#xboxesandnursesheal

[enjoyhumanzoo]

Life in ICU..or three new xboxes. Nurse’s story.

Hi there,

I am a nurse, and this is my story. Not the one blah blah where I am from (European) or where I went to school (Cardinal Stritch University :) )

Just a short story about my last weekend working in ICU..

I recently transferred to this small local hospital, nice place, nice area, lots of good feedback from patients and staff. 

Hospital is about 30-40 min drive away from my house depending on traffic, so I left early, was driving and listening to music which was at times interrupted by the voice from GPS directing to the shortest route  (and how on Earth we lived before-GPS-times? Anyone remembers paper maps? :) )  So, at 7 am I was ready to punch in at our time clock.  In report room I met with Ken, RN in ICU who was supposed to be my preceptor for a weekend, to whom I was supposed to go for an advice if something (hopefully not) goes wrong etc..

Ken is about 5′10 skinny fit pleasant guy in his 50′s, fast talking and very friendly.. Another ICU nurse was George, tall guy in his 30′s, and two respiratory therapists Tammy and Nick. “Cool,” I thought and went to get my report. Most of those patients are very complex so it took about 30 min to get report and start assessing them, give medications, and so on..

When I was finally done with my morning medications and all assessments I decided to go to our break room to check my phone. My oldest son who lives in California, graduated college there with honors, got a great job, smart motivated and very creative guy, so, he just broke up with his girlfriend of three years and even he knows it’s for the best,  he is heartbroken, kept sending me sad messages for the last few days. 

I went to break room just to see Nick, our respiratory therapist younger guy in his 30’s, .. crying..with his head down..and George, my coworker nurse enthusiastically telling him that Nick needs to forget this ex girlfriend  (apparently Nick’s fiancee, girlfriend of 8 years, just left him..) and instead of ruminating and mourning to go and buy new xbox.. Nick lifted up his head and tearfully tried to convince George that he cant forget her, that she is hot, and then he took his glasses off and wiped tears..”Why don’t you buy xbox yourself, “ Nick was looking at George angrily..”You just called off your own wedding..”

George’s face flushed, and it seemed to me he will join Nick and cry, too..But he just cleared his throat and calmly responded..”I got engagement ring back. I am going to sell it and buy xbox. the newest version. It’s supposed to be cool.”

Nick was done wiping his eyes, put back his glasses and conversation switched to xboxes..Where to buy and best deals..

I was listening with one ear to their conversation while reading my son’s messages..Yes, there were few.. all about his breakup..I looked at my peers and announced that my son, too, just broke up with his girlfriend..”He needs xbox..” George said..”Yes,” Nick apparently had decided pro exbox, while I was reading messages.. “Xbox is the best thing..”

I thought it’s funny, so I texted my son “Buy that newest xbox, my coworkers are recommending..” and put a smiley face at a end of the sentence..Suddenly phone rang, and it was my son.. Saying its cool idea..He is going to do that..getting xbox... My peers enthusiastically nodded..yep, xbox, thats all you need..the best thing for a guy..

“Lucky for Best Buy,” i thought to myself, “Three xboxes will be sold for sure in next few days..”..:)

Who knew xbox is the perfect remedy for a broken heart.. :)

I went back to floor giggling to myself..

“What’s up with you?” Ken asked while charting by nurses station..I filled him in..As a response I learned more broken heart stories..:) This time Ken’s..

Do you have an xbox, I asked…”Ney,” Ken responded, that’s for Millennials, “I went for Iron man race after a breakup..” to prove myself I can do anything.. ”What about you?” he leaned closer..”Hmm” I thought..”What to say to a friendly stranger..”  I opted for very vague truth.. “My heart is stolen so nothing is happening..”..I said. Ken smiled, “So we all are heartless here,” 

““But with xboxes”..that was George joining us at a nurses station, and we all had a friendly laugh, and then we just charted in silence interrupted only by cardiac monitor alarms..

I finished my charting and got a cup of coffee..and was thinking about life and love, about my son, about my new coworkers and about all our fucking broken hearts..and I needed a tissue, too..

”Are you sneezing,” that was Dr Vida..”Sounds like allergies,” she looked at me..”You need Vitamin C 1000 mg a day and Vitamin D 2000 units to take every morning before you come to work..” “Its all because of those chemicals..”

“Sure..” I responded wiping my eyes.

Meantime Nick was coming back from a break room with eyes red like a rabbit..”I never will have anyone like her, “ he said..” She was so hot..” and he looked like he will cry again..

“Stop obsessing, You can have anyone you want..“ Ken responded and went to answer patient’s callight..

”Allergies,” Dr Vidu was staring at Nick..”Everyone here is allergic to those freakin’ chemicals..You, guys, all should take vitamins,”  

“Xbox,” George was coming back from patient’s room “Just xbox..There is a deal going right now..” 

But then alarm in patient’s room sounded..vent alarm..and that sound made us to forget it all..except for an alarm..and life on a line..We  all rushed to the patient’s room… and everything else was suddenly non important..xboxes..exes and vitamins…

Just life of a patient.. and us.. to whom he relies on..

“Baptismal by fire..” unit secretary, joked later….”Yep..It.s been busy three days. I don’t remember if I combed my hair this morning,” I smiled back to her..”It’s my third 12-hour shift in a row..”

“You survived,” She nodded..

“Yes, I did, “ I thought..and everybody else did, too..my patient, my coworkers...friends..family..fellow people..

And I learned something, too..that xbox is a perfect remedy to heal guys heart..

And that we all with our broken or stolen hearts..with or without xboxes, can heal the heart of another..one who is trusted to us to care about..and each others..

Life in ICU…Guys, xboxes…broken hearts..and some heroes..

:)