So, TINS, TIWFDASL as a nursing supervisor at The Little Un-Named Hospital In Da City (TLUNHIDC). One night, I received a call from our ICU. The nurse on the other endtold me that she had an order to transfer a patient, from our hospital to The House Of God. She asked me what I wanted her to do.
(Again), I thought, “This! This is why I get the Big Bucks!”. I told her, “In that case, I think you ought to transfer your patient to The House Of God!”
She responded, “But, I don’t know if they have a receiving physician at The House Of God.”
My rejoinder, “Well, then, call the House Of God, talk to the nurse in their ICU, and verify that there is a receiving physician.”
(Henceforth, I’ll dispense with the “He said, She said” business. From now on, any dialog beginning with “But…”, is her. Any other dialog, is me.)
“But, what if their physician hasn’t received report from our physician?”
“Note that fact in your nursing notes of that conversation, call our doctor, and invite him/her to call House Of God’s receiving physician, and remedy that oversight.”
“But, I don’t know if report has been called!”
“You might elect to look in the chart, for a note documenting that report has been called. Or, when you talk to their ICU, ASK!”
“But, what if report has not been called?”
“Well, while you have them on the phone, give them report. And chart that fact.”
“But, I don’t know what ambulance service to call, to transport that patient!”
“Ask the switchboard who is next on the rotation, and call that service.”
“But, I don’t know if the family has been notified.”
“So, the required phone number is in the chart, correct? Once all the other pieces are in place, phone the contact person, bring them up to speed, and document same in your notes.”
“But, what do I do about his property?”
“I suppose that bagging it up, and sending it with him, might be reasonable.”
“But, what about the chart? How am I going to send the chart with him?”
“Most nurses photocopy it, and send the photocopy with the patient. I recommend you do likewise.”
“But, how am I going to get it photocopied?”
“Most charge nurses, have the ward clerk servicing their floor do the photocopying.”
“But, we cannot spare her for that long!”
“You have an eight bed unit, have three vacant beds, haven’t had an admission in 6 hours. If you cannot spare her, right now would be a good time to fill your supervisor in on what catastrophe is unfolding in your unit!”
(her: “stutter…stutter…er…um…uh…”)
(Me) “I’m waiting?”
(Her) “But…But…What do you want me to do?”
“Get a pen and paper.”
(her) “What?”
“Get a pen and paper.”
(her) “Why do you want me to get a pen and paper?”
“Simply do it. Now.”
(her) “I have a pen and paper.”
“Good. Write this down. Call The House Of God, verify that our doctor has reported to their doctor.
If not, call our doctor, and invite him to do so. You give report, and chart same. Call the ambulance service that the switchboard tells you is next up on the call list. Call his family, bag his property. Have your clerk copy the chart, and send that copy with him. Have you written all that down?”
(Her) “Uh, yeah.”
“Do you understand all that?”
(Her) “Uh, yeah.”
“Ok, now Do IT!”
End of call.
Musings of A Stretcher Ape 