Ever hear the story about the man who caught a leprechaun and then wished his woo hoo was so long it would touch the ground?
The leprechaun didn’t like him very much, so he shrunk the man’s woo hoo and made both the man’s legs fall off.
Just like Mr. No-legs, a new tech in our ED should have been more careful about what he wished for.
The tech was eager and wanted to see some action that night.
Apparently he was aware of the Candyman Phenomenon, so he kept saying “I want to run a code tonight. I really want to run a code tonight.” He got to five requests in about the first half hour.
Then he tempted fate and kept saying it.
“I really want a code to come in.”
We told him to stop it, but he persisted.
Wouldn’t you know it. A gentleman got brought in by ambulance after having a syncopal event at home. He was semi-conscious and confused. His vital signs were stable in the field, but he looked out of it as the paramedics wheeled him into the room.
The nurse followed them into the room, pulled the curtains, and hooked the patient up to the monitor. Heart rate in the 40s. Blood pressure 120s systolic.
The tech was entering the patient’s information onto the computer when the nurse walked out of the room and told him “Hey. You got your wish. There’s a code.”
I looked up from the admission orders I was writing.
The tech got an excited look in his eye and says “Really?”
The nurse tossed him a washcloth and said “Yeah, really. Code Brown. Get wiping.”
Excuse we while I wipe coffee off my screen…
That’s too funny. It’s true, you get what you wish for! Just never say the “q” word in a not-so busy ED.
[...] via Be Careful What You Wish For | WhiteCoat’s Call Room. [...]
LMAO….thanks for my laugh of the day. I’m sure the tech will never hear the end of it (no pun intended)!
It took MONTHS of angry outbursts from me to finally get my husband to stop saying “Maybe there won’t be any calls tonight” whenever I was on-call for our hospice.
Even today, he had to take me in to the ER for a suspected broken toe (just dislocated) and the first thing he says when we’re being checked in? “At least it’s quiet in here today”….!!!
Some people just don’t learn!
Some people never learn.
Are you sure he wasn’t wishing for a co-ed?
Code Brown. That is what EMR’s, CMS core measures, JCAHO, medical-legal environment, is turning EM into — one big code brown.
…how do EMRs negatively impact EM? Just curious because from my point of view (as a MS3), EMRs make a lot of sense. Please enlighten me.
Awesome come-uppance.
If you’re going to wish….be very, very specific.:)
Ahhh…is there any better lesson then being humbled?
Funny tho.
Still love the candyman post!
Tech deserved it! Never tempt fate – she’s fickle and has a sick sense of humour!
Dear Dr. Whitecoat,
Sorry to bother you, but I have been reading you and Nurse K for a long time and now I can’t get to Nurse K because I haven’t been invited. What happened? You two are my favorite blogs. How do I get to Nurse K? You won’t go away will you?
Please help,
Lurker
I too love reading the banter between you and K. I have been reading both for the last several months. How do I get Nurse K to invite me to read her blog again?
Your help is appreciated and congrats on the outcome of the trial.
Carolyn
Hi Dr. Whitecoat,
I’m in the same position as Lurker (Debbie Kaiser). I religiously read your blog and Nurse K’s, but have been locked out (not invited) of her blog. Distressing.
Nurse K, if you are reading this, please let me in. My email is rcktgrl88@gmail.com.
Thanks so much,
Kathryn
I suspect that Nurse K either
1) got in hot water at work because of something she posted, or
2) got pissed off because the Nuese Jackie writers [allegedly] were stealing her stuff.
I put in the qualifier because I read that lawyers were involved.
Ditto on the lockout –
my screen name @comcast.net
I suspect that Nurse K either
1) got in hot water at work because of something she posted, or
2) got pissed off because the Nurse Jackie writers [allegedly] were stealing her stuff.
I put in the qualifier because I read that lawyers were involved.
Ditto on the lockout –
my screen name @comcast.net