Nurse Or Nanny?

Chapter Two

I'm grabbing at my coat and pinching it by my scarf trying to keep the cold wind from finding its way into my jacket.  It's January, its dark outside and the sky is clear, meaning no snow today, but freezing temperatures.  Sometimes I think I'd rather have the snow, but thinking about driving in it and I am thankful for the cooler weather.  I walk into the office and it's a buzz with people, I find the meeting room and there is no one there.  Annoyed I walk down to the scheduling department and ask Nancy if anyone has shown up yet. 

"Hey Nancy, is anyone else here for the meeting about Paul Torrez?"

"Ummm, nope, you're the first. Guess everyone is running a little late, its Monday though, so its to be expected." she says as she answers the phone and puts three on hold before talking to someone. I would hate to have her job, dealing with angry people all day about how no one has shown up to help them with anything is not something I could do. Nancy on the other hand is fantastic at it, she makes everyone seem as though they are the center of the universe and it helps us nurses for when we are running late. 

I head back to the meeting room and wait for the other people show up.  I drink my coffee and go over my notes about Paul. He is a recovering drug addict who needs us to come in and help him with his medications and make sure he is keeping on track.  Us nurses don't have to go in so much now that his wounds have healed up and his skin breakdown is minimal, it's more the social workers who deal with him now.  He's been having problems with people in his neighbourhood and we are talking about possibly moving him into some subsidized housing and have people more regularly check in on him. That's what this meeting is about. He is pretty lucky, people don't normally get this kind special treatment after finishing rehab but he had a dedicated sister who will do anything to make sure he's taken care of.   

Finally my manager walks in, Paul's case manager and his social worker Katie trickle in minutes apart.  We start to talk about how he is doing, I say that I see him once a week and he seems to be okay, he has brought up the idea of moving to his sisters house, but doesn't want to bring trouble there.  Katie says that she has found a place that he can put an application in, he just needs to fill it out and she'll fast track it herself.  I like Paul, he seems like a pretty good guy, he just fell  in with the wrong crowd but he got himself clean, has a job and is starting to get his life back on track. 
"I'll take out the paperwork Katie, he's on my schedule for later this evening, I can help him fill it out." I knew they were going to ask me anyway because of my history in finance, they think because I have a business degree I automatically know how to fill our every piece of paperwork on the planet. No guys, just what was related to financial advising, credit cards, mortgages, TFSAs etc.  But oh well. I try not to make a big deal out of it.
"You will! That would be so helpful, I have a million things to do here today and wouldn't have been able to get this to him for a couple days."
"Yeah, its no problem. Is there anything else that needs to go out to him?"
"Yes actually, if you wouldn't mind asking him to get a record of employment from his current job, it will help fast track his application for the subsidized housing." Katie says quite excitedly. Katie is a beautiful human and has so much empathy for the people she helps.
"Not a problem, I have to stop at scheduling to see if there are any more hours to pick up or if anyone has cancelled due to being in the hospital. I'll swing by your office on the way out, will ten minutes be enough time to get things together?"
"Yes, I'll leave now, see you in a few." Katie gathers up her things and leaves in a hurry. 
"Laura, I worry that you take on too much, I realize you want to help, but this really is part of Katie's job." my manager tells me sympathetically.
"I know, I know. I will slow down and take some time off in the summer, but it just seems silly that Katie drive all the way out there when I am heading there anyway. And honestly, he is doing so well I probably would have been in and out of his place in five minutes." 
"Okay, if you're sure. I have a conference call soon, but if you need anything before you head out just pop by my office okay?"
"Sure thing boss." I say it jokingly and he sort of laughs it off. For a guy in a basically all female work environment he does pretty well with us.