Originally posted by DawnCt1
I think I made it clear. I stopped for the accident, calling 911 as I am pulling over. A trucker (Mr. EMt) enters the scene. Lays the victim down beside a burning car leaking gasoline and 'takes charge". Clearly poor judgement. Of course I intervened, making sure that the victim was moved to a safe distance from the burning car until the real "EMT's" arrive. I can intervene without displaying my credentials, unobtrusively taking her pulse to determine rate and quality, offering to take the BP when the ambulance attendant was involved with something else, securing her personal property, purse, etc and handing them to the police. Calling a family member from my cell phone at her request. One doesn't need to make a dramatic entry complete with announcements and vanity plates to be sure the right thing gets done. When she was loaded onto the ambulance, I am happy to slip into the background and disappear. I am a first responder at my job. I am the only nurse in a building of 1200 people plus 160 construction contractors for 8 hour per day. However, the building is occupied 16 hours per day. When I respond to emergencies, I always encourage other first responders to step up, work within their skill sets and take the credit. I would be naive to think that emergencies will only occur while I am on duty. I may not be there for 25% of the emergencies. They need to feel confidence in thier ability to react and not say, "thank goodness the nurse is here." My job is to foster confidence and ability in others. Its much more useful in the long run.
