You know I'm here for the party
Ridealongs suck. Seriously. I'd forgotten just how much. When you don't have to do them, they become sort of... mythic in their badness. Take everything we do in a typical night. Take away half our supplies, most of our staff and put us in a little room with wheels. Let me detail just a little bit of my day (or night, as it were) so you can truly understand.
First off, I should note that eight to six yesterday? Medical shift. So, staring down a nine to six nursing shift that was an eight-hour ridealong because apparently I suck for not knowing this was going to still be required and so have to do as many hours in one shot as possible... sucked. I'm using that word a lot. Charlie, don't you say a thing. Anyway.
2200: Board bus to greeting of, "Evening, Nightengale." Not nearly as endearing as when Bodie does it. They were upset as well that I didn't swipe them supplies. Guess what, guys (Roger and Lyle)? I didn't suddenly just switch sides...
2220: First call. Someone choking on a chicken bone in a KFC. I kid you not. Front counter KFC attendant: "Wow, it takes three of you?"
2240: Don't drink KFC coffee. Just... don't.
2255: Next call. Shooting, but the cops are already there which means it's clear for us to go in (you should've seen Logan's face when I was telling him about this... OK, you know what? Maybe you shouldn't have...) Two wounded, one critical and one minor. I handle the minor--grazed his cheekbone with a possible fracture--Lyle stabilizes the chest wound as best as he can. We left them at County. They both made it--I guess the critical was still in surgery when I got off.
2340: Called to a housefire, but there were no injuries. Did get to provide oxygen to a firefighter, and I handed out blankets to the victims. That was... sad, that call. Depressing. At least for me. The guys wanted to get out marshmallows.
0015: Shouldn't have talked about marshmallows--Lyle's hungry. Did you know ambulance radio frequencies conflict with those of Burger King drive thru's? Our cashier, Amber, was kind enough to inform us. She didn't look happy at all.
0018: Call comes as we're sitting in the BK parking lot for an MVA, and we're off again. It was a total mess. Two cars and an SUV, a handful of minors and one very serious critical who was thrown through the windshiled of the subcompact the SUV rear-ended. We were one of three companies on the scene. Another company took the critical case and the second took the more serious minors, but since we got there last, we did on-site for those who refused transport or didn't need it.
0100: Back to the main house for supplies.
The whole night was like that--up and down and back and forth. I know part of the reason I stay in trauma is the fast pace, but this... gah. At least it's only what, thirty-two more hours?
First off, I should note that eight to six yesterday? Medical shift. So, staring down a nine to six nursing shift that was an eight-hour ridealong because apparently I suck for not knowing this was going to still be required and so have to do as many hours in one shot as possible... sucked. I'm using that word a lot. Charlie, don't you say a thing. Anyway.
2200: Board bus to greeting of, "Evening, Nightengale." Not nearly as endearing as when Bodie does it. They were upset as well that I didn't swipe them supplies. Guess what, guys (Roger and Lyle)? I didn't suddenly just switch sides...
2220: First call. Someone choking on a chicken bone in a KFC. I kid you not. Front counter KFC attendant: "Wow, it takes three of you?"
2240: Don't drink KFC coffee. Just... don't.
2255: Next call. Shooting, but the cops are already there which means it's clear for us to go in (you should've seen Logan's face when I was telling him about this... OK, you know what? Maybe you shouldn't have...) Two wounded, one critical and one minor. I handle the minor--grazed his cheekbone with a possible fracture--Lyle stabilizes the chest wound as best as he can. We left them at County. They both made it--I guess the critical was still in surgery when I got off.
2340: Called to a housefire, but there were no injuries. Did get to provide oxygen to a firefighter, and I handed out blankets to the victims. That was... sad, that call. Depressing. At least for me. The guys wanted to get out marshmallows.
0015: Shouldn't have talked about marshmallows--Lyle's hungry. Did you know ambulance radio frequencies conflict with those of Burger King drive thru's? Our cashier, Amber, was kind enough to inform us. She didn't look happy at all.
0018: Call comes as we're sitting in the BK parking lot for an MVA, and we're off again. It was a total mess. Two cars and an SUV, a handful of minors and one very serious critical who was thrown through the windshiled of the subcompact the SUV rear-ended. We were one of three companies on the scene. Another company took the critical case and the second took the more serious minors, but since we got there last, we did on-site for those who refused transport or didn't need it.
0100: Back to the main house for supplies.
The whole night was like that--up and down and back and forth. I know part of the reason I stay in trauma is the fast pace, but this... gah. At least it's only what, thirty-two more hours?