to read it anymore. The EPW is an issue for me. I as a nurse am obligated to provide the same type of care regardless of the patient and I have no issue with it. The problem I have is other people see me as a bleeding heart. I think this person is still a human and no I don't like him blowing up my fellow Americans but he is fighting for what he believes in. One Airman said he was glad when the last EPW had died. I just simply made the comment that he should not be happy that another human being died. It's just a weird place for me to be in right now. I'm told I will change my feelings on that too. I hope not, I don't want to lose my sense of humanity.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.