can't we all just get along?

Anyone who has ever gone through medical education has some familiarity with the type of nurse depicted in this comic. (For those too lazy to click on the link, I'm talking about the Nurse Who Eats Medical Students For Breakfast.) I had a run-in with just such a nurse today, which I shall now replay for your enjoyment.

EMILY:

[writing busily in chart while copying lab values from computer-on-wheels]

NURSEZILLA:

[approaching with two nursing students in tow] Oh, THERE it is! We were looking all over for that! I need to use it.

EMILY:

[thinking she means the computer] Oh sure, no problem, let me just log out.

NURSEZILLA:

[impatiently] Yeah, the patient's going down to ultrasound, so I need the chart.

EMILY:

Oh... um... okay... [removes her progress note from the chart so she can finish writing it]

NURSEZILLA:

[grabbing the chart] Is that just your note, or is someone else's on the back of the page?

EMILY:

Oh, right, there is another note on the back.

NURSEZILLA:

[in a tolerantly amused tone, as though speaking to an idiot] See... they'll need that information. We have to make sure allllll the information goes with the patient.

EMILY:

Right, of course. [starts to put it back, then realizes Nursezilla has now opened the chart to a different place]

NURSEZILLA:

[with an air of great patience and long-suffering] Nope, not there. You have to look at what you're doing. [turns to nursing students] See, now if we do things right the first time, then mistakes won't be made.

EMILY:

[fantasizes about beating Nursezilla over the head with the chart, but instead turns back to the computer and starts copying down all the labs... again. sigh.]