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So yesterday, Friday the 13th was MADNESS for me. Our Accident and Emergency Department was packed, our outpatient clinics had standing room only from 11am, PICU was full and children kept requiring PICU intervention on the wards when they probably should have been transferred... everyone was haggard. Also it was the last Friday of the school holidays (school resumes next week), and so for the chronic children the parents suddenly wanted appointments, or needed something done TODAY. I think I was running on adrenalin for most of the day.
I met up with a colleague from the adults hospital next door and asked her how her day was. She works in Accident and Emergency. Her whole day was similar to a Friday or Saturday night - weird stories, weird patients, packed A&E.
And how was yours? Any different from an average day?
It was only crazy at the beginning of the shift when my patient who was to be discharged wouldn't leave until he was "healed" of his intermittent hand tingling he had for a month. ""I'm not leaving until I'm healed". All tests were negative, 3 different specialist cleared him. He told admitting/discharging MD, he was going to sue. The MD said to make sure he (patient) spelled his (MD)name right on the complaint forms. It was kind of funny.but I did feel bad for the guy, it was kind of sad, second hospital he had gone to (surprised he admitted this info) Also I hate to say it but of course Dilaudid requests were involved. After this person left the rest of the day was great.
I had a normal day except DCF came to investigate the caregiver of one of my patients and the son was freaking out in the hallway because a police officer came with the lady and was demanding I go into the room and report back to him what they were asking her etc. etc. I'm like no way, man! So I ended up hanging out in the bathroom for half an hour or so until they left the patient room and went to speak with him.
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 12,051 Posts
Routine cardiac surgery that should have taken 5 hours instead took 11. Being on call, I stayed and worked what essentially was a double shift. Got home after dropping patient off in ICU to have the phone ring as soon I as I stepped inside the door. Had to go back for nearly 4 more hours for more surgery on the same patient. So yeah, crazy Friday the 13th for me, and I'm not really superstitious about it! (Although that may change after last night.)