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Is it generally okay to turn your back on a patient? Does it pose a threat to scene safety and control? How do you ensure that you're able to always monitor the patient?
Turning your back on a patient
- Thread starter MMiz
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Curious, what's the point of this question? Monitoring your pt., or scene safety?
JPINFV
Gadfly
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Depends on the patient. If I'm, say, moving from the bench seat to the captains chair when the patient crashes, I doubt the second while my back is turned to the patient is going to change the outcome. After all, it's not like all the patient's in the ICU or ER have 1:1 RN coverage.
OP
OP
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The question was on a recent CEU test I took for "Behavioral Emergencies". They seemed to stress that your eyes should absolutely always be on the patient, even in a seemingly secure location.
firecoins
IFT Puppet
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Theoretically yes. In behavioral emergencies, a calm patient can become dangerous in the blink of an eye. However, most patients are not having a behavioral emergency. If you get something from a compartment or write stuff on your report, it won't be a big deal. You must monitor your patient of course.
AnthonyM83
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In a behavioral emergency, yes, I'll pretty much always have my eyes on the patient even if I'm digging into my jump kit. If filling out paperwork, will be angled far enough out that my periphery can pick up patient movements.
In other cases with stable non-psych emergency patients, I might move around the ambulance freely with back turned (I just make sure to keep talking, so they know I'm there and don't feel abandoned).
In other cases with stable non-psych emergency patients, I might move around the ambulance freely with back turned (I just make sure to keep talking, so they know I'm there and don't feel abandoned).
I have a rule for myself: when I am on Section 12 (psych) or prisoner transfers, I never turn my back-- that makes sense. I put them in the ambulance, then I enter through the side door and sit behind them. They can reach back all they want-- most cannot hit me, punch me, etc. I let them talk all they want-- I don't talk back... At our destination, my partner takes the stretcher out themselves, drops the legs, and I get out behind the patient.
Generally, because I have seen things go sour before, I always keep a hand (or two) on the stretcher when loaded and outside the ambulance. I have seen patients re-adjust or grab something and tip the stretcher (never my patient). For that reason, I rarely turn away from my patient (or the stretcher).
Generally, because I have seen things go sour before, I always keep a hand (or two) on the stretcher when loaded and outside the ambulance. I have seen patients re-adjust or grab something and tip the stretcher (never my patient). For that reason, I rarely turn away from my patient (or the stretcher).