Mother of Pearl...Welcome to Primary Care

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

You know, some days, it just doesn't pay for people to know what you do for a living.

My new job has taken out ads in all our local papers, with our group picture, announcing my arrival at the clinic (which is a hoot since the doc has been my doc since I was 4). I am slowly but steadily picking up a patient base (and praying to pass my Family boards so I can see kiddos and take over his Women's Health end for him), and have come to a realization.

It sure is a small world.

The vast majority of my new folks live in my neighborhood. My DH is threatening to hang a shingle out. He's extremely tolerant, and says it speaks volumes for my care that we have folks just drop by or call any old time to ask a question or get checked out. I'm a little less tolerant, and politely refer them to the clinic the next day. I mean, come on!!! I have just been at work all day, I don't have equipment at my house, and I refuse to bring a script pad home. It is rather nice that they think that highly of me, though.

Then there are the ones that I'd rather did not know where I live. My luck, they live next door, lol. We're considering moving.

DH is also getting used to not being able to get through Wal-Mart without getting bombarded. He used to get ill that I knew so many people, now he looks at it as money. Mercenary little I-don't-know-what.

But, by far, the strangest incident to date happened a few months back. I was asleep, and DH woke me up...

"Babe! Babe? Babe, wake up and get dressed. Randy's here. (Randy is our neighbor. If he was there, one of his kids usually needed patching up.)"

"OK, I'm coming...First-aid kit handy?"

"Yeah, but you won't need it."

I walked out to find my neighbor standing there, Josie in one hand, and a snake in the other.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Sure, it's a copperhead, why?"

Then it moved.

Remember when I said I loved snakes? That sentiment does not apply to poisonous ones.

Some time later, the snake is dispatched and we get down to business.

"Well, it bit her. The snake bit Josie."

I looked, and sure enough, Josie's neck is all swollen, she's drooling and whimpering and obviously miserable.

I grabbed the phone, made a call to ascertain that antivenin was available, and threw the snake in a bag before shuttling Randy, Josie, and the snake out the door.

Oh, did I mention that Josie was a Jack Russell terrier?

I sent them to the local vet.

So, once it was known what YOU did for a living, what was the weirdest thing that ever happened?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I do occastionally run into one of my pts at Walmart - no biggie usually.

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I grabbed the phone, made a call to ascertain that antivenin was available, and threw the snake in a bag before shuttling Randy, Josie, and the snake out the door.

Oh, did I mention that Josie was a Jack Russell terrier?

I sent them to the local vet.

So, once it was known what YOU did for a living, what was the weirdest thing that ever happened?

That's awesome. :yeah:

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my weirdness was seeing a baby delivered on L&D during clinicals then a month later seeing the same family in the ED as a nursing assistant. Then the occasional mcdonalds bathroom run in, 'WOW!'

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