Hip Fracture continues....

we really need the prayers.... going to try to make another long story short... it really stinks being a nurse right now and knowing what is needed to prevent post op complications, asking for them after they are not done, and having to wait to get them when I know it really should have been done in the first place....

First off, surgery went well according to the surgeon. She came back from OR without any TED stockings on and a blood pressure of 111/45. Her normals are 150/88 or higher being treated with high blood pressure medicine. I asked for TED stockings and her nurse didn't think her blood pressure was anything to worry about. 2 1/2 hours later, after multiple requests, and me scratching my head trying to figure out why she had no urine output and why her B/P was low, I noticed her IV fluids had been clamped off when they moved her back to her room and had not been re-started after surgery. Needless to say, I demanded some TED stockings, found another nurse to start her IV fluids, and noticed she was looking pale and bluish around her lips. Her oxygen level (sat) was 86 on 2 liters of oxygen (no oxygen needed prior to the fracture... EVER)... so after getting a few nurses and respiratory in the room, her sat finally came up in the 90's on 4 liters of oxygen. After pretty much demanding an oxygen monitor (pulse ox) since I explained there was no way I would feel comfortable with a patient on that much oxygen without one, we finally got one. 

THEN, after all that fiasco, she was still looking pretty rough, I had my friend on the code team come check her out and she asked how she was doing on her incentive spirometer (little breathing exercise machine to prevent post-op pneumonia).... and I realized.... THEY NEVER GAVE HER ONE! So 7 hours post op, we got that on our own.

Now, imagine.... she's had had a temp 101 all day will drop to 99.8 or so with tylenol, still requiring oxygen to keep her sats up, chest congestion, and feels really bad. They got a chest x-ray and said they would probably do blood cultures (to check for infection) about 4, but we've not seen anybody yet.....

Needless to say, I'm about to pull my hair out and I'll keep you posted on what happens when we finally get to see our night shift nurse....  OH, and by the way... she's not on any antibiotics...

Hugs and keep them prayers coming, that's the only thing giving me any sanity...

BUT.... as I was driving in today, I realized... from 3 out of 4 of the most common post op complications (Blood Clot, Fat Embolism, and Post-op pneumonia.... still a little early for post-op infection to rear it's ugly head) she was placed at risk for all those, I knew it, I tried to get the things to combat that, yet there was still a delay in getting those things. Yet, I know, that God is in control, and He's probably shaking his head (yet again) at me and saying, "You can jump, you can holler, you can demand, but I am in control." Prayer is the only answer to fixing this situation, and I know the power of prayer will heal faster than anything we can do.... So, I'm feeling calmer, I know folks are praying for me and mom, because it is so out of my norm to be calm in the midst of this storm, I'm definitely not doing this on my own! Thank you sooooooo much for your prayers!