Whew! Close Call (Human, Not Snake)

Yesterday I had a Spanish speaking patient, who could speak a little English. No interpreter available- and there are very strict rules on who can interpret- they have to have taken a test. When the clinician who was to do the study with him asked him how he felt, he felt not so good. Upon further questioning, he claimed to have chest pain, 10 out of 10, that felt like when he had the heart attack he was admitted with. I informed my supervisor, who took the guy in his wheelchair and ran up to his room while I called the nurse to tell her what was going on.

So today, that patient was supposed to return to try again. But when I called to check, I found out he'd had a heart attack shortly after being returned to his room! But he's ok. I am so glad that didn't happen in my room. I've only had a code one time, and that patient also lived.

Whew.

Nanci

I've thought about "enlisting" at a local hospital for help with translation services, when a volunteer is needed and a translator isn't available...I was asked to do it while I was in college because my college's town (Ripon College in Ripon, WI...whatta kawinkadink, right?) because I was working as an ESL Aide at the local middle & high schools for the incoming migrant Mexican students. I had just returned from Spain, so my Spanish was pretty darn fluent. (And I had the wickedly cute Castillian accent...*sigh*!) However, here in Chicago, and many years later, I'm peanuts compared to all of the native-born bilingual speakers here, of all languages. If I do find myself in a smaller area, though, again, I would love to help out again, in that way...

I'm glad that all turned out well for that patient, and that you were patient enough to figure out the man's situation despite the language-barrier! (Sign language is fantastic, isn't it???)

Good job! You may have saved his life. Heart attacks are a scary thing, my dad died from one. That man was very lucky.

Sign language is amazing! I would much rather talk with my hands then my voice.