my addiction

chapter two

Today was going to be a long day at work. My mind was racing and well.....I work in a hospital. There's never a dull moment in this place. I'm a medical resident and sometimes I would give anything to just sell pizza or something that doesn't involve days without sleep and feeling like shit. This job really drains you of everything you have but hey its worth it when you get to be the one who helps l save someone's life. I've been placed on ER duties today so I have to keep my mind clear. You never know what might come through that door, but what was Robert talking about earlier? My mind begins rambling through all the possible things he could be talking about. Oh what if it's nothing maybe Robert likes me and he's just jealous. I mean I would hope not we've been friends for too long. The paramedics wheel in a patient. "You have a 23 year old female patient with a blunt injury to the chest she is awake, alert and oriented." I travel along side the the gurney as the paramedic reads off her vitals. "Her heart rate is at 130, blood pressure 100 over 60, her pulse oximetry reading was at 91%, and her respiratory rate was at 25." I begin rechecking the vitals of my patient. "Hi my name is Amanda and I will be helping you today. What's your name?" She clenches her teeth before speaking. "My name is Jessica. Jessica ashton." I put my stethoscope back around my neck and place my hands on her abdomen. "Ok jessica I'm just doing my routine checks. On a scale of 1 to 10 can you tell me how bad the pain is?" "8" she says. "Alright we will have some labs done and once I know exactly what's going on we'll go from there." I give my best smile while trying my hardest not to be distracted. While sitting and waiting for the results jessica begins breathing heavy and she is complaining of shortness of breath. I immediately get a nurse to order an EMR. My mind begins listing possible issues. I'm probably thinking too hard the problem is right beneath my nose. I know it is. The nurse returns with the x-ray and CT scans only to find my patient had two adjacent rib fractures. I pull out my pager and page doctor Jones he'd know what to do. "I'm a little busy with another ER patient when I'm done here I'll come right away. Until then give her 1mg of morphine and wait for me." What if he takes too long. Oh gosh what do I do if he takes too long?? I treat the patient with the prescribed medications and I take a seat. I wait for doctor Jones as I was told. I look down at my phone for a second and then I hear my patient coughing loudly. Doctor Jones comes running toward jessica and I do too. "What happened I gave you one simple task!?" "I don't know. I-I ...I looked down for a second and she started coughing up blood." My hands are shaking. "Asses the patient Amanda...tell me what's going on." "Ummm uh ok. Umm ok heart rate is 140 bp level is 90 over 40 and her spo2 is 87%." I grab my stethoscope and place it on her chest. "I um I don't think I hear any breathing on the left side." I say hands still shaking. "You don't think?? Excuse me? Talk to me like you know what the hell you're talking about!" "I am unable to asses lung sounds on her left side sir and she has unequal chest expansion." "Now what does that mean Amanda?" "Umm....uh" "come on! Time is ticking what's wrong with your patient amanda?" "My patient had pneumothorax. A umm a collapsed lung." My heart is racing and it feels like its going to beat straight out of my chest. "What are you going to do about it?" "I'm going to intubate?" "Is that a question or a statement Amanda?" By now I'm in complete shock and the world goes blank. "Statement. That's a statement sir!" My hands were still shaking as I moved toward the patient. "Move! I'll do it! Go get your self together!" I slowly begin to back up still watching everything before me. "Now!" Said Dr. jones. I hurried away and found a quiet place to think. This isn't like me my head's always in the game I'm never easily distracted but something about Alex had my mind completely mixed up. The rest of the day moved in a blur and before I knew it I was home.