My new gig, overnight

Last weekend's moonlighting shift was a doozie. The kind that makes me threaten to myself not to sign up for any more shifts even though I know I will. There was a rapid response (think pre-code - meaning someone is tanking but still has a pulse), so I jogged upstairs. The situation was not looking good; the dude was obtunded (meaning totally out of it) without a readily apparent reason as to why. I requested a few studies and then leaned against the wall, waiting for the results. The overnight nurse supervisor was standing next to me.

Nurse: Don't worry, the hospitalist will be here soon to take over.
Me: I am the hospitalist.
Nurse: Oh, snap. You are the hospitalist. So I guess we're gonna do this then.

Just so you know, he ended up improving over the next hour or so. But if I'm totally honest, I don't really know how or why. But don't tell the overnight nurse; she thinks I figured out how to fix him!

My new gig

So I've started moonlighting at the county hospital. Basically, I work a 12-hour shift doing the exact same work I did in residency. "But, Bethie," you say. "I thought you hated hospital work?" You are correct, dear friend, but I have cardiology dreams on a rheumatology salary. So off to the hospital I go. One story from a day shift today, and another from last night's night shift coming soon.

There are 3 hospitalists on during the day. One of them left his hospital cell phone sitting on the desk next to me one morning, shortly after which multiple people tried calling. So he and I then played phone tag on our real cell phones (which get horrible reception in the hospital). I walked up to the clerk on the nursing unit where I thought he'd be and asked if they'd seen Dr. Smith recently. The clerk replied that he'd just gone down the hall that-a-way.

I eventually found Dr. Smith and returned his hospital phone to him. He laughed as he told me that he'd walked up to the same clerk a few minutes later, when the clerk informed him:

"Your intern is looking for you."

Intern. Hmphh. I ain't nobody's intern. Or maybe I should take it as a compliment that I still look young-ish enough to pass for an intern.

The end.

Not quitting my day job

I took E on a quick grocery run the other night. Incidentally, she was wearing her pj's, rainboots, and her work-out hoodie, which is a fashion only those under 5 can pull off. But back to my story. Oh, just kidding. I have to preface my story with this story:

E looooves Adele. I mean she's a real deal fan. Her favorite songs are The Rumor Song (Rumor Has It), Hello, and Water Under the Bridge. As I got the new Adele album for Christmas, we've been playing it pretty much non-stop in the car.

E: Mommy, can I have Adele singing Water Under the Bridge please?
Me: Yep, you certainly may. I like that one, too.
E: Mommy, can we go to Adele's house sometime? I want to hear her sing her songs.
Me: Um, Adele lives kinda far away. And we don't know her; she's a stranger. We don't go to strangers' houses.
E: No. Adele is not a stranger. We know her name.* So we can go to her house. And she can be my auntie.
Me: Well maybe we could right her a letter and tell her those things.
E: No. I don't want to write a letter. I want to go to her house and hear her sing her songs.


OK, so now that you know that here's this. We're in the car on our way to the grocery store.

E: Mommy, can I have Adele singing Water Under the Bridge please?
Me: Sure thing, kid. (I sing along.)
E: No, Mommy! You don't sing! You are NOT Adele.

I guess it's a good thing I have a well-paying day job that in no way depends on the quality of my vocal performance.




*I'm pretty sure daycare has defined a stranger as someone whose name you don't know. Not sure, but she frequently uses this criteria. Also, her grammar and enunciation has improved dramatically over the last few months, so I'm cutting back on the toddler-speaking typing.