Rooty Payne, Psych Tech

[Davey Do]

There are people who with we are close and can trace our relationships back to our first meeting.

I can still recall the first words my medical nurse wife and I exchanged the first time we met: She said, as she passed by the NS where I was receiving shift report, "Hi, I'm Belinda. I'm going down to the day room". I replied, "Hi Belinda. I'm Dave".

Mary Angelou said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time".

Through Belinda's actions and through reading between the lines, Belinda was showing me who she was: Polite and responsible, informing the nurse in charge of her whereabouts, which was to be with the patients.

Belinda showed me who she was and I believed her the first time, and that belief continues.

I remember the first time I met Rooty Payne, which was on an afternoon back in the days that I worked eight hour shifts at Wrongway Regional Medical Center. He and I were basically riding heard on a conglomeration of patients when Wrongway would admit any overflow to geriatric psych. (A practise which they later were stiffly cuffed for by surveying and benefitting agencies.)

When there was time, late in the shift, Rooty and I chatted and got to know each other. Rooty is a 6'4", well built, low-talking, good looking individual. "All the women loved him and all the men wanted to be him." (from Austin Powers) Rooty informed me of his past work, and he has had several years in providing service to others. One service that really impressed me was his years of work as a guard for the DOC.

Rooty carries a silent strength about him and our relationship became quite close over the 15 years he and I worked together in psych at Wrongway. I once jokingly told him that, like Denzel Washington, when he walks into a room, he doesn't need to say anything, for his mere presence is enough to gain attention.

Part of our close relationship was built on trust and respect and the other part was built on our ability to have fun be playful. We would sincerely support each other and like to push the limits of that support to the point of absurdity. Rooty once asked me, complimenting my popularity with patients and staff, "What's it like to be one of The Beatles?"

I came up with the term "Rootying" which meant that he was blowing smoke up my butt.

 

 

Rooty is a non-licensed psych tech for whom I will forever be grateful, for he has the ability to make Hell tolerable and Rooty has the ability to make a boring shift into a gala.

Have you ever had a relationship with a non-licensed staff member who made your duties and responsibilities as a nurse a joy, or at least tolerable?

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

Yes, I've worked with a couple psych techs where we just had seamless teamwork everyone just jumped in and did what was needed, no complaining or whining, and we had eachother's back and I knew I was safe when either of them were working, and likewise I would thrown myself in front of them to protect them as well. It was a good team.

[Davey Do]

As this thread unfurls, Moon, I would enjoy citing specific circumstances involving, as you so aptly termed, "teamwork". Perhaps you, and others will do the same.

My work wife Eleanor and I were called "The Dream Team" by a peer/past allnurses member who went by the username of Safety Coach. Rooty became a member of that team:

 

 

I have written permission from both Eleanor and Rooty to post their images here on the allnurses website. This is a pic taken of the three of us by another tech. The tech cut off the top of Rooty's head and that's one reason why it's "edited":

 

[Daisy4RN]

3 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Have you ever had a relationship with a non-licensed staff member who made your duties and responsibilities as a nurse a joy, or at least tolerable?

When I was a new nurse I worked at a large hospital. There was a housekeeping supervisor who used to flirt a little with me, we started talking and became friends, even if we were just passing in the hall he would always say hey sister how's it going or something similiar. He knew I was having difficulties (being new) and he provided a listening ear and support. I listened to all his complaints as well and we enjoyed the friendship. I later got a new position and changed floors so didn't see him that much anymore, although he did come around now and then just to say hi and see how I was doing. I became friends with one of the regular housekeepers on my new unit , she would always kid around with me and I with her, she would always come over and also say 'hey sister whats happnin' , we also complained together and supported each other. One day I saw my old friend (from the other unit) on my current unit and he was speaking to my new friend and it seemed like there was a problem. I thought I would return the favor (as she had stepped in once to defend me) and go see what was going on and if I could help. He said something to her in a tone I had never really heard him use with his subordinates before so I said something to him like, hey what's going on here. He answered and said he would talk to "my sister" how I want, he had a little smile so I wasn't sure if he was kidding or what. I think they both saw the inquisitive look on my face and she said, you know this is my brother right. So, I am still thinking they mean figuratively,  they still see the look on my face and start laughing and tell me they are actually (biologically) brother and sister. I didn't know that they even knew each other much less were brother and sister, and they didn't know that each other was friends with me, we all got a good laugh. 

PS You do look like an "International Man of Mystery" in the photo too (and just to clarify I mean that in a good way, not the goofy Austin Powers guy)

[Davey Do]

3 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:

 housekeeping  

Oh wow, Daisy! Your post brought back a good memory from my first hospital job at Weed Rover Township Hospital!

There were some great people who worked in housekeeping there!

One was a fella about my age, in his mid 20's, Del, who had some sort of neuromuscular d/o and I loved him! Del was soooooo funny and a very good worker!

Del was also a big St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, so one night I took him and his nephew to a game at Busch Stadium. It was a really good game, but when it got to the bottom of the 8th, Del asked me if we should leave. Del was slow moving and thought that I might want to beat the exiting crowd. I asked him what he'd rather do and he said to stay and see the whole game. You see, I learned that when Del's parents took him to a game, they typically left at the bottom of the 8th inning.

Well, the game went into extra innings and the Cardinals won! What a charge!

Thanks, Daisy, for your story and for, once again, inspiring my thoughts and memory!

[Davey Do]

On 2/1/2021 at 12:34 PM, Daisy4RN said:

PS You do look like an "International Man of Mystery" in the photo too (and just to clarify I mean that in a good way, not the goofy Austin Powers guy)