Chapter 4: Day 1 at work: Lara

Lara

I’m starting to get to know my way around the hospital.  Being in a new environment is exciting, but patients are still the same.  It’s a good thing that I like what I do.  Even though I only draw blood from these patients, it makes me feel that I am helping in some way.  A very small way.  Every early morning rounds , and the phlebotomist splits into two teams.  Rounds is when the phlebotomist draw blood from the inpatients at a designative time, since there tends to be a lot of orders the phlebotomist all leave the lab at the same time.  All orders are from the attending physicians for each patient. Each team has a leader that everyone in that team reports to.  The team leader then keeps everyone focused to make sure all team members are not falling behind with their assigned blood draws.  We are then assigned to go to different areas of the hospital to expedite the patients that need to have their blood drawn.  My team leader is Nelly.  After she gave me my draws, I left her. Right now, I am with a difficult patient.  This patient is cussing at me and calling me names.  I don’t take it personally, however, hearing a person say such hurtful things gets me upset. This patient has been in the hospital since before I started working here.  I am not the only one who has had a run in with this patient.  “Sir, I know that we have been drawing your blood every night and day since you have been admitted.  If you have any questions regarding your care, you will have to speak with the attending Physician or Nurse that is assigned to you.  We, as phlebotomists, only fulfill orders we receive from the Physician.  If a certain test can be added on to a previous blood drawn from you then we add it on.  However, there are times when we will have to draw blood again for the same tests to compare the results.  Would you still want to speak with the nurse first” I said to the patient tampering down my annoyance.  Honestly, Doctors in the hospital don’t really order blood test just because they think it’s fun.  Most of the doctors I’ve come across want to help the patient, but sometimes other doctors are something else.  But that’s just my thoughts from my experience.  Getting back to this patient, who is a grouch, asked for the nurse.  So, I politely excuse myself, collect my thoughts, and head to the nurse’s station.  The nurse that I am looking for is their chit chatting with 2 other nurses.  They all look at me, expressionless.  “Excuse me, patient in room 405 is refusing the blood draw.  I’ll be on the floor a bit longer, so if you are able to change the patient’s mind, I’ll come back.  My extension number is 1607” I stated directly to the nurse.  “Did you try to draw his blood” the nurse, who is female, said in a very clipped way.  “I did not try to draw blood” I replied.  “Then, how do you know he refused” she argued back.  I really had to hold in my temper with this nurse.  “Did you not hear him cussing me out 4 minutes ago.  His room door is open, and he was very loud.  I’m surprised you didn't hear him,” I said trying to keep a pleasant face, but I’m sure it was RBF, and those of you who know what that is understand how annoyed I am right now.  Before she could respond I quickly added, “I introduced myself, since he was awake, and let him know why I was in his room.  That’s when he started going off.  Hence, I did not try because I didn’t get that far.  Furthermore, I will still be on the floor for a few more minutes drawing other patients, feel free to find me or call me if he is cooperative” I stated, then I went to the next patients’ room.  Before I entered the next room, I called my supervisor on duty tonight to let her know what was going on just in case there is a complaint.  She understood the situation, so I continued with what I was doing. I didn’t have much blood draws on this floor, so it only took me 15 minutes.  I didn’t really pay attention if the nurse went into room 405 or not.  I didn’t get a call when I was finishing up with my last blood draw on the floor, so I just went to meet up with the rest of my team.  “Hey girl, I heard what happened.  Unfortunately, we can’t force patients to get a blood draw. We will just wait until the nurse, or the doctor calls us or not.  Do these patient’s next” Nelly said and handed me 5 more patients to get drawn.  “Thank you, I’ll call you when I’m finished”, I stated and walked away.  My next 5 blood draws were a breeze, thank goodness, because my limit has been reached with difficult patients for today.  I called my team leader, Nelly, “hey, I’m finished, where are we going next” I asked her.  “We are finished.  Head back to the lab” she said in a singy songy voice. I was overjoyed and started walking back with a bounce in my step and responded, “that’s great.  I’ll head back now.”  “Oh, we are going out to you want to come” she asked.  “Sure, you all can let me know where we are going when I get back to the lab” I said.  “You got it” she replied.  Then we both hung up.  As I was in the elevator going down, I heard, “hold the elevator” by a masculine voice.  My reaction was automatic and didn’t even really think, “OK” I said and pushed the open button on the elevator panel.  I didn’t think much about it.  However, the elevator isn’t extremely big, so I pushed my cart to the side to make room.  “Thank you” I heard from the same masculine voice.  “No problem” I said absently while I was tidying up my cart, so I didn’t have to do it when I got back to the lab.  “What floor are you going to” I asked still paying attention to my cart.  “2” he responded.  I turned around and pressed two since I was blocking the button panel.  “Thank you” he said.  “Sure” I replied.  My floor was on 3, so it was a very short ride.  My phone rings so I answer it.  “Hey” I said as soon as I picked it up.  “Where are you” Nelly asked.  “I’m in the elevator” I replied.  “Still.  It doesn’t take that long to ride the elevator down 2 floors” she says, loudly.  I laughed and replied, “I have no control over the elevator.”  “Ok then hurry, we are hungry” she complained in a whiny voice.  I looked at the numbers that lit up when we passed and heard a ding when the 3 was lit up.  “I’ll be there, the elevator just arrived, so I’ll be coming from the back of the lab in 1 minute” I said and hung up.  I walked out of the elevator and heard “have a good day.”  I responded but didn’t really focus on the person, “thank you, you too.” 

     After putting everything away, the graveyard shift decided to go to The Pancake House for breakfast.  There was 6 of us at the table.  Even though we really didn’t want to talk about work, that was the only thing we talked about.  “Hey Lara, I heard you had patient in room 405” Maria said.  I rolled my eyes and said, “I didn’t, he wasn’t very happy with me, and he wouldn’t let me even try.  But I must admit, his veins looked really easy to draw from, so from my point of view, I have no idea what the issue was.”  “The nurse called the lab to complain.  So, the supervisor for the morning shift sent someone else, but returned saying the patient refused” Dani stated.  My eyebrows lifted.  “Seriously” I said amazed.  “We all had a run in with that nurse before, she’s not friendly” Maria stated.  “Don’t worry about it, I had the nurse draw the patient and sent the blood samples to the lab” I heard from behind me.  Everyone was staring with big grins on their faces when Nelly said, “thanks doc, but we are all thick skinned.  As phlebotomist we don’t call the shots, so we don’t take it personally.”  That voice seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place it.  Furthermore, I did not turn around in my seat to see who was talking.  So, I just sat there.  “Do you want to join us doc or are you meeting someone” Cherry asked with a twinkle in her eye.  “Thank you, but I am meeting someone” Doc replied then continued with, “you all enjoy your breakfast.  Don’t forget to have a good rest.”  As I heard his footsteps walking away, only then did I take a peek at who “doc” was.  “Oh, my goodness, he has never done that before” Cherry stated.  “I know, we come here a lot and see him, but he has never said anything to us before” Nelly said.  “Are one of you dating him” Maria asked the table with a curious gaze.  All our heads moved side to side.  “Maybe he just wanted to be nice since we all work at the same place, and we will eventually come across each other.  There’s nothing wrong with that” I said.  There was a murmur of agreement going around the table.  A few even whispered, “yeah, I guess that’s it.”  “So, what’s good here” I asked everyone at the table.  “Waffles with whipped cream and strawberry syrup” someone suggested.  “Crepes” another suggested.  “Everything” another said.  We all laughed.  “Well, I will try the waffles with whipped cream and strawberry syrup.  I wonder if they can put a scoop of ice cream on it” I said.  All eyes were on me.  “What, why not, this shift was difficult, and I deserve it” I stated with nonchalance, however, I did have a slight grin on my face.  “That sounds good.  I’m having that too” Maria said.  After the waitress took our orders, my lovely co-workers started to gossip.  As I was listening to them, I thought that this gossip was juicy like a soap opera.  One of the day shift phlebs was fulling around with one doctor.  However, I can totally understand that I mean we are always around each other so it’s only natural.  My text message notification goes off.  I glance at it, and I see Orion’s name pop up.  I gave a little smile and thought nothing of it, but that started a big inquisition from the table.  “Who’s that Lara” Maria asked.  “Do you have a boyfriend” Paul asked.  “He is just a friend” I replied.  “What kind of friend” Maria asked.  “Just a friend” I replied.  “What’s this friend’s name” Dani asked.  “His first name is Orion, and I don’t know his last name” I answered.  “So, what did he text you” Maria asked.  “You all are a nosey bunch” I said to them.  “How else are we supposed to get to know you if we don’t be nosey” Dani replied.  The whole table giggled at that.  I was about to answer but the waitress came with our food.  “Mine looks really good.  This is exactly what I wanted” I said with relish.  I scooped up a piece and put it in my mouth.  Oh, my goodness, this tastes so good.  “Mm” I moaned.  “Would you like to get a room alone with your breakfast dessert,” Paul said with a smirk.  “For this, I can be an exhibitionist” I said with a snicker.  “So, Lara, it’s been a couple of weeks since you started, how do you like it” Nelly asked.  I took another bite before I answered.  “The job isn’t any different.  The patients are good and bad, but that’s to be expected.  My co-workers are a bunch of crazy loons.  However, they're not so bad” I replied.  “Who are you calling a bunch of crazy loons.  You willingly applied for the graveyard position.  So, who is the biggest loon here” Maria stated with a laugh.  “Exactly, I fit right in” I said in a matter-of-fact way.  “Hey doc ordered the same thing as you Lara” Nelly said.  So of               course, we all looked in his direction at the same time, and no, we couldn’t have been any less obvious.  Then we all turned back together and laughed. “He’s got good taste” I said continuing to laugh.  So, that’s how we were for the rest of breakfast.  We all pretty much got along for the most part.  When we were finished, we paid our bill, left a tip, and then walked to our cars.  I waved to each of them one at a time as they drove past, however, I didn’t get into my car right away. 

     I took out my phone and looked at the text message from Orion.  Orion: Morning Lara, I hope work wasn’t too hard last night.  I’m having a get together Thursday night.  Do you want to come?  Me: I’m off on Thursday, so sure.  However, remember I am socially awkward. Then I put a smiley face emoji.  Orion: LOL I’ll be next to you until you feel comfortable.  Don’t worry about it. Hug emoji. Me: Ok, I’ll be there.  “Hey lab, why are you hanging out here” the voice said.  I looked up and I saw doc whatever his name is.  “Oh hey, yes a friend of mine just texted me that he’s going to have a few people over on Thursday and thought I’d might like to go” I said.  I intentionally paused then continued with, "by the way, my name is Lara, not lab," then, I stuck out my hand to shake his hand.  He shook my hand and said, “Nice to meet you, I’m Chase Cameron.”  “Nice to meet you to Dr Cameron” I replied.  “Please call me Chase, we are not in the hospital at the moment” he said with a slight smile.  Well, I didn’t know how to respond and to be honest I was a bit hesitant.  All I could think of was to give him a tight-lipped smile and nod my head.  If I was at work right now and meeting him, I would have a lot to say.  But since this is technically my personal life, I am a total ditz.  I mean here I am, just finished breakfast with co-workers where Doctor Cameron also ate breakfast, and I didn’t have a thing to say.  Oh, maybe I should ask about breakfast.  “How did you like your breakfast” I asked, not knowing why.  I’m lame. Yeup, I am 38 years old, and I am lame.  “It was good.  I saw you order it and I wanted to try it” he replied.  “Did you have ice cream too” I asked with a smile.  “You had ice cream with yours” he asked surprised.  “Yes, it was so good” I answered.  “No wonder you looked like you were enjoying it” he replied.  “Yes, since it’s our dinner time I wanted to indulge a little bit” I stated, then I continue with “well, I better head home.  I’ll see you around." I turned, opened my car door, got in, started it and drove away.  I was not sure if he said bye or not.  Heck, I didn’t even see if he waved goodbye.  When I pulled into my garage at home, I looked at my phone again and saw 2 more text messages from Orion.  Message 1 Orion: I just started work so I’ll leave you to rest.  Message 2 Orion: Can you text me before you leave for work?  After reading the messages I didn’t respond and just put my phone in my bag.  Orion and I have been getting to know each other via text since we work different hours.  My impression of what we have been doing felt nice.  We were saying things in general, such as how are you, how’s your day, what you doing; you know that kind of stuff.  Nothing too deep.  The first day we met I thought maybe I would feel something, but so far, nothing has compared to the one that I can never forget.  It’s not that I have never tried to forget Nate, subconsciously I compare anyone I meet with him.  It totally sucks.  Moving forward is what I was trying to do, but it all came down to chemistry.  Now, when I say chemistry, I mean the one who can make me have tingles all over just by receiving a text message.  The downside is, I never felt safe with him.  What I mean by that is, I never felt that my heart was safe.  No matter that I decided to leave him, I just never felt that same feelings or more for any other that came after.  I didn’t want to dwell on this, so I got up and took a shower.  Honestly, working in a hospital was gross.  I even smell like the hospital.  There are so many germs all over the place, I must be extra vigilant to keep my immune system healthy. Plus, another habit of constantly washing my hands.  I even tend to wash my hair more since I started at the hospital.  It's not that I am a germ freak, I just don’t want to catch anything.  After taking a shower, I was lying in bed.  This past shift wiped me out, however, I didn’t feel like going to bed just yet.  So, I lay here staring at my phone.