whitewriter | More nightshift memories.

Night 2.

The ecmo man in bed 25 kept crashing and required shocks (but not CPR).

The newbie was scribing (my favourite role to be honest) but felt uncomfortable doing so, I told her, I'll support you. (and being a runner as needed).

I have a very easy to call out name.

Rita get this

Rita can you give me that.

I was helping the newbie scribe - like you know, put the times first and then just state the shock, Joues, which number and drugs, keep it simple.

and they're like WE DON'T NEED TWO SCRIBES.

How's a newbie to learn if they're not supported?

Anyways. Other times I've scribed people either told me what to write or I just figured it out on my own.

My 1:1 special became a double at around midnight - I got a 40 yr old female, upper GI pt and I think she played me.

I had the worst handover (due to a new admission coming in) "she's all good and over there" and I asked her if she had had a wash tonight yet or not and she said no.

After I washed her I realised the night staff ticked that yes, wash had been done.

Hum. She did look rather tidy. So I was sus.

But how do you say no to someone who stated they hadn't been washed yet and had a GCS of 15 ?

To be fair, there was a large, dried ooze out of her comfeel dressing into her abdominal apron crease and that could have gotten manky if I had just left it.

After countless "can you get me" and "can I turn over" and "this line is pulling" and "can you put my socks back on" and "can you pull my pillow down's

Having missed the 2nd break due to the admission and being dumped a second patient - I was well ready to go home and crash.

Night 3.

Long term ICU, second admission, initially for CABG however, during that recovery, aspirated on their NG feeds and

required bowel surgery +++ so have turned into an upper GI pt. 6 drains, one with output becoming grey-milk like. Yuck.

He's much like my lady from yesterday.

Tapping against the side of the bed every hour to get a roll onto a pan only to have zero output 5/4 rolls performed.

Luckily he's an easy roll and I can do him on my own (tracheostomy and all).