A night when everything demanded attention at once.
I was working nights on the cardiac unit. One of my patients was on a nitro drip, which meant blood pressures every fifteen minutes and adjusting the dose each time.
I also had a drunk patient who wouldn’t stay in bed. He kept wandering, drifting, trying to find something to bother. At the same time, another patient was in v‑tach (a heart rhythm called ventricular tachycardia). I was worried about him, so I had the aide put pacer pads on him in case he coded.
I was stretched thin that night. I was walking down the hall, moving fast, trying to keep everything upright.
A doctor walked past me and told me to get him a cup of coffee and the chart for a patient who wasn’t mine.
I told him the coffee was in the breakroom and the chart was at the nurse’s station. Then I kept walking, because the only thing I was serving that night was cardiac monitoring.
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82 comments
when i was ten mark hall broke my wrist
i was next to an anxious boy at the hospital where i was born
and both my mom and dad worked
i tried to escape the poor nurse had to sedate me
the next morning i asked where the brown boy was
she said he died last night
no wonder he was restless he knew he was going to die
now that s nitro my dear.
That’s such a sad memory. Thank you for sharing it here.🌺
This reminds me a Sidney Sheldon novel…about 3 lady doctors, a murder mystery…. “Nothing Lasts Forever’.
That sounds like an interesting read. I appreciate you sharing the connection.🌺
Good on you, Kymber.
Thank you, Peter-James.
Kymber, is that a common request? It seems crazy to me that a doctor would tell you, not ask you as a special favor. And ask you sheepishly at that.
Big Buddy, thank you. No, it wasn’t common at all. That only happened that one time in my whole career. Most of the doctors I worked with were professional and respectful.
Good answers. Nurses are busy professionals who certainly don’t have time to be coffee wenches for entitled doctors.
Thank you. I agree. Nurses are busy professionals, and ythey’re not here to fetch coffee for entitled doctors.
Excellent response! 👏👏👏 Nurses should never be treated like go-fers.
Debbie, thanks. You’re right. Nurses aren’t gofers, and I appreciate you saying it.
That was an excellent way to tell the doctor you are busy without telling him you are busy. Just to keep the doctors guessing, tell the next one to take a number and get in line.
I’m not a nurse anymore, but I wish I’d thought of that. You always make me laugh.
Laughing is so much fun. I try to do it as often as I can. You can use that reply for anytime someone wants something and you’re busy. The end of the line is back there and point somewhere far away.
You’re right! That fits a lot of moments. I’ll get good use out of that ‘end of the line is back there’ line.
You’ll create many memories of confused looks. 😁😳
I can’t wait! 😄😂
Good job Kymber! Why to put him in his place.
Thanks. 😊 It was the right way to handle him.
Good on you telling him where to finds stuff and not just do what he wanted you have enough to do
Thanks, Jo‑Anne. I wasn’t about to add his errands to my list.🌺
Good for you! What an jerk!
Thank you, Nancy. He really was a jerk.
😆 That was the perfect response!
Thank you, Jenn. It worked. 😄
Well-done you! I’m in awe! xx
Thank you, Pam. You’re lovely. 🌺🩷
No, truly I’m not. I just love what you did and admire your courage!
Pam, you saw something worth admiring and that says plenty about you. Thank you for being so kind.🌺🌺
Love it! Cardiac nurses aren’t secretaries!
Thanks, Joy. Cardiac nurses have enough to manage without playing secretary.
Good for you. Jolly cheeky doctor. Sounds hectic.
Thank you, Robbie. Cheeky doctor, busy day.😊
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Kudos to you. Sometimes you have to say what needs to be said. Love it!
Thank you. Sometimes you really do have to speak plainly, and I appreciate you saying that.
Love this, Kymber. I hope you’ve had opportunities to train fellow nurses…how empowering, while being perfectly professional! ❤️😉❤️
Thank you, Vicki. I did a lot of training over the years, and it was always the part I loved most.🩷🩷
I can only imagine all the ways you made a difference — not just direct patient care but inspiring the medical professionals in your midst! xo, Kymber! 💝
Thank you, Vicki. I hope I did. It was always important to me to support the people beside me. 🩷
I have no doubt…your goodness travels through screens and technology. I can only imagine how your skills and guidance were appreciated in person, with patients. 💝💝💝
That’s really kind of you to say, Vicki. I tried to bring that same steadiness to the people in front of me, and it means a lot that you see it.🌺🌺🌺
My pleasure — I feel it from you. I do, I do! And — Oof! “Steadiness” – such a perfect word. I think the people I adore the most will always be the ones who are steady and reliable – in addition to having great skills. That’s such an underutilized, magnificent word, Kymber. Striving to be steady in life is a great goal! Hugs, hugs, hugs! 💝💝💝
Thank you, Vicki. Steadiness mattered a lot to me in nursing, and it means something that you feel that from me. I appreciate your kindness. Hugs, and more hugs back to you! 🩷🩷🩷
Hugs received! 💝💝💝
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Good you put the arrogant s&&it in place 👏
Thanks, Maggie. He needed a little reality check.
Good for you, although you could have brought him a sandwich and told him to feed his ego!
If I’d brought him a sandwich, he’d have asked for a parade. Some egos need carbs.😂
You made the right decision. I would have done the same. I didn’t fetch coffee in my career either.
Have a fabulous day and rest of the week. ♥
Thank you, Sandee. Some lines you just don’t cross, and that was one of them.
Hope you’re having a great day! Love and hugs. 🩷🌺
You got to the heart of the matter, Kymber. Good for you! ☺️👍
Thank you. I’m glad it came across that way. 😊🌺
You’re most welcome ☺️🌸
See you in tomorrow’s challenge. ☺️
You know it! 😊🩷🌺
Yeah, and I’m so excited! ☺️💜🌸
Awww… thank you. Me, too. I hope you’re having a great Wednesday, my friend! 🩷🌺😊
You’re very welcome. Thank you! Today’s going all well, my friend! 💜🌸☺️ I hope you’re having a great Wednesday, too!
Yes, I am, too. I appreciate you asking. xo
Glad to hear that ☺️ xo
Thank you, thank you. 🩷🌺😊
You’re welcome. My pleasure. 💜☺️🌸
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Your dedication and calm focus in such a demanding moment says a lot about the heart of a caregiver.
Thank you, Willie. Moments like that always showed me what caregiving is really about.
Good for you!
Thank you, Di!
Being educated doesn’t mean someone isn’t an idiot.
Thank you, John. That line made me laugh. Some shifts proved that point pretty clearly.
Sounds like you got to the heart of the matter. 💗😁
Thank you. I’m glad it felt that way to you. Some stories really do land right where they need to.🌺🩷
Sometimes doctors NEED to be reminded that THEY are NOT God.😉
Thank you. Some nights definitely called for a reminder or two. I just kept moving and let the coffee sort itself out.
Well done
Thank you so much, dear friend.
You’re most welcome
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Hah!! Good on you! Should have said, “I’m not your secretary!” LOL!!!
Thank you! I probably should’ve said that. I was too busy keeping everyone alive to fetch coffee.😂