Posted on by jparadisirn

Bruises Not Scratches (Niki Discovers Something Unsettling)

Chapter 58

“Raquel, it was absolute mayhem. The little dog took off down the hall after the bunny, and then the charge nurse called Security to help round them up. Of course, Security didn’t have any idea of what to do. Eventually, two officers cornered the animals, grabbed Rocket, and the pet therapist gathered up the bunny, but not before the blind kid, Travis, somehow felt his way to the fire alarm, and pulled it. The sprinkler system went off, and the fire department arrived. No, I didn’t leave early. After we settled everyone down, finished the shift, and gave report, it was 9 pm before I finally I got home, and reheated for dinner the lunch I didn’t get to eat. I’m ready for a second glass of wine, are you?”

This story was just to good not to call my sister Raquel and tell her about it over wine by phone.

* * *

I had a couple of days off before my next shift. Like I said before, day shift is challenging in its own ways.

“Niki, the phone’s for you.”

I take the call from the pod outside my patient’s room. It’s Finch, one of the day shift pharmacists.

“About that Ancef dose your resident ordered,” he begins.

I block, “He’s not my resident. He belongs to the attending,”

“Well, whoever he belongs to, he’s placed an order in the EMR for Ancef.”

“Yeah.”

There’s not enough Ancef in all the hospitals in the city to cover the dose. You need to call him and point out that the kiddo only weighs 10 kgs.”

“Finch, the RT is here and we’re about the re-tape his ET tube. Can you call and get the order changed, please? You can educate him about placing orders while you do it.”

“That’s not really a function of pharmacy, Niki.”

“It’s not a nursing function either, Finch. Why does everything get turfed to nursing? Health care is a team sport, no?”

I interpret the the silence on the other end of the phone to mean he’s strategizing an offense.

“Alright, Niki, I’ll do it this time.”

“Thanks Finch, you’re a real gem.”

“Phfffp,” he mutters before hanging up.

* * *

At change of shift, I give report to my old night shift buddy, Liz, first telling her about the patient, and then Finch’s one-liner that the resident ordered more Ancef than what’s available in the city that was pretty hilarious, when I notice the bruises on her neck, three of them. They’re long and suspiciously resemble fingers. I can’t help myself, “Liz, what’s up with the marks on your neck. They look like bruises. What happened?”

Her gaze drops downward, and she turns her head the other direction attempting to hide the bruises, but not before I see her cheeks flush bright red.

“It’s nothing, Niki. I scratched myself.”

She’s lying.

“Liz, those aren’t scratches, they’re bruises. It’s me, Niki. We’re friends, remember? What happened?”

“I’m having problems with Nathan. He’s skipping school and failing his classes. He got suspended for smoking pot on campus. I called his dad, hoping he could talk some sense into him.”

“Frank, you’re ex did this to you?”

“I thought he could help, but when he came over to talk to Nathan he starting hitting him. I got between them. When I started yelling at Frank to leave, things got out of control.”

“He choked you? Oh my god, are you okay? Have you seen a doctor? Did you call the cops?”

“This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you Niki. I knew you would overreact.”

“Overreact? Jeez, Frank was strangling you! He should be in jail.”

“Mind your own business, Niki. I appreciate your concern, but mind your own business,” was all Liz said as she stood up and entered her patient’s room.

Posted on by jparadisirn

Not a Morning Person (Niki Starts Dayshift)

Chapter 54

I am not a morning person.

The alarm of my cell phone rings loudly while the device vibrates maniacally against the top of the nightstand. Trying to silence it, I accidentally knock it to the floor where it continues to thrash. I get up and turn the damn thing off, replacing it on the nightstand. Padding to the kitchen I hit the start button of the coffee maker, filled the night before. I take a shower while it brews.

Transferring to day shift during the middle of winter was a bad idea. I wake up in the dark, drive to work in the dark, and then drive back home after a twelve-hour shift, in the dark. The PICU lacks windows, so on a three-day stretch I only have the vaguest idea of the weather outside, other than IT’S DARK.

I transferred to days to be home more with Maddie, and it’s working. Her grades have improved. She’s getting along better with Amber and Wade too, now that she’s home at night during the week, and only spends every other weekend with them and Simon.

Together we plan the grocery list, and in the evenings Maddie helps make dinner. Instead of eating in the dining room where Simon’s chair is conspicuously empty, we eat casually at the coffee table, watching a movie or TV. Some nights Maddie is quiet, but others she talks throughout evening about her friends, school, and her perspectives on life. I’m happy that we’re growing closer again, even if it means getting up in the dark.

I make sure Maddie’s up and getting ready for school before I leave.

“Bye Mom. I hope you have a good shift.”

“Thanks, Sweetie. You have a good day too. Don’t forget your lunch and homework.”

“I won’t Mom. You say that every time.”

“Love you Maddie.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

 

* * *

The challenges of day shift nursing differ from those of night shift.

For one thing, the residents arrive early to place orders. When they can’t locate what they want in the electronic medical record, they go ahead and order them wrong, and then we have to call them to change it, but they still don’t get it right. Eventually we put it in ourselves, and then the pharmacist calls nursing to say the medication can’t be ordered that way either. If the pharmacist is particularly nice, he calls the resident himself and gets the order corrected. So much for physician order entry.

There’s more friends and family members at the patient’s bedside on day shift too. At first it felt as though they were in the way, but lately I find I enjoy talking to them, explaining what I’m doing, and what they should expect. I like teaching so much in fact, I’ve volunteered to precept nursing students during my shifts.

Today as I enter the unit, I’m greeted by the day shift charge nurse, Margaux. “Niki, we’re overstaffed today in PICU. It’s your turn to float to pediatrics.”