The Night Shift

I walk into work coffee in hand. On the way, walking by everyone on their way home to their loved ones. Telephone rings. Heart beat quickens. Body relaxes as I heard that the nurse on the other end is calling about a patient I am not directly caring for. But she is insistent that I come check in on him. I walk over and see a man sitting up in bed. He is alone. He looks a little scared. He shows me the small amount of blood he’s coughed up. He says he came in for a procedure earlier that day but didn’t have anyone who could pick him up afterwards so had to stay the night. He stutters a little as he talks. I take his vitals, listen to his chest, listen to him talk. I tell the nurse we can watch him. My mind moves on to other tasks for the night. Not long later, a call comes out overhead. A rapid response to the man I had recently seen. My intern trails behind me to the room. The first thing I see is blood. Blood down his mouth, down his shirt, down to his pants. There is a flurry of people in the room. My heart beat quickens. Stick to the basics I tell myself as I feel the rooms eyes turn to me. We stabilize him. The team who did the procedure is coming in. I feel the patient looking at me. He’s crying. He’s scared. My gloved hand holds his that is covered with blood. Is there anyone you want me to call? I ask. No I don’t want to bother anyone. I ask again. Same response. I begin to feel that maybe there is no one to call. I look him in the eyes and say we are going to take care of him but I don’t add that I know he will be okay. Because I don’t. We bring him to the ICU and he is no longer my patient. My heart beat still quick adrenaline still running as I return to my patients. 

Written by Anonymous