was trying to navigate was carrying 350 pounds and was not going to
squeeze by.
• Petite-sized scrubs. For years, we fought tooth and nail to find M
and L scrubs (even resorting to the XLs found only in the doctor's
lounge). Now, because of, ahem, lifestyle changes, many older nurses
are more comfortable in XL, XXL and XXXL scrubs. Now with the
invasion of the stick-figure-thin newbies, we have a cabinet full of S
and XS — and still not enough M and L. The youngsters complain of
being cold. Eat something. Put some meat on those bones.
• They type faster than I talk. Clacking away at the keyboard like a
courtroom stenographer, the youngsters can finish the whole OR
record by the time a myringotomy is done. That's fine. I bet I could
have completed an OR record on paper before she could.
We're all in this together
Yes, I know I sound like a curmudgeon. But don't let my gruff exterior
deceive you. I was once in your clogs, giggling at things my older
peers thought were inappropriate.
I might look at you with disapproval, but I'm smiling when I walk
away. And I might disapprove of your taste in music, but I sometimes
bob my head when you aren't watching.
I'll watch over you. I'll have your back if something wasn't your fault
(like the Otis elevator). I won't let you be treated the way my older
peers treated me. I'll get between you and an abusive member of the
surgical team.
When you reach my age and you're working with a fresh-faced nurse, I
hope you'll support them and help them grow. Now please turn down
that questionable music. My ears are about to start bleeding.
OSM
Write Paula at pwatkins12@comcast.net.
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