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My eyes quickly scanned the apartment, locating my bag which contained keys, stethoscope, flashlight, a pair of scissors, a pocket mask and other nurse's tools. I thought to myself how Angie may keep me on the witness stand but I remembered that she and her Dad was in my court, so I asked a question only to change the subject
"Do I have everything Angie? I asked. Without missing a beat she continued.
"Another of missing your meals, she continued.
"That Mom is not good!"
"Mom you always tell me the importance of breakfast yet you miss it each and every day. I just don't get it."
I must put an end to this I thought.
"You're still growing. I snapped, rather sharply."
" I'm not!
"Well Mom," she continued,
"I have to agree with you when you say that breakfast is still the most important meal of the day and you know what else Mom?
"What else dear? I asked sarcastically.
"We all need to break the fast by nourishing our bodies after fasting all night, who said that Mom?"
Alright! Angie, I got it! You win; breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day. We raced to the car.
Angie was a delightful child, often sounding older than her twelve years. She was full of life and showed much concern for others. She enjoyed learning. I reflected upon times I spoke about the importance of breakfast. She took to school and any instructions, seriously and applied it to life. She was an amazing twelve-year-old. She would often make one forget her age because she was so grown up. She pushed a small brown bag into my tote stating, I packed breakfast; eat it when you get to work.
"Thank you, what a nice thought" I smiled as we lingered in a loving moment, I proudly looked upon a very special child.
"I love you Mom". Thank you, sweetie, for loving me, and know how much I adore you!" I replied.
"Have a great day!" As we embraced, counsel left me with her last directive "Don't forget to eat your breakfast."
"I won't." I promised.
Seconds after Angie left the car, I was screeching into a parking place. In my mind's eye, I reviewed my- to-do list. As I exited the elevator, I was met by yells from a nursing assistant,
"My patient is not responding I need a nurse!"
I ran to the room, assessed the patient, she presented a need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, provided she did not have a do not resuscitate order. The immediate assessment was critical. The information required to make the assessment was not in place. an arm band! This wasted time caused life-threatening minutes. Another learning opportunity and I had not gotten to my office. I noted the occurrence in the client's chart, gave some instructions to the staff regarding this occurence and headed to my office.
I had a class that would start in five minutes. I ran to the classroom to see that it was in order for my class. We shared the space with other departments, each requiring specific setups for for their scheduled presentations. I grabbed the telephone called the set-up department as I reviewed my lesson plan and assisted with the set-up.
At the end of the lecture, I responded to questions, gathered the quiz sheets and began to update each staff member’s educational record. Each student’s plan for an update was now in place. As the last student left, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly the Director of nurses hurriedly entered my office with a request that required my immediate attention. We must write a statement of corrections for the Department of Health regarding several issues that we had to improve upon immediately. I glanced at my watch, which read 1: 05 pm, “Where had the time gone!”
We gathered all needed resources to complete the assignment. We finished, it was 5:15 pm, and I quickly gathered my belongings and headed home.
Angie and her Dad were excited; as they were learning how to use our new cellular telephones. His was a blackberry, the one's attorneys are known to use for their numerous features. Angie and mine would be used for communication with each other. I was in no mood to learn about cell phones, I didn't want to see or hear a telephone. Angie picked up the bag holding it high and assuring that her father could hear her as she imitated her dad,
"Your honor. she gestured toward her Dad.
"I'd like to enter this as exhibit #1 bagged lunch".
" You see Mom," as she dropped her attorney's charade,
"This is no good," she whined, as she held up the lunch that I had not eaten.
"I'm sorry. I pleaded,
"I promise I'll do better." I then slumped into the comfort of an inviting pillow that was lying on the couch. As I was about to drift, Angie came with a hot bowl of soup. She sat at the foot of the couch as I sipped. It was delicious.
"I can't trust you to eat on your own."
"Dad," she called out excitedly to her father.
"Don't you think that it will be a good idea if we could call mom and remind her to eat her meals? The cell phones are right on time" The cell phones are right on time!"
"That's a great idea", her father agreed.
" It's like you're switching roles". Angie became more excited.
"Oh I'll be the Mother and you will be the Daughter until you are able to take your meals on your own, we will switch roles, and with the phones, we really can work this.
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