We got our asses handed to us at work today.
From the names I personally got called ("child molester"," murderer", "smelly bitch"), to the patients themselves (drama with a capital D), to the number of cops on the unit, to something a patient said to me that is so unbearably filthy and gross that I may still be washing my ears out in 2016, to a level of absurdity that even I couldn't make up...it was a cluster. From the word go.
Two of my own cried before noon. Do you know what it takes to make an ER nurse cry? One of the docs wasn't far behind. By three we all were laughing hysterically, because by then the choice was clear. Laugh or cry. Survive or die.
We chose survival. Proved again that when the chips are down we protect each other with a white hot passion. And we laughed our way through the rest of the shift. Sticks and stones...
Back tomorrow...for more.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
too tired to come up with a cute title
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15 comments:
I'm sorry you had such a terrible day. Tomorrow I hope will be much better.
I'm having lunch with Bubba on Tuesday and am really excited.
My day was a little quieter than that.
You would think they would learn that you should be nice to the person who is supplying you with drugs, em, medication.
Hope tomorrow is saner or you will get a chance to work on your evil, hysterical laugh, really perfect it.
You chose well.... there is healing in laughter. I cannot understand for the life of me why people who are helping you, could be so nasty. it is the same here & A&E (as we call it here) is not always a safe place to be at night!
I am glad you chose for hysterical laughter. That's the best thing to do in the end. I may draw a lesson from that myself. It's so much better than crying your eyes out, which doesn't help you in the end anyway. XOX
I suppose the phrase "If I don't laugh I'll cry" applied? :(
elizabeth mccracken calls black humor "a gift from god." and i think she's right.
Ouch. By the way, you don't smell.
I know for a fact that you ER nurses are tough. Upsetting and making an ER nurse cry? What is the world coming to that it can almost bring you guys to your knees.
The fact that it got bad enough to bring out that kind of laughter - well - in a way it makes me wish I was part of your team. The team that has each other's back and helps throw up a shield against the evil that comes in through those doors.
You amaze me once more my friend. Now - where is that pen and paper I keep trying to shove under your nose.
What a shitty day. It won't be that bad tomorrow...won't they all be watching the Superbowl? Keep your happy hat on, hon.
Mya x
Sorry it was such a rough day. Many thanks for all you do!
I remember those tough days. I take my hat off to you. Not sure I could do it any more. No, I *couldn't* do it any more.
Credit to you.
Just keep smiling and don't burn out.
(Easy said....)
It takes a special type of person to handle ER.
Even if people aren't arses -- by the time you are half dead and in to ER -- you become a monster.
So lucky you -- having to deal with them, plus the ones who already need exorcism.
There is a closeness of the staff in the ER that resembles comrads in battle. You are in the trenches together and I think you share understanding and yes, thank God, a good sense of humor!
hate those days...walked up to the counter one day to start triage shift anD was immediatey abused with the foulest lanaguage and then was asked what I did to upset THEM by the Boss....WTF..i HADNT SAID MORE THAN CAN I HELP YOU...
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