family wants patient dc'd asap, they say. they're tired, patient is tired and what is the holdup anyway. where is this doc, that doc, the other doc.
we're just frustrated because we all want to get patient out of here.
right. we get it.
finally the last consulted doc--a psychiatrist--comes breezing in, talks to patient for about 45 minutes, then to family, then to charge nurse, then to yours truly. we all agree that patient is good to go.
doc is about to leave when suddenly the family wants to talk to him again out of earshot of the patient. i see the doc listen, nod, then come over to where i'm sitting. he leans forward conspiratorially, looks around to see if patient is nearby and says,
"ummm...you know that we're going to discharge 3b."
i nod.
"ummm, the family has a request."
i nod expectantly.
"ummm...they don't want the patient to know she's being discharged."
i leaned toward him and stage whispered back, "but doc, don't you think she's going to find out?"
