Tuesday, October 30, 2007

I See Dead People

My moms colonoscopy was normal. No cancer! She checked herself out of the hospital this evening rather than staying another day or two as suggested by her doctor...........we'll see.

One of my patients died early this morning before my shift started. His body hadn't been picked up yet and so I went in to see him......I'd taken care of him for atleast 4 years and I wanted to pay my respects..............he didn't look dead. He wasn't even pale. So I looked a little closer and thought I saw him take a breath. I went back to the nurses station to grab my stethoscope. I was trying to do it without letting the 11-7 shift nurse see me. I didn't want her to think I didn't trust her judgement....but on the other hand I was the one who would be releasing the body to the funeral home.........so I got my stethoscope, went back to his room, listened fo ra heartbeat......didn't hear one.....confirmed to myself that he was in fact dead....turned to leave the room, and there stood the 11-7 nurse........I could feel my face turning red........ I explained to her that I didn't want to be on the 5 oclock news for releasing a live man to the funeral home, that he didn't look dead...&....I had to make sure since I was the one who'd be releasing the body. She wasn't offended. She knows me. She even laughed. :O)~ SO that's how I started my day, looking at a dead man.........Illness and death surround me these days....at home and at work. I need a happy diversion.

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