{"id":24366,"date":"2020-12-24T08:58:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T13:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/feminem.org\/?p=24366"},"modified":"2020-12-24T08:58:04","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T13:58:04","slug":"twas-the-night-before-shift-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feminem.org\/2020\/12\/24\/twas-the-night-before-shift-change\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Twas the Night Before Shift Change"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\u2018Twas right before shift change, when all thru the shop, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All the drunks were stirring, some led by a cop <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The IV\u2019s were hung at the bedside with care <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In hopes that the next shift would soon be there <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The admits were tucked in snug in their beds <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While echoes of report danced in their heads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the attending in white coat, and I in my jacket <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Had just settled down from the last resus racket <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When by the ambulance bay rose such a clatter <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We sprang from our chairs to see what was the matter <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Away to the trauma bay I flew like a flash <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Threw on the lead coat and velcro\u2019d the sash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The chest tubes prepared, the airway tray ready <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few seconds of quiet, holding my heartbeat steady <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the EMS crew should appear <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a young man, eyes wide open in fear <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With blood on his shirt and the hole from a gun <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew in a moment to call \u201cLevel One.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quickly I asked the boy his name <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He responded and \u201cairway\u201d was not to blame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAirway intact, reduced on the right!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCarotids are good, get nasal cannula on tight!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReady chest tube! Xray now if you can!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get this going, before s**t hits the fan!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the BP went up and he started looking better, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surgery arrived to see what was the matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHemothorax on the right, pressure\u2019s now stable\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been great output though, to the OR if able\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the patient was wheeled off, blood trailed in his wake, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No time we take, no sighs of relief to take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now the ambulance crew should arrive, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a GI bleeder, barely alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next team is here, they start to take over <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I wonder if Hallway 2 is finally sober. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I leave the hospital, now two hours late, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel still glad that this was my fate <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be in a field where I can do this everyday <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where I am trained to handle anything coming my way <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even on bad days, when others may mock, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m still proud to be a bad ass lady ER doc.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Twas right before shift change, when all thru the shop, All the drunks were stirring, some led by a cop The IV\u2019s were hung at the bedside with care In hopes that the next shift would soon be there The…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":924,"featured_media":24376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"Enjoy a little holiday cheer from @AlannaOConnell8!! @JeffEMRes","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[4],"tags":[1155,1156],"coauthors":[1154],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n