Archive for the ‘life in the ER’ Category

I’m trying to remain calm, but I just finished my ER shift and I need to vent. Earlier, as I was driving to the Employee Parking Lot, a very Pregnant Woman was walking in the crosswalk talking on her cell. A man in the car to the left of me barreled through the crosswalk. He didn’t seem to notice or care about the Preggy Pedestrian. And the Mama-to-Be was so engrossed in the conversation, she wasn’t thinking about protecting her baby. The weirdest part was that no one seemed to notice — not the Driver, not the Pedestrian, only ME.

Am I in the Twilight Zone?

So just as I’m exclaiming “Whaaaa?” I drive into the parking structure that’s completely packed. I search every level and finally find one measly spot. But it’s not a trouble-free-spot because on one side a car is parked in an intruding slant over the double line and on the other side the neighboring car has been pushed so far over by the car next to it, it’s squishing over my other boundary line as well. Why aren’t there any boundaries in human behavior? Why is everyone pushing everyone else over the edge? Read the rest of this entry »

O M G !
No one told me that part of my Volunteer duties is being a witness to

Someone else’s PELVIC EXAM!

Last night on my ER shift I’m minding my own business when the verrry attractive  Dr. A motions for me to come over to him, which at first I think is a good thing, until —

I realize it’s because he needs me to be with him in the exam room when his hand is up someone else’s Whooha!

So before I can say –

No way will I be that room, when you do THAT!

I’m in there.
Looking down.
Looking up.
Looking anywhere but you-know-where. Read the rest of this entry »

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it,
but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

Meanwhile, Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Read the rest of this entry »

i’m listening…

Last night it was pretty quiet on my ER shift except for this Jersey Shore-ish family, “The LOUDS” who made a scene in the Hallways, in Triage, in Trauma — basically everywhere they felt they had an AUDIENCE!
Then —

SECURITY to Room 16 STAT!

—  and like eight security guards rush in to break things up.

But other than that, it was actually uneventful. So I took eavesdrop-notes (on my Post-its) because even though I think I’ll always remember the hospital’s conversational gems, I don’t always.

I don’t think I’m breeching PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY (at least I hope not!) because I’m not naming any names. Read the rest of this entry »

you can do it!

We all have different styles when it comes to reacting to stress. Some of us have a gut-reaction, which results in an IUR (immediate uncensored response). Others need time to process. There’s not necessarily a good or bad way – whatever our way is, it’s ours.

take it easy!

Like Anthony Chan our Triage Nurse for instance:  One never has to wonder what Anthony is thinking – he can be judge-y, abrupt, off-putting… but you always know where you stand with him. Read the rest of this entry »

I highly recommend it

Flirting is fun, free and invigorating. You can do it wherever you are, whenever you feel like it (usually).  It’s an easy smile and a little oomph added to the day. It can be the smallest moment that doesn’t lead to anything, or it can be the beginning of something big. Regardless, it’s what makes an ordinary day a little more interesting and it’s usually not planned —  it just happens organically.

Flirting is Most Interesting When You Least Expect it —

This cute anesthesiologist I’d never seen before — Dr. P — was passing through the ER during my shift last Thursday asking if anyone had scissors. No one did. I offered to help and knocked on Feng the Storekeeper’s door. Feng’s the go-to guy when I need to restock the Triage Coloring Books or find some random thing that’s usually stocked in an ER Room, but missing.  Unfortunately scissors were “on order.”

So I tracked down hottie Dr. P and relayed the bad-scissors-news. Read the rest of this entry »

confusing emotions

Ever notice when a Emergency Siren BLASTS just as you’re in the middle of a really happy moment (like falling in love, or celebrating something?) I do. It reminds me that JOY and SADNESS happen at the same moment. There’s never a time when all of the people everywhere are happy… or sad. I guess that’s what makes the world work in a weird way.  Unfortunately or fortunately we have to experience each emotion to understand the difference, as a basis of comparison, kind’a like SALTY and SWEET. I mean, even Fairy Tales have tragedy (sadly, Bambi and Cinderella lose their Moms.) Read the rest of this entry »