Some people you meet were meant for just that certain time period in your life, and then they disappear, but you are forever changed by them. This week has been especially hard for that. I am coming to the end of my assignment, so the goodbyes are starting.
One particular doctor beat me to the punch by letting me know his last day is in 2 days, but of course I will not be at work for those 2 days. He and his wife will be moving back to Illinois. Turns out some people like having 20 or more acres to live on. Us Californians don't have a clue as to what an acre is. Let alone how big that translates to. We are happy with anything more than 500 square feet, and it can be up in the air, like a highrise.
Anyhow, I digress.
This doctor is one of my alltime favorites. And for me to sing the praises of a doctor, well, that's just saying a lot. He inspires me to be even more caring, more concerned, more appreciative of my patients and has taught me so much about palliation.
My patient, who I was very busy with trying to get her to keep from coding on me but I managed to get transfered to the ICU, died. Yesterday she was walking around, changing her own bed linens much to our dismay. She was sweet. I enjoyed being her nurse. I enjoyed her.
I know one is more "final" than the other, but either way, I probably won't ever see either one again.
My heart is sore over losing them.
It is good to be me, but sometimes it is good to be surrounded by others whom you have come to have impressed upon your soul. I take them with me in my memories. It will have to be enough. And I have hopes of seeing them again. It happens sometimes.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 09, 2007
They come in 3's....
So that was the first. I don't think I mentioned that about 15 minutes after we got that lady off to the ICU, we had the second code. Next door.
Thankfully, it was just a respiratory crumble, and he's fine now, but still. I left that day practically placing bets on who would be next. Codes, like other bad things and ironically blessings, always come in 3's.
The next day, we had the third.
At change of shift. No suprise there.
That was a much messier code....
I got puke down my scrub top as the tube in the patients throat caused her to cough! Not just on the front, but down in my scrub top! The whole code team cringed and "ugh"-ed at the same time, as I winced, at the same time smelling and feeling the hot gastric content slide their way down between my boobs, over the middle part of my bra, and continued like a nasty slug down my belly. Of course, my gloved hands were covered in it as well, as was my left arm, but that didn't bother me quite as much.
"You okay? Did it get in your eyes?"
And this is where I was very thankful. "No, it didn't get into my eyes, or my nose, or my mouth" and after a quick check, "or on my shoes!"
And everyone let loose the breath they had been holding.
Focus turned back to the patient, and I finally managed to get a new pair of gloves, a towel, and a whole pile of alcohol wipes.
It's good to be me, though. It didn't get on my shoes. Every nurse has their "little things" and that's one of mine.
Thankfully, it was just a respiratory crumble, and he's fine now, but still. I left that day practically placing bets on who would be next. Codes, like other bad things and ironically blessings, always come in 3's.
The next day, we had the third.
At change of shift. No suprise there.
That was a much messier code....
I got puke down my scrub top as the tube in the patients throat caused her to cough! Not just on the front, but down in my scrub top! The whole code team cringed and "ugh"-ed at the same time, as I winced, at the same time smelling and feeling the hot gastric content slide their way down between my boobs, over the middle part of my bra, and continued like a nasty slug down my belly. Of course, my gloved hands were covered in it as well, as was my left arm, but that didn't bother me quite as much.
"You okay? Did it get in your eyes?"
And this is where I was very thankful. "No, it didn't get into my eyes, or my nose, or my mouth" and after a quick check, "or on my shoes!"
And everyone let loose the breath they had been holding.
Focus turned back to the patient, and I finally managed to get a new pair of gloves, a towel, and a whole pile of alcohol wipes.
It's good to be me, though. It didn't get on my shoes. Every nurse has their "little things" and that's one of mine.
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