Chapter Two
Tuesday 11:30 p.m.
“Michele, I brought two patient stickers so we can both write up our side of the story with OB. And the less said the better to Janice. It would just create more trouble.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m ready to take Janice’s head off for not sending evening shift people down there. We’re going to hear about surgery not being there, big time.”
“Yeah, since we were the two there, we’ll be the guilty ones. The story will never get straightened out,” said Kate.
They exited the elevator. Michele pushed the case cart with the dirty instruments toward central supply’s door where they would be cleaned, sterilized, and set up. While these instruments were dirty, the back up cart became the first case cart if OB called again. Kate knew Michele wouldn’t show back at the nurses’ desk until Janice was gone.
Behind the desk cool and calm was Janice. Kate entered the nurses’ station and asked Janice, “Are you ready to count?”
“Well, not even a hello? What happened down in OB? Did they really need surgery’s help?”
“Yes. The baby became distressed and had to be resuscitated by the time we got there.” Kate accepted the narcotic keys from Janice and opened the metal lock box that held the narcotics and sedatives. If it wasn’t locked and counted each shift the drugs could sprout legs and walk away for someone’s recreational purposes. If the count was incorrect everyone would have to give a urine sample to prove they didn’t have the controlled substance in their system. It was never a pleasant situation when a narcotic went missing. Kate pulled controlled substances out. She started reading how many ampules were left, and Janice had to have the same number on the narcotic sheet.
“Fentanyl 20 mg. 5, 10 mg. 32, 5 mg. 25. Okay? Cocaine 4%, 4. Alfenta, 12. Demerol 50 mg, 6. Demerol 100, 4. Sufenta, 4. Versed, 24. Anything else?”
“No. Well, inspite of OB, you two have a nice night,” said Janice. She headed to the locker room.
Kate clenched her jaw and let her go without further words.
“I’m glad I missed her.” Michele watched Janice disappear down the hall to the locker room as she joined Kate.
“I almost started to say something when she said ‘inspite of OB, have a good night.’ But, I saved shooting off my mouth for another day.”
Both crashed on to the rolling chairs at the desk. Kate’s adrenalin was still pumping from the c-section. She was having increasing difficulty letting situations go lately and she didn’t know what that meant. All she knew was that her thoughts went around and around over the same anxious event until her mind shut down from exhaustion.
Michele took off the surgical bonnet and shook her hair out. “Ugh, they wore me out. I kept trying to keep focused on what Dr. Baker needed, and that tiny limp baby kept me riveted. I just about cried, because we were so late
“Janice did not care what the situation was in OB. She did not want to be bothered. Her attitude got to me. She couldn’t leave fast enough. I’m still trembling,” said Kate.
“Oh, don’t do that,” said Mrs. Thornton, the ancient night shift supervisor.
Michele and Kate jumped. “You’re supposed to hum to let us know you’re coming,” said Michele.
“I only do that to the units where I figure I don’t want to know what is going on. But I have been through OB and into the neonatal intensive care unit. The baby is recovering very nicely, looking alert even. So, what is your part of the story?”
“Evening shift should have sent a crew down to respond to OB, but they didn’t. It all went down hill from there,” said Kate. “Janice just didn’t want to be bothered. Her attitude got to me. She couldn’t leave fast enough.”
“Yes, and if any one knows about bad attitudes it would be you, Kate,” said Mrs. Thornton. Her smile lightning the creases in her face.
“I felt awful,” said Michele.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that it was your fault. I have my report from both departments. Barb won‘t be allowed to pass the blame onto nights. It will stay stuck to evening shift on Janice for not sending help.” Mrs. Thornton’s face morphed, looking scary in its intensity.
“Oh, boy. A hen party,” said Mark, the other surgical technician who worked the night shift.
“I can make sure you end up hen-pecked,” said Mrs. Thornton. They all laughed, including Mark. “Well, I’ll be on my way.” Mrs. Thornton shook her finger at Kate and Michele. “But don’t let anyone even hint to you, that you two were to blame. It wasn’t your fault.”
They all quieted after their supervisor left, feeling more back to normal. The quiet of the twenty operating rooms surrounded them. The rooms stood available and staffed 24 hours a day to service Jackson Spring Medical Center and the seven county area should the need arise.
Kate sat and tapped her foot on the side of the desk mindlessly. Irritated, Michele who had her feet up on the desk rolled her eyes at Kate. Kate got the hint and stopped her foot.
“You two will be glad to know that I have set up the rooms they are using tomorrow. The schedule is light and no hassles with any of the equipment. I worked as fast as I could, because Susan told me how long it had been since OB had called. I knew you wouldn’t be in a mood to do the crap work when you came back.”
“Thanks Mark, you’re right about that,” said Kate.
“Amen,” said Michele. “Is there any missing instruments or supplies we need to find?”
“Not now. What we need is still in the autoclaves in central and not available until way later,” said Mark.
“Suture is picked?” asked Kate.
“Ha, evening shift felt so bad that they pulled allthe suture,” said Mark.
“So, any problems I need to know about?” Kate asked.
“Not anything we can do anything about,” said Mark.
“Great,” said Michele who grabbed her book, settling in comfortably.
Kate picked up a pager. “I’m going down to the ER and have a cigarette. You want to join me Mark?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Okay, Michele you’re holding down the fort and I have pager #303. Page if you need anything.”
“Right, 303.” Michele waved without losing her place in her book. “Go.”
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