February 15, 2010

Like a professional...


I realized this a.m. at work that I maybe need a break from my much loved small children. I was getting ready to start an IV on the scheduled 7am C-section patient, and I was at the desk waiting on her to change and use the bathroom. It's about 5:45 a.m at the end of a chaotic 12 hour shift. The chaos was winding down, but everyone's brain was fried, and patience was worn thin. I had the IV bag of Lactated Ringers in my hands. Now our IV bags have 2 access port in the bottom, one for the tubing and one for adding meds. I had my hand on the top part of the bag, holding it upright on the desk. I don't know what came over me, but I drew a smiling face on the bag, started walking the IV bag down the desk toward the secretary, moving the top part of the bag like a puppet head, with the small access ports as the legs, singing "Suzie Snowflake". Not the most brilliant moment in my career. She and the other nurse at the desk looked at me like I was crazy and almost peed their pants laughing. Yeah, my maturity level at the time was probably around a 6year olds, but it was the comic relief we needed. I then realized that my 4 day/3 night trip to New Orleans in April will be a very good thing for me. Very good indeed.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I read your blog, but I have never commented. I love it! Being in healthcare and having 2 children I understand....I was laughing so hard reading this. I also love Suzie Snowflake and most people I know don't even know the song. Thank you for making my day start out with a good laugh. Hope you have a fantastic and well deserved vacation.

AtYourCervix said...

Sometimes, you just have to take a break from the professionalism, and break out in song and/or dance at work.

Anonymous said...

At least you didn't excuse yourself from a patient's room (or rounds with the docs) to "go potty". lol.

Enjoy your vacation!!

-lpnmon

pinky said...

I am standing up and applauding you! This is an ingenious usage of medical supplies! Especially after 0500.

BirthdayNurse said...

The best moments of the night sometimes happen in the few quiet moments we have...and one of us does something silly. This weekend we were drawing "anatomical" pictures of SVE's and talking about how much our job is about "feel" and not sight...ah, those random 0300 moments... :)