Fallen

May 31, 2018
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
ER Critical Care/Trauma RN-2019

New York, New York
Director of Nursing-2019 to present
 
Yesterday, my day started out on such a beautiful blissful note. I may write as SweetKittyCat on this site, or run marathons; however, once I put my scrubs on and pin my ER Critical Care/Trauma RN, name badge, my nurse mode supersedes above all.
 
The morning started off slow in regards to changing shift. Most of the patients have already been triaged, or rushed to emergency surgery. Ambulance transports were mainly Cardiac related issues, concerning the elderly, which is a given fact, in regards to age, and a third degree burn victim.
 
The afternoon came around, I really felt the strings of my heart being pulled in so many directions.
 
Two gunshots victims rushed to emergency surgery, and can you believe it, a woman who was found nude on Arch Street, believing she was a bird, according to the EMT, this woman had sampled some Salvia (A synthetic form of opiate that contains hallucinogenic properties when smoked).
 
I will never judge a patient or their medical condition, but this patient looked demonic, upon her paranoia; her eyes were fixated, she was doing some inconceivable things in the ER, until she was admitted.
 
The next three patients were all Heroin overdoses, mainly, these occurrences does not strike a cord with me, but somehow, seeing these patients were all females, ages ranging from eighteen, to, I believe the last patient was thirty-two.
 
I felt such empathy, no identification on their person, vein track marks, a mile long on both arms, and behind the knees, and as usually, very young. Two of the cases the First Responders wheeled into the ER, the Narcan protocol was administered, however, one of those patients was rendered non-responsive, meaning  EMT arrived too late, the brain has lost to much precious oxygen, that same patient is now on a ventilator, between, as a nurse will say, life and the suspension of death.
 
The sad part is, after much information was given at best by a Social Worker, whereas, an emergency contact was determined and finally located. Here you have, I could only assume, a significant other with a child who looks to be about two years old in his arms, distressed, and inconsolable to the fact this mother of such a young and beautiful child choose to consume her life using street drugs. And is now adhering to the dire consequences of her actions.
 
America what are we doing wrong here with this epidemic, no opiate pandemic as we speak? When the president states we are spending billions of dollars to fight the Opiate Crisis, then why within the last month, these overdoses are starting to spike, with no shortage of stopping.
 
As a Critical Care Trauma ER Nurse, please forgive me for stating, but I have ran out of excuses of offering condolences in regards to this horrific drug with no conscious, or another nurse advising me a patient has to be taken off a ventilator, never to see light again, never to hear the voice of their child, all because of that ultimate high chase.
 
I wrote a poem about Narcan, but this sickness to Heroin is causing mothers’ lives, no color barriers, no age groups, or social income levels are considered in its wraith; kids are being left to defend for themselves in this cruel world without parental guidance.
Kids do not understand a parent is here today, and then gone tomorrow.
 
Woman to woman, I think we need a support group, not just drug counseling, it’s to constrained. We have to let each other know we are here for each other. We have to start lending our voices by venturing into the communities and found out, how one, even ends up on the path of self-destruction when utilizing a drug of choice.
 
There are far better choices of enjoyment in life than using Heroin, or any drug for that matter. In addition, it’s really sad, no one seems to know the answer, as to why this particular death drug is the number one choice to use across the board. There are no higher statistical deaths, or overdoses from Marijuana, Crack, and yes, even Cocaine, than Heroin usage, so what gives?
 
America let’s be the eyes for the Fallen, the ears for their woes, and their silent voices. Just maybe, if we can reach one, then certainly, we can teach one.