April 2024
Ashley
Carpenter
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
2NW
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington
,
DC
United States
Through collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and the police department, we've been able to locate family members to get the patient the help and support he needs.
I had the opportunity, along with several of my colleagues, to care for a "John Doe" patient. After being brought to the ED for uncommon cardiac arrest, he needed to be emergently cannulated for ECMO where K became his primary nurse. After hours of resuscitating, stabilizing and transporting, K was able to obtain a full neurological exam. Before taking him to the OR, she assured him that he was safe and that they were doing everything in their power to help him. I received hand-off from K and readmitted from the OR that night. He came out with an impella and we immediately had to place a line and start him on CVVH. Managing all three machines in our smaller room was a challenge but we were able to optimize the space and make it work. Despite the ET tube in place, we were able to obtain his first and last initial, and age by going through each letter of the alphabet. His face was so swollen he could barely open his eyes but responded with subtle nods. B became his nurse the next day and caught rare acute issues with the patient's machines that would have been critical if it had not been for B's level of skill and experience in addressing them. Ashley and Anna continued to gain information and later confirmed the patient's identity on Linkedlin. Through collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and the police department, we've been able to locate family members to get the patient the help and support he needs. We've continued to visit and encourage him through conversation and things like pet therapy. His two-week stay in our unit was nothing short of a miracle. We, as his nurses, through resilience, compassion, and skill, were an integral part in giving him a second chance at life.