I would really like to know this backstory

I got floated to a different unit last night. On the side of a trash can *inside the employees-only rest room* it said, "please do not pee in me", with a sad face underneath.

Overheard...

Coworker 1: "She asked that lady? That lady's as confused as the day is long."

Coworker 2: (pauses for a beat, then) "Oh, man. The day is REALLY long."

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!

Alternate title: I wonder what this guy does on Mondays...

So I was getting ready to leave and (in my night shift stupor) almost bumped into a patient walking with a tech. They kept walking (in between knots of doctors doing rounds and groups of nurses giving shift report) and when they got across the unit, I guess the guy saw the board where it says the date and other basic info.

He excitedly yelled, "IT'S FRIDAY!!!" ...

And proceeded to tear off his gown (he was, of course, nude underneath) and continue walking around the unit. Well, for a few seconds anyway.

On my way out after seeing this, I heard someone say, "well, some of us celebrate differently...".

Next best thing to a your mom joke

Me: "... And I'm going to be your nurse tonight until around 7 am."

Patient: "ok. Go easy on me, I just drove a really long way."

Me: "You did? Where did you come from?"

Patient (deadpan): "My mom."

Just a one-line vent

Ok, maybe more like one paragraph. Or two. Or... Fuck it.

Sometimes this place is so achingly sad I feel like I carry it around physically - as if it accumulates in my bones and changes the way that I move. I feel so much heavier after a few days of sadness around here. There is just so much hope. It kills me.

An aside: I don't like saying a patient "expired". I hate how that sounds so much. How about, "they've been trying to die for a month and finally won"? Or "patient died"? We call it a time of death, why do so many people say such quaint, stupid things around death?

I can't help but feel like I'm a cog on a conveyor belt sometimes. I love my job a lot, and sometimes I hate it a lot. Probably not for the reasons you'd think.

We can't do much about long term un-interpretable suffering. I can help you with pain as long as you're able to say something or look uncomfortable, or give me some kind of sign. If you're in a long term altered state of consciousness, sometimes we can't tell. Did that hurt? When you moved your arm there, were you trying to tell me something? I can't tell for sure. I am trying so hard to make this comfortable for you, while your loved ones crowd around and sit in the waiting room and talk, try and figure out what to do - what the chances are, what they mean. Can you hear all this? Do you know what they're saying? If I somehow miss a sign that you're terribly uncomfortable, that this is prolonged and endless torture ...

... Would you forgive me? ... hell, will you forgive me?

Sendoff to the other side, and go Oklahoma City Thunder

The last time I wrote about dying, it was because of long nights spent
with a patient. Again, I've spent the last few nights caring for
someone who is dying. She's been married for 50 years. She and her
husband immigrated (emigrated?) to the US in the fifties and started
off with nothing. People shunned them for being interfaith (she
was/is Catholic and he was/is Muslim, in the fifties). They married,
stayed in the US. Visited their extended families overseas. Enjoyed
each other very much.

Her husband is an adorable accented little old man. He's been
sleeping here every second. They've had friends come visit them
occasionally, but they don't have much family left. He is planning to
go back to his home country once she is gone. Last night he slept in
a recliner next to the bed, holding her hand the entire time. Every
time we turn her in the bed she reaches out for his hand until she
finds it again.

I came in early today for a coworker and sat in there with him for
almost an hour, while he talked about her and their life together.
Then he started asking me questions. I told him I was born in
Oklahoma City. Then he brightened and started talking about the
Oklahoma City thunder and how they take their series against the San
Antonio Spurs home tonight and they have such an exciting team. I
promised him I would come in and watch as much of that game tomorrow
as I have time to watch (I am working tomorrow, too). My friend and I
bought this guy dinner and he was so gratified. He hadn't eaten all
day and it seemed I couldn't think of a better way to spend my money.

So if any of you out there could spare a thought for this guy and his
lovely wife, please do so.

And GO THUNDER!