Sharps

Being in the room scheduled to finish first, I knew meant I'd be recycled elsewhere. My poor scrub had sore eyes, and we got her out after the first case to get to the clinic. She's on meds for the inflammation now. One of our lunch nurses took over for her by 0930.

My second surgeon wore a Santa Hat, so I played the Charlie Brown Christmas album via utyube. When the dance starts, Dr. H orders me to "Turn it Up! And Dance!" So, I did. Then got J who was in the core to come in, and she joined me without prompting. Dr. H just giggled. The patient only had a block, so got to hear our silliness. I assured him his surgeon was still working diligently. He didn't seem concerned.

That room done, we set up our room for another room that was having technical difficulties. That whole team would shift over later. We gave lunches. A grazing lunch had been laid out, fruit and cheese, mostly. Well, mostly sweets, but I only had eyes for fresh fruit, so I didn't need to stop and eat. Another scrub was also ill, but determined to stay. Another nurse finally took over from him, I covered for her, and he sat there getting a liter of fluid via IV, with anti-nausea and pain meds before he left.

Our charge nurse couldn't give lunches because she is still in her knee immobilizer and crutches. And I can't hear well this week, my ears are sore and congested, also fighting off a constant sinus headache the last three days.

Yeah, getting into that "other" christmas spirit.

Raw, cold winds.

Monday, after a reasonable day with Dr. Slow, he came back in as we were finishing cleaning, and gave the scrub and I christmas cards. We thanked him, this was unexpected, and wished him a Merry Etc. Very nice, we thought. As I'm leaving I open the card, it's actually rather cute, polar bear nosing a decorated tree. Then I open it up, inside is a rather large bill. VERY nice. Perhaps to do with us not getting a bonus from the hospital at all, usually we get at least something. D and I got out the black light, and examined all the security features. We will break it into $20s at a bank before trying to spend it, since many places can't take large bills, and we don't want to ask it of them anyway. And no one at work is mentioning it, save the scrub I worked with that day - and even we didn't specify the amount. Perhaps unsure if he gave the same to everyone? It's like we've all seen a fairy, and are deciding not to admit to it, in case it vanishes.

Still, useful, kind and generous. We plan to get some good kitchen sharp things, scissors and knives. After Thursday.