Hobbled
So many new visitors here these last few days. I feel rather shy about the attention. And found a new wave of blogs that inspires me to continue writing here.
Dr. A hobbled in, with his story of a touch football game, and how he ruptured his achilles tendon, yesterday. Yes, he did his cases, and followed himself in his room, with his own surgery. We were just glad he let Dr. B do the procedure. Dr. B proposed putting him in a full body cast, assuming that compliant behaviour seemed highly unlikely.
I work in a weird situation. Surgery is just not like all the other jobs.
We were a little sad we couldn't do something special for him, no nail polish or temporary tattoos, no colostomy bag stuck on. Not even pre-recording him screaming in pain, to play after he was under anesthesia and freak out Dr. B when he made incision. Thought of it all too late.
On the other hand, I have been asked to prevent such shenanigans, and have. No one seriously objects when I say no as the nurse in the room.
And I personally put the Harley tattoo on the surgeon who would have been hurt if we hadn't done anything. All depends. I'm not into practical jokes at all. But for those I work with, it seems to be a way to provide a backward message of reassurance. That they'll be fine, it's not so bad, that they are liked and thought of, but not in a sentimental way. No one did any such thing when Dr. G had his last amputations - right before he died.
We are oddly superstitious, devotedly believing in Murphy's Law and it's OR corollaries. Never say the Q-word. Don't need to get out early. Have the code cart nearby if you get a bad feeling. Maybe the jokes are for luck. We who have been around a while know how bad it can go, and how fast. Having one of our own in that vulnerable position is not comfortable, and is better than being there ourselves. So we whistle past the graveyard, or honk our red noses.
Dr. A hobbled in, with his story of a touch football game, and how he ruptured his achilles tendon, yesterday. Yes, he did his cases, and followed himself in his room, with his own surgery. We were just glad he let Dr. B do the procedure. Dr. B proposed putting him in a full body cast, assuming that compliant behaviour seemed highly unlikely.
I work in a weird situation. Surgery is just not like all the other jobs.
We were a little sad we couldn't do something special for him, no nail polish or temporary tattoos, no colostomy bag stuck on. Not even pre-recording him screaming in pain, to play after he was under anesthesia and freak out Dr. B when he made incision. Thought of it all too late.
On the other hand, I have been asked to prevent such shenanigans, and have. No one seriously objects when I say no as the nurse in the room.
And I personally put the Harley tattoo on the surgeon who would have been hurt if we hadn't done anything. All depends. I'm not into practical jokes at all. But for those I work with, it seems to be a way to provide a backward message of reassurance. That they'll be fine, it's not so bad, that they are liked and thought of, but not in a sentimental way. No one did any such thing when Dr. G had his last amputations - right before he died.
We are oddly superstitious, devotedly believing in Murphy's Law and it's OR corollaries. Never say the Q-word. Don't need to get out early. Have the code cart nearby if you get a bad feeling. Maybe the jokes are for luck. We who have been around a while know how bad it can go, and how fast. Having one of our own in that vulnerable position is not comfortable, and is better than being there ourselves. So we whistle past the graveyard, or honk our red noses.
Posted by Zhoen on Friday, November 14, 2008
6 comments:
That's fascinating, and marvellously written.
Great to catch up - I know about the grief of giving up dreams, but as we all agree, you have to focus more on what you have. Disappointment, like all kinds of smallness, cann just take up too much room.
Thanks for all the loving support over at mine.
You deserve those new readers.
As one of those new readers, I have to say I feel compelled by the truth behind your writing Zhoen. It's clear, real and heartfelt. You are a good writer and have the capacity to connect to your audience with a very few words. I admire that in a writer.
As far as jesting in the workplace, I think we all need to let go sometimes, particularly at times of high stress. At my work we are going through a massive restructuring (read: layoffs, demotions and benefit cuts) and being able to laugh at something is one of the only mechanisms we have for coping wth the stresses. I think it's a natural human response to "make light" at times of stress; we can only stand so much without a pressure release valve of some nature.
Hang in there, and keep writing. You are very good at it.
That's wonderful, Zhoen. I laughed out loud several times - early on a bleak November day, too! I love the kind thoughts of special treatment!
Keep whistling past the graveyard!
I recognise that humour from my old days in a high pressured social work office. It IS a reassurance and oddly a comfort.
What Lucy said re your writing.
With each blog entry I read I learn more. I suppose that is true of most blogs, though of my own it does not always hold true.
Surgical humor is pretty rough, and constant. Best not to show weakness in the form of not laughing. I laugh a lot, and have gotten in a few good punchlines of my own over the years.
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