Well Done

My partner and I arrived at Larger Distant Medical Center, our transfer patient in tow. A frazzled nurse in wrinkled scrubs with bags under her eyes directed us into a room adjacent to the nurses’ station. The ER was packed, with staff rushing around. Clearly, they were having one of Those Nights.

As we rolled into our patient’s new room, an ambulance called into the ER to give a patch. A nurse darted over to answer. My attention redirected to giving my report to the nurse, and transfer our patient over to his bed. After wishing the patient well, we headed to the station to have our nurse sign all of our forms. While marking our paperwork with little x’s to indicate where I needed the nurse’s signature, the other nurse receiving report was growing visibly frustrated. Call bells were going off, and machines were dinging, but she (obviously begrudgingly) remained at the side of the radio, listening to the EMT prattle on and on and on for his patch to the hospital.

“...uhhh, patient had a history of the flu about 3 months ago, with no serious complications. Pt is also complaining of pain in his hand, secondary to jamming it in a door this morning. Uhh…pt also…”

“Is that guy still going?” I asked. The nurse nodded.

“He’s not going to have anything left to tell us when he gets here,” She mumbled.

“Could be a good thing,” My partner replied. We unanimously agreed.

“Any questions or instructions?” The radio finally crackled.

The nurse receiving the patch, clearly frustrated, keyed up the mic. “Yes, unit ABC, what is the patient’s favorite color?” We all exchanged amused and disbelieving looks. The radio remained silent for a few seconds.

“Larger Distant Med Center, could you repeat that?” The EMT replied, clearly confused. The nurse repeated her transmission.

“Larger Distant Med Center, Unit ABC is clear. See you on arrival.” The EMT finally sputtered.

Well done, RN, well done.