PixelRN

Here’s a diagram of post-procedural patient flow that I made, because that’s just the kind of geeky nurse that I am:

As you can see, I recover radiology patients and cardiology patients.

So what do you call a radiology patient that has an acute MI in my recovery room?

DAMNED LUCKY!!!

I had written a long, finely crafted post to tell you this story, but then I read Phil Baumann’s post on HIPAA and I remembered exactly why I typically do not blog about patient encounters.

So here’s the Cliff Notes version, scrubbed of details:

(imagine the following paragraph being recited by an auctioneer)

“You just had a radiology procedure done and you’re lying in the recovery room after your procedure when OUCH! you’re having chest pain and the 12 lead was done and HEY! the cardiologist happens to be right here and OHHH! there happens to be a clean procedure room so we are going to cath you now and LOOK! there’s a complete blockage of one of your coronary arteries and you could have died but we just stented it and now you’re stable so it’s off to the CCU don’t let the door hit your behind on the way out. ADIOS. And don’t forget to tell your family to rub the toe of the Jesus statue.”

Several people came up to me afterward and said, “How does it feel? You saved a life today?” And I said, “I can’t possibly take credit. It was the whole team, and a good bit of karma, all working together.”

I still felt spectacular, though, because I was a part of the team that saved a life.

And that’s why it’s good to be a nurse.

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