Confusion



Unit 15 - the unit that housed inmates with special medical and mental health care needs was located across the hallway from our jail’s Infirmary. It was one of those busy nights when things seemed to be overwhelming for Nursing staff. There were lots of doctor’s orders to be noted, the lines constantly rang and sick inmates came down requesting to be seen and treated by the Nursing staff.


A radio call broke out amidst the busyness inside the Clinic:


“Charge Nurse! Can you 87 [meet] Unit 15?”


“Charge Nurse copy! En route!,” I answered swiftly.


With another staff nurse who eagerly wanted to help me, we found 2 deputies holding down an unconscious old man on the cold floor, as the Unit 15 nurse tried to assess why he was that way. The male deputy was doing his routine checks, when he saw the man lying on the floor, inside his cell, not responding but kept moaning and had an involuntary movement with his right arm.


As we, nurses split with interventions to help the man, I started the oxygen right away via mask thinking of maintaining his airway first. The other nurse started an IV and applied a neck collar. I stepped out to go to the unit’s clinic and took his chart and started the paperworks for the inmate to be brought to ER. I called for an ambulance, Code 3 [which meant it was critical].


That man was known for being feisty with deputies. There were days that he would try to spit on the window or call the deputies some disrespectful names. When the deputy found him on the floor, he knew right away that he wasn’t playing around. He was only housed alone so an assault was not possible.


His pupils were reacting within normal limits as I shone my penlight over his eyes. But we knew he just sustained some kind of head trauma. He must have fallen, and hit his head hard on something... I decided to slip my gloved hands under his head. There were no bleeding nor lacerations anywhere. The digits of both of my hands felt something uneven...There was a huge BUMP on his left side of the back of his head. Immediately, I knew, he had some bleeding inside his head. This became a very critical moment for that inmate.


As ambulance took him away stabilized on a C-Spine board [cervical spine board that prevents movement of head if head injury is suspected], we remained wondering how his injury was sustained. In the chart, there was no listed medical problem nor mental health problem except for a history of polysubstance abuse.


When the man reached ER, he was immediately taken into surgery to have the bleeding controlled and prevent that bump from getting bigger. He remained non-responsive.


This incident reminds me that there are also times in our life’s journeys when we sustain bumps and make us confused regarding our spiritual walk with God.


“It is not a matter of right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through the spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.” ~ Oswald Chambers


When we sustain those bumps that make us non-responsive to God’s request for our obedience and as we become weaker in faith sometimes, let us allow God to do that special surgery for Him to remove those bumps.


In the meantime, during that confusion, let us remain trusting in Jesus and stand firm in this faith we believe in…


Isaiah 42:16 - “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” [NIV]

17 comments:

  1. Praying he was OK.

    Loved how you used that in conjuction with our lives. Awesome reminder of keeping ourselves bump free in our life with Christ!

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  2. Okay, you hooked me! Awesome tie in to our own bumps in life.

    How is the inmate from Unit 15 now?

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  3. @ sister Marsha: Sadly, he remained unresponsive...supported by a ventilator and even with physical recovery, the mental damage was already done. His mental recovery's prognosis was very poor! Thanks for asking. Thanks for your prayer sister Beth. God bless you both.

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  4. Even in the midst of confusion we can be sure, completely unconfused about the fact that God will never leave us or forsake us. We can be sure that He is guiding us into a great place of knowing Him more intimately.

    I love the analogies that make between what you see at work and how God loves us.

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  5. Thanks for blessing us once again with your experiences sis. Sorry the inmate is not doing well. I love you.

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  6. This story is sad! I am sorry to hear about the inmate's health now! But, the tie in with our own lives really can help us to recognize the seriousness of trusting God even in the midst of confusion.

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  7. You know what RCube? I'm so thankful I found and connected with you. I love the way you relate your work with inmates to Christ's work with us. Year heart is the absolute best. And your comments on my blog really touch me. Thank you for being you. Sarah

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  8. Rosel,

    As always you are very special in the work that you are doing for God. I pray that this man receives not only the physical care he needs but the spiritual one as well.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  9. It's refreshing to read a post that doesn't condemn us for the bumps or the weakness in faith. The walk of faith is a tough walk and those bumps do appear. Yes! Jesus is the surgeon that is the solution. So sorry your patient is unresponsive. But he is a good example of this lesson of faith. Sending lots of hugs!

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  10. What a difficult job you have! You are so gifted to be able to do what you do every day. It is a good reminder to be alert to all that God has for us as we look to Him. Blessings blogger friend!

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  11. You have many good responses here. I like Saleslady371's response that about not judging us for the bumps of faith. We all have weakenesses and need the help and support of others. I do hope the man will be ok and will have the opportunity to learn some of the good lessons that God can teach him through you! WB

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  12. Rosel,
    You always come to me as a trusted friend in my time of need. Thank you and keep praying. I hope the inmate will be OK, I hope that he will find Jesus (maybe he already has).
    Bumps, yet more will come my friend. It is a bumpy road we travel as God's children. Thank goodness for HIS HOLY SURGERY!
    Thank you for lifting me up to the Lord. I also lift you up my sister.
    I love you,
    Bren

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  13. I feel so sad for him! Sometimes people are mean because they are carrying around hurts from the past. I have had my own wounds to carry, and I know how tempting it is to be bitter. Were it not for Jesus, I would probably be an inmate myself.

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  14. Rosel, Thank You for sharing your story. I really enjoy hearing about your work. I love how you always add a Bible verse and lesson into each post. You are an amazing lady. I pray for you and your safety, As well as the man in your post. Blessings my friend,

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  15. The quote you used by Oswald Chambers perfectly answers a question I was pondering yesterday. :)

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  16. Your stories are always so interesting Rosel! Oh Sister, I remember an incident just like that -- a BUMP in my spiritual path that brought a bunch of confusion. Thank GOD that His Word is a light unto our path!

    Love you!
    b

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  17. Your personal work and intertwining it with God's presence and then sharing it with us is truly awesome dear. Thank you. Hope the inmate improves. Blessings.

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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