How to Treat a Nose Bleed
Most everyone from time to time may experience a nose bleed (Epistaxis). The tiny vessels in the nose are very fragile and therefore easy to break and cause bleeding. Some nose bleeds if the bleeding is not stopped, can become very serious requiring hospitalization and surgery.
The morning of the work shift started out kind of hectic. The patient was hospitalized with a diagnosis of Epistaxis. As a child when I had a nose bleed, the mom would always tell me to hold your head back. Oh the nauseating feeling from the blood gushing down the back of my throat. While in nursing school I learned that the nausea comes from the stomach not being able to digest the blood. And you never ever tilt your head all the way back. The patient had experienced nose bleeds most of their life, but the last few weeks it had gotten worse.
A few hours into the shift, the patient calls and states that their nose was bleeding. Upon entering the room, there was blood every where. Trailing from the bathroom to the bed. The blood was pouring out, saturating towels and making it almost difficult for the patient to breath. The physician was in the hospital and was called to the room. Within 30 minutes the patient had became unconscious and was intubated and transferred to the ICU.
The majority of nose bleeds are controllable and with the proper technique used will stop.
Apply a cool wash cloth to the bridge of the nose
Pinch the bridge of the nose with one hand for about 10-15 minutes
Lean the head forward, if the person feels like they pay faint, have them to bend over their lap and place the head toward the knees.
Never blow your nose after you have stopped the nose from bleeding.
This will cause the small clot to break loose and start the nose bleed all over again.
If you are unable to control the nose bleed either call your primary care physician or call 911 for further assistance.