Read 3

SHE WHO MUST BE READ #3

Always look busy

(Written December 1993)

I'm in trouble again, it happens quite regularly and I can never figure out why.

Mr. Jones in bed five did not have his blood sugar checked this morning, and it was considered my responsibility. Odd that as I have been running around like a headless chicken all morning. I spent two hours in the bathroom with patients passing through as if on a conveyor belt. Then I was stuck in the x-ray department with a rather impatient woman, who was threatening to take up her bed and walk back to the ward herself.

When I do finally make it back, the lunch trolley arrives, so I quickly put on my waitress cap and help give them out. Not exactly my favourite part of the day I must add. The canteen staff has once again ignored the menu sheets we dutifully sent to them yesterday, so no one is going to get what they ordered.

This causes much frustration amongst the patients - which they direct towards us as usual. Eventually, when everyone is fairly happy, I sit down. A big mistake!!! I have heard it said that some people have an air of looking lazy even when they work quite hard - I think this must be my problem. I would argue that I’d done my fair share this morning, so was entitled to rest my weary legs. Sister did not agree, "nurse has everything been done on your side?", I am not really able to answer this as I’ve not really been out on the ward, so I quickly go up and down the beds checking all the charts. It's then that I notice the blood sugar, which I somewhat reluctantly inform sister is yet to be done. I am then given an embarrassing lecture in the middle of the ward, and I somehow manage to bite my tongue.

You may wonder why it was my fault. Our ward follows the policy of team nursing - both staff and patients are divided into two teams A and B - I’m in team a . This morning we had seven staff on duty - sister, five from team B and me on my own in team A. I was loaned two helpers from the B team and one of them forgot Mr Jones. It was however considered my responsibility, as I should have done a final inspection to ensure that everything was up to date. So now you know!!

Before leaving to go home I checked the duty rota for tomorrow, only to find that I am working with sister again. Oh well, I’m sure this must be character building !!

An attempt at humour, which also shows how, I felt. Unsuited to the nursing profession. I left before qualifying.