Inspired by the driving while talking on cell phone thread.

[yeartolate]

I am curious. I am an Intensive Care Unit Nurse.

We had a critically ill patient - as unstable as they come.

A close family member had to go home. She lived two hours away . I know the drive (SF Bay Area to Monterey) and for a large portion of it is mountains and winding roads (Highway 17 )

She told me to contact her on the cell phone if anything got worse or of the patient died.

Would you make a call that is certain to provoke intense emotion to a person that you know is driving (especially in an intense driving situation)?

Just curious.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I think you have to because if you don't and she gets all the way home before hearing the news she might not be able to get back in time before the patient dies. IF you were to call her she might only be half way home and could get back in time. Now for if death has occurred I might call the home phone but just a turn for the worse I would think you would need to call immediately on the cell phone to at least give her the chance to be by the side of the patient.

 

[yeartolate]

So, if you were alone in a car in heavy traffic, and a phone call came in telling you that a loved one was dying - you would be able to emotionally hold it together to drive safely?

Seriously, I know I couldn't - that is why I ask.

 

[minkydog]

Yes, i'd make the call, but I'd ask first if the person was driving the car. I talk to upset parents all the time, ones who are driving to the ED with sick children. I make them pull over to talk--I simply cannot put their lives n jeopardy by holding a critical conversation at 65mph. I have also been on the recieving end of bad news over the cell phone and I wish they had asked me to pull over. I nearly ran off the road!

 

[yeartolate]

I guess this was a little different since the person I was calling would know this was "the call" just by knowing it was the hospital.