Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Nurse Ignores 911 Dispatcher’s Heartbreaking Pleas to Perform CPR on Dying Woman

Unable to see video? CLICK HERE


BAKERSFIELD, CA - The administrator of Bakersfield's Glenwood Gardens confirmed Friday the retirement facility has a policy: Employees do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation on residents of Glenwood's independent living facility. That's why a nurse refused the pleas of a Bakersfield Fire Department dispatcher to begin CPR on a Glenwood resident who collapsed Tuesday morning.



The 87-year-old woman died. Reports identify her at Lorraine Bayless and confirm she did not have a do-not-resuscitate order. Her daughter told 17News she is satisfied with Glenwood's handling of the situation.

Bayless was a resident at Glenwood Gardens' independent living facility, an area adjacent to, but separate from, Glenwood's skilled nursing facility and assisted living facility.

She collapsed in the facility's dining room at about 11:07 a.m. Tuesday.

Someone called 9-1-1, and Bakersfield Fire Dispatcher Tracey Halvorson got the call. Glenwood Gardens personnel handed the phone to a nurse who identified herself as Colleen.

During a 7-minute, 16-second call, Halvorson reasoned, cajoled and at times begged the nurse to start CPR in an attempt to save the woman.

The nurse said Glenwood Gardens policy prohibited her attempting CPR. The dispatcher assured the nurse Glenwood couldn't be sued if anything went wrong with CPR. The lcoal emegency medical system "Takes the liability for this call," the dispatcher said.

"I understand if your boss is telling you you can't do it," the dispatcher said. "But ... as a human being ... you know … is there anybody that's willing to help this lady and not let her die?"

"Not at this time," the nurse answered.

Later: "Is there a gardener? Any staff … anyone who doesn't work for you? Anywhere? Can we flag someone down in the street and get them to help this lady? Can we flag a stranger down? I bet a stranger would help her."

But no one did, until the fire department arrived. Bayless died at Mercy Southwest Hospital.

Jeffrey Toomer, executive director at Glenwood, told Channel 17's Kelsey Thomas the actions were consistent with company policy: Staff does not attempt CPR in the independent living facility.

Unlike the skilled nursing facility and assisted living facility, the independent section does not offer medical help, he said, and its clients know that.

He refused to speak specifically about Tuesday's incident, declining to explain why there apparently was a nurse present when Bayless collapsed.

He refused to provide a copy of Glenwood's policy.

He did provide a written statement. It said:

"First and foremost, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to this individual's family on the passing of their loved one.

"We also appreciate the assistance of emergency personnel who arrived immediately to assist in rendering first aid.

"In the event of a health emergency at this independent living community, our practice is to immediately call emergency medical personnel for assistance and to wait with the individual needing attention until such personnel arrives.

"That is the protocol we followed.

"As with any incident involving a resident, we will conduct a thorough internal review of this matter, but we have no further comments at this time."

An audio file containing the complete 911 call is attached.

Here is a transcript of the last three minutes of that call.

Dispatcher: We need to get CPR started

Nurse: Yeah, we can't do CPR

Dispatcher: Then hand the phone to the passerby. If you can't do it, I need, hand the phone to the passerby, I'll have her do it. Or if you've got any civic citizens there, I'll have them do it.

Nurse: No, no, it's not …

Dispatcher: Anybody there can do CPR. Give them the phone, please. I understand if your facility is not willing to do that. Give the phone to that passerby, that stranger … this woman is not breathing enough. She's going to die if we don't get this started. Do you understand?

Nurse: I understand. I am a nurse. But I cannot have our other senior citizens who don't know CPR do it…

Dispatcher: I will instruct them.

Nurse: we're in a dining room …

Dispatcher: I will instruct them. Is there anyone there who will …

Nurse: I can't do that …

Dispatcher: Okay. I don't understand why you're not willing to help this patient

Nurse: I am but, I'm just saying that …

Dispatcher: Okay, I'll walk you through it all. We, EMS takes the liability for this, Colleen. I'm happy to help you. This is EMS protocol.

At this point, the nurse asks someone else to get a supervisor. She is heard telling someone else at Glenwood Gardens, "Can you get (unintelligible) … right away. I don't know where he is. But she's yelling at me and saying we have to have one of our other residents perform CPR. I'm feeling stressed and I'm not going to do that, make that call."

Dispatcher: Colleen, is there anybody who works there who is willing do to it?

Nurse: We can't do that. That's what I'm trying to say.

Dispatcher: Are we just going to let this lady die?

Nurse: That's why we're calling 9-1-1.

Dispatcher: We can't wait. She can't wait right now. She is stopping breathing. She can't wait for them to get there.

Nurse: She's taken three breaths.

Dispatcher: It's not enough. We need to get CPR started.

Nurse: He's saying we don't. So you can talk to my boss. I don't know what to say.

Dispatcher, to another dispatcher: They're refusing CPR. They're going let her die. By the facility. Yeah.

Nurse: When will the fire department be here? When will the ambulance be here?

Dispatcher: They're coming as quick … they've been on the way all this time. But we can't wait. This lady is going to die.

Nurse: Yeah.

Dispatcher: Well, if you get anybody, any stranger that happens to walk by, who is willing to help … I understand if your boss is telling you you can't do it. But if there's any … it's a human being. I don't, you know … is there anybody that's willing to help this lady and not let her die?

Nurse: Not at this time.

Dispatcher, to another dispatcher: No. They won't touch her at all. I can't get them to touch her at all.

Nurse: We have residents that are her age or older.

Dispatcher: Any guests? Any guests that are there that are willing to help?

Nurse: No, I don't have any.

Dispatcher: Is there a gardener? Any staff … anyone who doesn't work for you anywhere? Can we flag someone down in the street and get them to help this lady. Can we flag a stranger down? I bet a stranger would help her. I'm pretty good at talking them into it. If you can flag a stranger down, I will help, I will tell them how to help her.

Nurse: He said not to move her.

Dispatcher: Okay. Has anyone gone to look for a stranger?

At this point, the ambulance and fire crews arrive and the tape ends.

Bayless died Tuesday at Mercy Hospital Southwest. Toomer told 17 News that is the policy of Glenwood Gardens that staff does not attempt CPR. Toomer said residents are made aware of this policy when they move into the building.

Bayless did not live in a nursing facility. She lived in the independent living facility where there are no nurses on staff to provide assistance, according to Toomer. It's somewhat of an apartment complex for seniors.

There was a nurse on scene after Bayless collapsed. Toomer wouldn't explain that to 17 News. He also wouldn't give us a copy of the facility's policy.

We also spoke to Bayless' daughter. She said she is a nurse and she remains satisfied with the care her mother received at Glenwood Gardens.

source: http://www.kget.com

Got an unusual story? Send it to zareh@inznews.com



16 comments:

  1. Bayless' daughter who's a nurse says she agrees with the care her deceased mother got from Glenwood Gardens, who could have possibly saved her mother's life, but instead, let her die?
    I hope the heartless daughter enjoys mom's DEATH MONEY while she can.

    When the daughter herself dies, she will receive her just reward. She will curse the day she so eagerly traded her dear old mother's life for the sake of saving a few shekels! DISGUSTING!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, it's possible that's why the old lady picked this facility. I'm getting up in age, and a heart attack is one of my desired ways to go. I don't want anyone reviving me at the age of 87. This doesn't have to be malicious.

      Delete
    2. If the old lady felt the same way as you ... wouldn't you think she would have made it her business to have a DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE order in place?

      My understanding is, there was no such order in place!

      Delete
  2. Murderers. The nurse that refused to do CPR, her daughter. They'll all pay for their callousness and lack of empathy.
    I am sure the woman's trashy daughter got hush money from the facility.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Conrad b/unknown- the majority of people commenting here have no understanding of the laws in this state, yet you want to assign moral judgement. I'll say this- I hope all the hypocrites commenting here get their just desserts! But do stop conflating morality with the law.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If ypu are a nurse, you should be required to resusitate anyone who needs it. Chi girl...life is precious...and laws should NEVER be to just let someone die...disgusting!!!

      Delete
  4. As a licensed Professional RN, I am so very disappointed by the actions of the facility’s staff RN! Although the facility had a policy re: NOT performing CPR, she could have, most probably, performed CPR with a successful outcome and be legally protected by The Good Samaritan laws in that particular state!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Guaranteed nurses frequently win a compensation differential over their non-ensured partners, and investigations of the Institute of Medicine have demonstrated that strength affirmed nurses have higher rates of patient fulfillment and lower rates of business related mistakes in patient care.local doctors

    ReplyDelete
  6. I havent any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. french transcription

    ReplyDelete
  7. Colleges, proceeding with training projects, and web destinations, all offer proceeding with instruction. One such association that gives proceeding with training is the American Nurses Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great article, very useful and explanation. Your post is extremely incredible. as we provide Urologist Near Me at affordable prices. for more info visit our website.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Confirmation will permit collaborators to seek after advanced education. They may decide to concentrate to become enrolled medical caretakers, 2 week cna classes online

    ReplyDelete
  10. The best article I came across a number of years, write something about it on this page. cna classes online in california

    ReplyDelete
  11. These online programs will cost you less than the conventional programs. If you cannot afford to pay any fee for your training then you can join a nursing home. online cna course ca

    ReplyDelete
  12. You're in this for the long haul. What's 1 cookie over the course of your life? After a splurge, planned or not, go right back to healthful eating. Not next Monday, but now - or at the very next meal. jersey mike's food for diabetic

    ReplyDelete