JAWS - Medical Breakthrough?

The House Supervisor that night was a good friend to all of us. She was a wonderful, spirited nurse who went out of her way to be helpful to us all, and had a great sense of humor.

Dr. "B", who is a diabetologist, decided to give me an order for "Shark Insulin" and I wrote the order on one of our patients charts. He had me also write that "this patient is allergic to all other types of insulin".

My part in this joke was to call the House Supervisor "Marjorie" and ask her to find out where we were to get this "Shark Insulin".

One of the pharmacists on duty that night was also in on this prank, and also called Marjorie asking for her assistance. Now, I know there is no such thing as shark insulin, and I was quite surprised when Marjorie jumped on this challenge with both feet!

I think she respected this Dr. so much she did not question his request. Marjorie told me she would let me know what she found out. I did not hear from Marjorie for several hours, and just as I was going to call her and tell her that it was all a dumb joke, she called back and told me she had called several veterinary supply companies in town, but she could only leave a message on their answering machines.

I finally told her that it was only a joke, and I was so glad she was such a good sport. We all had a good laugh, especially wondering what the veterinary supply companies would think when they got the message.

I then totally destroyed the order sheet, except for the pink copy. The pharmacist wanted to take it with her to show the other pharmacists, so they could get a good laugh. I was a little hesitant, but she promised me she would destroy it that night. Famous last words!

I should have known I could not be that lucky!

The next day when I got to work, I found out that the infamous "pink sheet" that was supposed to be destroyed had mistakenly gotten placed in the pharmacy Purchasing Director's box.

I was petrified, deciding I could never trust another soul for the rest of my life. I just knew I was going to be kicked out of nursing forever!

The pharmacy Purchasing Director had evidently spent the entire day calling all over the United States trying to find "Shark Insulin".

I was astonished that anyone in the pharmacy would take this seriously. Frustrated at their failure, they called Dr. B to let him know they could not comply with his order. I'm sure it was all he could do to contain himself, but he somehow broke it to the poor purchasing director that this was just a joke.

He, of course, was reprimanded, but since the original order sheet was never found, they could not do anything more to him. Thank goodness he did not tell his boss that we nurses were also in on the joke, but instead took all the blame himself. That was the last time I ever got involved in his schemes!

I decided to quit while I was ahead.

We still laugh about it to this day. Those were the good old days!