Dilemma of a Nurse
How the Emergency Room works in my workplace Triage Area Patient will be seen by a nurse and a doctor Vital signs will be taken such sa blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation Covid-19 screening will be done by asking if they developed symptoms like cough/colds, sore throat, fever and shortness of breath for the past two weeks. Patient with no covid-19 signs and symptoms will be brought to the **Emergency Room Clean Area.** Patient with covid-19 signs and symptoms will be brought to **Covid-19 Emergency Room. (Tagged as Covid-19 suspect)** Emergency Room Clean Area Admission papers of the patient will be done Doctors orders will be carried out (ivf insertion, ngt and ifc, giving initial dose of meds, etc) Will be brought to ward for the continuation of care Covid-19 Emergency Room Admission papers of the patient will be done Doctors orders will be carried out (ivf insertion, ngt and ifc, giving initial dose of meds, etc) Will be brought to ward for the continuation of care Are you thinking the two are just the same? Yes, in the a way. But there is a big difference on the admission papers. Admission on Emergency Room Clean Area has **no burial form.** Burial Form This is the hardest part to explain to the relatives or to the patient itself. **My dilemma.** The form contains that once you are tagged as a Covid-19 suspect, once you are admitted, you will be isolated. You can't go out in your room and no visitors are allowed. Other than that is, when a patient's condition worsened and unexpectedly he/she died, the body will be placed on a metal casket that will be buried imeediately or will be cremated. Imagine relatives hearing that as we explained. Can you imagine the look on their face and the hesitation to sign the form? Others become aggressive after learning about the burial form and asking question why it is like that. The only thing that I can respond to their questioning is to prove me that the patient is 100% free from the corona virus. I know, it's a little bit harsh but i'm just following the rules set by the hospital. Being a nurse on times of this pandemic is very exhausting. It is not only physically but also mentally. This article is not a rant. I'm just giving you an idea how hospital works as of today. Well, I don't know if the other hospital has the same policy as we. For all the health care workers like me, "Never give up! And thank you for your hardwork."
4 comments
Useful and sensitive article. Thanks ..
Those are really the hard part of being a healthcare worker.. Especially dealing with the families of the dead patients. I think i can not handle it since I am so emotional....
You got it right. There was one time that the relative throw a punch at me. Buti nalang magaling ako umilag
Hala..hndi mo namn fault yun.. At hndi ka doctor na kya magsagip ng buhay ng patient.