In Part 1 of "Nurses Notes - Needing to Call 911" we discussed some of the health concerns 911 would be called, plus what the 911 operator needs the caregiver to share and prepare for the 911 team. In Part 2 Nurse Bee shares a number of scenarios that will help caregivers be prepared based on specific health issues. (This list is not exhaustive).
Here are a few scenarios that might occur:
1.
1.
In an emergency, and your loved one is unconscious, suffers from dementia, confusion, has a cognitive impairment, has an intellectual disability, or has a seizure, don’t hesitate to call 911. Never try to take them in your car. The ambulance can get to you faster, can start treating the situation, and can get them to the hospital faster than you can.
2.
2.
Suppose your loved one is agitated, combative, or if they are threatening to harm themselves or you. Never take them to the hospital in your car. Call 911. The fire and rescue team are trained to deal with these situations. They will be able to keep you and your loved one safe and can still transport them to the hospital.
3.
3.
There may be times when your loved one refuses to go to the hospital even if you feel that there is an emergency. This is not unusual. Here are a few things you can do if you are unsure. You can call their doctor and tell them the situation. Let the doctor speak to your loved one. Often, people tend to listen to their doctor more than a family member. You can call 911 anyway and let the fire and rescue team come and speak to your loved one. If it’s a life and death situation, they can make that decision for you.
If all else fails and 911 does not take your loved one to the hospital, you can still do a few things. If your loved one lives alone, you can ask to spend the night with them. If they live with you, you have more of an opportunity to observe them. Possibly, they might agree to make an appointment to go with you to see their doctor.
What needs to be remembered is that if your loved one is competent to make their own decisions (even if they make bad decisions), you can’t force them to do something that they don’t want to do.
If all else fails and 911 does not take your loved one to the hospital, you can still do a few things. If your loved one lives alone, you can ask to spend the night with them. If they live with you, you have more of an opportunity to observe them. Possibly, they might agree to make an appointment to go with you to see their doctor.
What needs to be remembered is that if your loved one is competent to make their own decisions (even if they make bad decisions), you can’t force them to do something that they don’t want to do.
Here is a definition of competency:
Competence Patient's rights A legal term for the capacity of a person to act on his/her own behalf; the ability to understand information presented, to appreciate the consequences of acting–or not acting–on that information, and to make a choice. A constellation of abilities possessed by a person for adequate decision making; competency is a measure of a person's autonomy and ability to give
permission for diagnostic tests or for dangerous, but potentially life-saving procedures.
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Knowing that, despite all situations, if your loved one can make their own decisions, (according to the above definition), you can’t fight with them. You also don’t have to blame yourself or feel guilty if consequences should occur. That decision was their choice.
Competence Patient's rights A legal term for the capacity of a person to act on his/her own behalf; the ability to understand information presented, to appreciate the consequences of acting–or not acting–on that information, and to make a choice. A constellation of abilities possessed by a person for adequate decision making; competency is a measure of a person's autonomy and ability to give
permission for diagnostic tests or for dangerous, but potentially life-saving procedures.
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Knowing that, despite all situations, if your loved one can make their own decisions, (according to the above definition), you can’t fight with them. You also don’t have to blame yourself or feel guilty if consequences should occur. That decision was their choice.
