4th night in the ER series

[guest042302019, BSN, RN]

3/7/2010(4th night)

As with any other day, this night in the ER was with no repetition. However, tonight was very laid back. I get in the elevator, and push "1" floor which is the location of the ER. My heart had a slight flutter, for I thouroughly enjoy working with these people and the patients. I am always a bit nervous initially going in, but after a little bit, my hear flutter of nervousnness turns into excitement. I walk out, and walk down the corridor, pass the lab, the nuclear medicine room, and reach the ER area. I push the key code on the door handle and walk into the break room to hang up my coat. I take a quick look at the room, shoes and dirty socks on the floor. A birthday cake for "cherie" lays half eaten, with only partially of her name "hrie" left. I love the frosting flowers! However, I didn't eat any cake-at that point, but later I had me a nice piece.

I'm jumping ahead abit, but this I find slightly interesting, and a bit funny. Later that night after 3 hours or so, I take a 15 minute break, and I sit there taking in my surroundings. On one wall is a bulletin board yielding hospital events, family portrait xmas pictures(The ones you send in the mail to anyone you know), cards, and other memorabilia. I have to note that I have been in several break rooms, between the ones at school and the one's at my mom's work place over the years. And, this is same yet different. Here I saw gauze dressings on the table, stethoscopes lying on the coat rack and floor, cake of all things on the counter, lockers similar to ones I saw in my highschool PE locker room, and a rather large 14 inch tv, the same one in the patient's rooms. It so interesting to see the similarities betweent the break rooms and yet, the hospital break room has huge differences. Ofcourse, I never see medical supplies in my mom's office break room. Also, this particular break room is rather small. It's like the hospital said " Here you go, we are gonna give you a break room twice the size of a prison cell, with 5 times the amount of stuff in it because we appreciate you soo much." Is this a reflection of what the hospital conglomerates think of the staff or maybe, a way to give the staff a "haven" away from their patients when they need it. I think the hospital designers could've splurged and widen the walls a large 5 inches or maybe, a foot to give these hard working people a place away from home, because let's face it, they need it. But more importantly, they deserve it.

I walk out of the break room, and go up to the back door entrance, but I forget the key code to get in (I always forget that damn code!), so I had to walk a rather long distance to reach the other back door, which requires no key pad entry. I walk in and greet Tera, the charge nurse, and notice a line through room 12, so I say "I'm gonna go do 12" I clean 12 rather quickly, and start to get into the "mode." When I arrived, there was only about 8 patients, which gives me the opportunity to go to the empty rooms, and check inventory as well as dispose of full linen bags or trash. I do this and to my surprise nearly an hour had passed while I was stocking and cleaning the various rooms. When I sat down, nurses and doctors were doing their usual chatter. "The lady in room 2 is being a real pain in the ass, I know" "How are you Andrew?" "Good" Etc. I then noticed that 2R needed cleaning so I promptly head in and to my surprise, a nurse had already started, but instead of leaving, I offer my assistance, even though discarding linens and wiping down beds isn't exactly strenuous. I formally introduce myself, even though my name tag clearly says my name. We start talking and also to my surprise she has heard about me. I have developed a reputation already? Well Well Well. Apparently, she has heard that I am a hard worker and have been a big help. ( YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I thank her for the compliment. I asked her how long she has been a nurse, etc. She used to be a nurse that helped with open heart surgies but she prefered neuro surgery. I could see the appeal. But, it's all interesting. She then says that I should talk to Jesse, the manager of the ER, and see about getting a job. By the way, this is the 3rd person that has said this to me. (Another, Yay!!) We walk out and our conversation fades out as she heads into one her patients rooms.

Also, I can't help but think of the movie Patch Adams right now. After he left the meat packing seminar with his "doctors" white robe. A buddy of Patch's and himself breaks the medical school rules and follow a group of med. students as they make their rounds from patient to patient. As the med. students talk to their teacher, asking various intimidating sounding questions, patch asks "what's her name?" "Margery" "Oh, hi margery" I like how he emphasizes personability, as appose to not doing so.

Do they always have to be referred to as the patient? I suppose their needs to be a sense of professionalism and keeping yourself somewhat numb of the situation in order to stay objective. Because objectivity it would seem, saves lives, not necessarily compassion. Although, I would prefer the latter that would. I guess I'll know the answer to this as my career progresses, even though I think I already do.

Furthermore, the night was dragging on so I decided to go into the room with a gentleman named "John". John was probably mid 40s or so. I tell him it's a slow day at the office and I asked him if I can watch Wheel of Fortune with him. "Sure." I sit down and begin to talk to him as to why he was in the ER. John(fake name) was in the ER for heart issues.(Common theme tonight, as I continue to show.) I ask him if he needs another soda and he says" Please!" So i go to the fridge but they are empty of the diet soda he was drinking. I go up to his nurse and ask where I could some more soda. HOWEVER, a doctor heard me talk to the nurse and says "He's had 2 already, if he wants another one, he'll have to pay $0.75." I was so thrown off by this comment and I thought he was joking. So I repeat what the doctor tells me to do, and the doctor with a very serious face said"yes." I walk back into John's room, and tell him about the greedy, burocratic nonsense the doctor told me and instead, I got him a water. I couldn't believe what the doctor said to me. I realize the ER isn't a hotel but it's one soda. What happend to quality of life? If you are so caught on a few pennies Mr. Millionaire doctor, put in on his bill. I say give the man another soda. If he is going to have a better stay at a hospital, I think one measily soda isn't going to throw the hospital's annual buget into bankruptsy. Anyway, JOhn and myself have a very nice conversation. I talked to him about my volunteering, and how I literally woke one day and decided to go to school. Myself and Johnhad quite a bit in common actually. He is in the construction biz as I used to be, which gave us a focal point in our conversation. As our conversation progressed, He told me he was going to college for paramedics but on his first day, he pratically fainted and couldnt take the high paced, likely high-trauma environment. But, I told him about BHC offering phlebotomy, cna, and nursing assitant certifications that he could go for instead, if he was looking for a change in scenery. Eventually, I shook John's hand, and he said "Yeah, you'll be alright." I smile now at John's compliment, because every compliment I receive reinforces my decision into the career I am plunging myself into.

Later on, a gentleman comes in for heart issues as well. I sit at the charting table and glance into the room, and watch various nurses taking vitals, measurements, as well as xray techs. push in a large portable xray apparatus into the room. I didn't understand this at the time, but now, I think the reasoning for the portable xray machine was due to this man's critical state, and the staff wanted him nearby all the machines and doctors in case his condition worsened. I talked to his wife while the nurses take care of her husband. Before we began to talk, I noticed that that she was strong for him but still in a fragile state, as any wife would be. I talked to her because she seemed to need someone to talk to. We talked about the weather, her husband, and she even talked about this really cute story of her daughter's rather "mop looking" dog. I could tell by her talking about happy times, she was allowed a small break from the tough situation. She was really nice. I enjoyed speaking with her.

I then sit back down at the charting table for another 15-20 minutes observing and I decide I'm tired of observing out there, so I walk in there. I stand there and nod at the nurse and receive a welcoming "Come on in" I am still surprised what I'm allowed to do and see. Neat-O! She explained his vitals, and how more often than not, a slow heart beat is more troublesome and needs more attention than a fast one. He had a slow heart beat, and at times in the 30's. She also showed me where he had gotten open heart surgery, by pointing out his large scar on his chest, as well as his the draining scars immediately below the 10 inch scar. I see his wife holding his hand, once again, A person that holds their loved one in such a hard time with strength. You amaze me! Myself, John, and a nurse I do not know the name of were in the room. Apparently, this particular patient was in such dire condtion, 2 nurses were required to be with him at all times. I asked questions, and I got answers in a sheer medical-acronym-fast manner that frankly I couldnt understand, but I nod in " OOh, I see" fashion. I probably should've asked her to explain in alittle more detail but I figured I wanted to come acrosse like I knew what she was talking about, so I didn't stop her. I'll have plenty of time to figure all that out later. I'm still soaking up the experience.

Later when the nurses left, I stay in the room and talk to Phil, I believe that was him name. He was given some Saline and Potassium which helps speed up his heart rate. After 15-20 mins, I noticed a considerable change in his demeanor. He was much more lively, and able to carry on a conversation, unlike when I first walked in the room. I talked to him also about my volunteering and my quest to become a nurse. I talked to him until he was shipped up to another floor.

Tonight, I noticed that there is another facet of nursing I will be doing and a skill that is part of a good nurse recipe. An ingredient of conversation. While I thrive on pressure and excitement, I also understand that a good nurse needs to be personable and simply, has to have conversations with these people every now and again. These people need a break away from "Your blood sugars are high or smoking is detrimental on your blood circulation or your EKG showed some troublesome irregularities" and move towards,"What did you think of the warm weather today or I really like your shirt, I have one similar at home or can I watch Wheel of Fortune with you?" These people are every day folks that need someone to talk to them, without all the medical mumbo-jumbo. I'm sure they greatly appreciate the treatment they are receiving, but on some level, they have to crave a sense of humanity in a place that probably lacks it, when it needs it the most. So, I saw that this evening. I was there and talked to Roland, and the gentleman's wife about stuff. Not medical stuff. Just everyday blah-blah-blah-stuff. I believe it's the stuff that took their mind briefly from their situation which I also believe, is just as good as any pain medication. In a sense, I was their pain medication.