No Name-Calling Allowed!

I am currently working on an infant unit, and my experience there thus far has been wonderful.

On this particular occasion, I began the day with some adorable little patients. All of the infants on this unit have touched my heart, and I see beauty in every single baby I have had the privilege to work with.

For this shift, I was working with, among others, a six-month-old boy, who had recovered well from an ostomy take-down. He was doing so well, that he was ready to be discharged and sent home.

That morning, upon meeting him, I had decided that this handsome little guy looked like his name should be "Fred" - even though this was not his given name. His mother and father had not been able to stay with him, and since my day was relatively mild, I ended up visiting with him quite often. In fact, we developed a little "relationship".

Despite his relatively fresh procedure, and the fact that he was without his family and in a strange and scary place, this little guy was content, and he coo-ed and gurgled as his chubby little legs kicked and wiggled about. His big blue eyes and happy demeanor made him easy to fall for, and in a word; I was smitten!

I began to teasingly refer to him as "Fred", talking to him as I went about my duties, and he didn't seem to mind the temporary nickname at all! In fact, I believe he was enjoying himself as much as I was!

Then, with no warning whatsoever, little "Fred" filled his diaper with the most disturbing mess of poo that I had ever smelled!

I said playfully, "My Lord, Fred, you have totally offended me! My gosh, I have never smelled anything quite like you before!"

As I grabbed a diaper, I turned to find a doctor standing at the door, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Excuse me?" he said, glancing up from his charts. I knew he was probably either curious as to why I was referring to his patient as "Fred", or perhaps just lost in thought as he scanned his papers. However, rather than try to explain myself, I just smiled pleasantly and assumed my professional demeanor. We discussed my little guy's condition, and the doctor took a brief look and listen.

After his visit, (in which I felt a somewhat tense undertone), I looked down at my cardex, and almost lost my breakfast burrito; This doctor's first name was "Fred".

Needless to say, our relationship has never quite flourished. After all, you can't build a great relationship with a doctor you have referred to as "stinky" and "offensive". However, the experience has provided my co-workers with a good chuckle, and I have to say, it makes me grin a little myself. No more "name-calling" for me!