My RRT experience

I am finally posting an update.  Thanks to my friend Stephanie who enjoys reading my bizarre and disgusting posts about hospital life.  She has encouraged me to continue posting. 

In April I finally started orientation for my RN position.  Last week was my week on my own.  On my second night, I asked to be work reduced to have a night off.  They called me off work but put me on call from 7pm-3am.  I woke up at 2:15am and I thought I was in the clear.  I was wrong.  The phone rang at 2:55am and it was our house supervisor asking me to come in.  It was an easy night as I ended up being a float nurse and helping out everyone. 

Two nights ago was my 3rd night on my own.   It was going rather well, but one of my patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia & hypoxia was getting restless and hallucinating.  He thought his grandson drowned in a pool accident and he thought he saw golf balls in his room.  None of them were true...thankfully.  Well about 6am I noticed a change.  He was agitatied and his O2 sats were not staying up so I increased his O2.  I called the MD to get a chest x-ray and Arterial Blood Gasses (ABG's) which can show his pH, Co2 & O2 levels.  I was denied the order and he said to put a mask on and soft wrist restraints.  His urine output was 200ml in 12 hours and the MD said have the day shift MD take care of that issue.   By 6:45 I had to call Rapid Response Team (RRT).  I gave him 4 doses of Romazicon  to reverse the 2 mg Ativan IV given earlier in the shift.  He was non-responsive and we got a chest x-ray and ABG's.  He was in respiratory acidosis, with a pH of 7.16 and CO2 of 76.  The only option was to transfer him to the ICU.  Of course this was all happening at the end of the shift.  He ended up getting intubated and mechanically ventilated in the ICU.  I was very upset that the MD didn't order a simple blood test when I asked It was a busy and crazy end to my shift.  I am so grateful I had a great bunch of nurses to help out and assist me.  I work in such a supportive environment.  I love it!