And the Clock Struck 8

Sabr, BSN, RN

The little baby is extra active tonight. Previously, he had been asleep as she began her shift. As she arrives, she notices he has just been freshly bathed by his mom who is leaving for what seems like a girls night out. According to his dad, his extra large BM is what warranted the fresh bath.

The nurse is pleased.

Her husband says when asked: "she has not gone out in so long". He seems so happy that his wife is able to go out and have fun and he is proud of his mother's relentless and loving spirit when it comes to her children. They have another inquisitive child who loves her colored notebook.

She tells her "You can look but don't touch."

Children that age needs boundaries. They are extraordinary parents, dedicated to providing their son with the best care for his condition and being fully present for their other child. A cute, fat bouncing boy, with enticingly kissable cheeks, he is tracked, vented, and with an NGT. But there is something curious about this family and this boy. They seem like a very normal family despite their past and current challenges. Their love and commitment are so apparent and refreshing.

She thinks about which route would get her to the family's house the fastest. She decides to opt for the bus route today. Her issue is not the bus because she gets there at a quarter to seven that night and it only takes her 5 minutes to get some coffee right?

But her watch-that she had had since nursing school- seems to be mildly challenged. Her phone shows it is 07:47 and her watch shows 07:30.

"Hmm" she thinks, as she waits patiently for her evening cup of Joe. She wonders "what time is it? I need to get to work."

As she lifts her arm to look at her watch, she feels a huge palpitation in her chest because she now knows, with full conviction, that her watch is faulty.

She reaches for her cell phone and gasps "07:54!"

It is at this moment that her fight or flight response kicks in and she dashes out of the Dunkin Donuts and begins running for her life to at least be close to punctual. She forgets she is quite a long way away so as she turns the corner she thinks "shoot, I still have like 4 more blocks to go!"

She runs for dear life and at 07:59 calls the family and says "I'm downstairs, I'll be up in two minutes".

She successfully arrives at 08:02 and is pleasantly surprised to see the mother who is so involved in her child's care, going out with a friend. As she is preparing to leave she is giving me a mini report and checking to make sure everything is okay. The nurse knows the family likes her and is pleased that she could make its life more normal than what it appears to be as she cares for the sick boy.

In her calculating mind, she deciphers the mother would not leave her child with a nurse new to his case without fully trusting her abilities and judgment. Having touched base with her superiors post shift, she learns from them that the family would like her to come and care for the boy more often. The nurse feels warm and confident inside. She has made her mark and plans to paint this family red with her expert care.

Later on that shift, the father confides much of their previous struggles concerning their boy with her. Imagine being in the middle of nowhere with a young infant turning blue and there is no hospital or clinic in sight?

I give kudos to all the families fighting the battle of illness with their children; it is a tough feat. When a couple decides to start a family, no one ever envisions going through this type of pain, stress, and disappointment. So I generously applaud and support those committed parents who strive to make the child's and their lives as comfortable and safe as possible.

And the Clock Struck 8

About Sabr, BSN, RN

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