Comments on: Spinal on the Ice - A Second Year Story http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/ helping you find a better life one state at a time Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:05:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Pat http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-815 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:57:39 +0000 http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-815 Hey Tony, Good points. IMO the nurses behavior was paradoxical and it led me to think that maybe she knew the girl too well to behave objectively. She did become alarmed when Rachel and the paramedics tried to remove the girls helmet - as I think most people would given that removing a helmet while blocking the head is a skill that very few people possess; so the nurse did fear for the girls safety. But I have a feeling that she was hoping the girl would just snap out of it and would be okay and therefore not have to call 911. This is a wishful thinking type behaviour that crisis and intervention workers have learned to suppress out of necessity. The truth is, as you point out, calling 911 is rarely going to be an issue. Erring on the side of caution when head trauma or spinal injuries are concerned it's protocol. A good emergency action plan is essential for all leaders of a team and it requires practice and communication. It's the one play a team need to master with the hope of never having to call it. Patrick Hey Tony,
Good points. IMO the nurses behavior was paradoxical and it led me to think that maybe she knew the girl too well to behave objectively. She did become alarmed when Rachel and the paramedics tried to remove the girls helmet - as I think most people would given that removing a helmet while blocking the head is a skill that very few people possess; so the nurse did fear for the girls safety. But I have a feeling that she was hoping the girl would just snap out of it and would be okay and therefore not have to call 911. This is a wishful thinking type behaviour that crisis and intervention workers have learned to suppress out of necessity.
The truth is, as you point out, calling 911 is rarely going to be an issue. Erring on the side of caution when head trauma or spinal injuries are concerned it’s protocol.
A good emergency action plan is essential for all leaders of a team and it requires practice and communication. It’s the one play a team need to master with the hope of never having to call it.
Patrick

]]> by: Tony DiMarco http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-814 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:53:11 +0000 http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-814 Coaching young kids... I have some experience with Athletic Trainers -- and my educational background affords me a little better perspective. It's an altruism that some people are simply better than others at certain things. I've seen some good ones.... and I've seen more than a fair share of bad ones. So I wouldn't have any problems following my own protocol if I felt another "attending" trainer was incompetent.... or worse yet, jeopardizing the health of an individual. To me, it's not a matter of "rank".... it's a matter of who can best help that person at any given time - the patient's health is the only concern. And erring on the side of caution is ALWAYS the right thing to do. The fact that the other trainer wasn't in any way cooperative during the process.... and lacked the maturity and professionalism to act the way she did afterwards... doesn't speak badly about the profession.... just that individual. You're just going to have to get used to the fact that some healthcare professionals simply don't share the same values. It's a shame.... but some people are just jerks. Coaching young kids… I have some experience with Athletic Trainers — and my educational background affords me a little better perspective.

It’s an altruism that some people are simply better than others at certain things. I’ve seen some good ones…. and I’ve seen more than a fair share of bad ones. So I wouldn’t have any problems following my own protocol if I felt another “attending” trainer was incompetent…. or worse yet, jeopardizing the health of an individual.

To me, it’s not a matter of “rank”…. it’s a matter of who can best help that person at any given time - the patient’s health is the only concern. And erring on the side of caution is ALWAYS the right thing to do.

The fact that the other trainer wasn’t in any way cooperative during the process…. and lacked the maturity and professionalism to act the way she did afterwards… doesn’t speak badly about the profession…. just that individual.

You’re just going to have to get used to the fact that some healthcare professionals simply don’t share the same values. It’s a shame…. but some people are just jerks.

]]> by: Pat http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-813 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:09:00 +0000 http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-813 Hey Gregor! I understand what you mean. When she first told me about it she was driving to work and she was in a weird head space. It was still fresh and she was wondering if she had done everything she could have to make sure the girls injuries did not get compounded by the acute-medical attention she and the nurse had given. All I could think about was the notion that there had been a pissing match about who would be in charge. She debriefed with a couple of her professors on the Monday following the incident and they all said the same thing, it never gets easier because there is no such thing as a minor spinal injury. FWIW - the part that makes me most sad in her recap is the thought of her walking away with her head down. Rachel is intensely passionate about becoming an AT and there was a moment when she reconsidered her decision. But she realized that she cannot be of any help if she isn't there to help got back to her studies quickly. Thanks for commenting G, it's always good to hear from you! Patrick Hey Gregor!
I understand what you mean. When she first told me about it she was driving to work and she was in a weird head space. It was still fresh and she was wondering if she had done everything she could have to make sure the girls injuries did not get compounded by the acute-medical attention she and the nurse had given. All I could think about was the notion that there had been a pissing match about who would be in charge.
She debriefed with a couple of her professors on the Monday following the incident and they all said the same thing, it never gets easier because there is no such thing as a minor spinal injury.
FWIW - the part that makes me most sad in her recap is the thought of her walking away with her head down. Rachel is intensely passionate about becoming an AT and there was a moment when she reconsidered her decision. But she realized that she cannot be of any help if she isn’t there to help got back to her studies quickly.
Thanks for commenting G, it’s always good to hear from you!
Patrick

]]> by: Gregor http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-812 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:38:05 +0000 http://www.newstasis.com/2008/01/23/spinal-on-the-ice-a-second-year-story/#comment-812 Patty - It's rare I comment, but for this I thought I should. Let Rachael know the following. Substitute me for her and not only player, but nurse as well leave the ice with a "spinal" ~G Patty - It’s rare I comment, but for this I thought I should.

Let Rachael know the following.

Substitute me for her and not only player, but nurse as well leave the ice with a “spinal”

~G

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