A “Slow Code” is hospital slang for a controversial practice in which medical staff respond slowly to a life threatening situation….on purpose…. “The Psychiatric Unit of a hospital can be, well…. a little crazy, especially for a young and spirited male nurse. But a transfer to a medical unit soon exposes who is really crazy, in a laugh-out-loud, eye-opening look…
The Graveyard Shift….
A key part of any respectable orientation process includes gaining familiarity with every shift, although my duties were assigned to the daylight hours, a sample of the ‘graveyard shift’ was inevitable. I was given an extra day off in between to say goodbye to the land of the living and attempt to prepare my body and mind for pulling an all-nighter. For…
Pharmaceutical Fine Print….
We have all seen the commercials for the latest pharmaceutical masterpiece. A brand new drug that will solve any problem you may have, even some you didn’t know you had until this very commercial. They start with some vague innocent question to the viewer, “Do you, or does someone you know, feel tired in the morning?” The unsuspecting viewer thinks, Hey,…
Our Hidden Horror….
The facility its self was like something out of a low budget horror movie from the 1960s. That also being the time period when any equipment upgrades or significant maintenance probably took place. The term ‘low budget’ also seemed key on many levels. In the defense of those who run facilities such as this, it’s not their fault, it’s ours.…
“The Orientee” another dark comedy coming soon(ish)…
Already a sense of change sweeps over me as I realize I just walked on my new unit without having to first pass through any sort of security system. (I’m still trying to figure out if this implies safety, or a lack there of) That ‘hospital smell’ is a lot more prevalent here. The staff seems to carry more of…
Hospital Humor….
“Oh that’s just God, he thinks he’s a Doctor…. or something like that, I always get the punch line wrong.” I smiled politely and did my best to portray some genuine amusement. Being my last day on the psych unit I was admittedly a little touched at my patients attempt to amuse me with an old hospital joke. This type…
Aware Monkey 