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Last night Super Nurse told me how her day had gone. She's a resource nurse at a hospital. She's certified in practically everything, so they can send her anywhere in the hospital they need help. Unfortunately, her work ethic is obvious to anyone she works with. So whenever she's assigned to a unit they load her up with the worst patients. She runs nonstop, rarely gets a break, never gets lunch. She comes home exhausted, but comforted in knowing her patients got the best possible care. As much as she's given to do she still finds mistakes made by other nurses, trains them to do it right, and goes to the mat with doctors as the patient's advocate. When I had my brain surgery she probably saved my life. Not for nothing do I call her Super Nurse.

Last night she had a patient who had signed a Do Not Resuccitate order. The woman had been conscious all shift, then fell asleep at the usual time so nothing was amiss. DNR and asleep. Super Nurse checked her frequently anyway. She walked in once and the patient had slid down in the bed and, probably confused, had pulled her oxygen mask off. Her blood oxygen level was low and her breathing had become agonal- bad sign. Super Nurse pulled her back up and put the oxygen back on her. Her blood ox came up, and she became conscious. Nobody dies on Super Nurse's shift. It's her policy.

Ever mindful of her patient's comfort, Super Nurse asked if she needed anything for pain. Sometimes patients won't tell you, they have to be asked. They can be terminal and still be fearful of becoming addicted to painkillers. The woman said, yes, she'd like a painkiller. Super Nurse gave her some morphine and knew she probably wouldn't make it to morning. Then she called the patient's sister and told her she should come up. When the sister got there she explained the situation.

Had Super Nurse been one of those that hangs around the Nurse's Sation to gossip, or goes outside for frequent smoking breaks, the sister would have next seen the patient in the morgue. I hope she was grateful. Super Nurse gives her profession a good name. Her patients think her quality of care is outstanding. I just wish the hospital units would stop abusing her. She's too good to be so overworked.

And the moral of the story is: If you're ever in a hospital and you like the quality of a nurse's care, say something, they appreciate it. If you're feeling expansive, write a note to the head of nursing, it helps at appraisal time. If it sucks, say something, you could die if you don't. And if you're in a hospital it's a really good thing to know a nurse that will check on you.

And another thing. Here it is Mother's Day. Super Nurse is nowhere around. Her usual schedule on Sundays is 3 PM to 11 PM. That way we get to go to church and have lunch together. Other nurses wanted the day off, so they scheduled her for 11 AM to 11 PM instead. No church, no lunch, no supper. She asked if she could go in at her usual 3 PM. She was told no, we need you 11-11. I could call up her boss and swear at her, but that wouldn't do any good.

You could get more stories of Super Nurse if you want. She works every weekend. But some of them aren't very nice- like cockroaches running out of clothing. Maggots. Ask and ye shall receive, but be careful what you ask for.

So how did my day go? Blew time with the kids. Ate at Bishops. During which time I had a decaff. Trainboy poured each packet of sugar in, creamer too. Each addition was made with seemingly appropriate construction sounds. The creamer caused a little overflow. Trainboy exclaimed, "Goodness, Goshess!" Never heard that one before.

Then we went to Wal-Mart for picking up a Mother's Day thing. Even though she won't be home till after midnight. She's always stuck for a couple extra hours. Ms. Pikachu picked out a card, Trainboy and I picked out a begonia. Because Super Nurse hates cut flowers- they're already dying. She wants a potted plant that keeps growing.

That's it for the moment. There are kids to put to bed and laundry to do.

The slightly honked-off Publicserf


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