Read Online Alone No More by Chris Philbrook - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Chris Philbrook
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never stopping, prepping more and more supplies for the ambulances that were only a minute or two away.
Sabrina swallowed, "Yeah. I'm not really the kind of person who deals well with this kind of thing."
"This kind of thing? You did go to school to be a nurse? They did tell you that at some point in time you might need to step up and help save lives right?" The Doctor replied, still smiling. He was almost flirting with her.
Sabrina laughed at his jest, "Yes Doctor, I'm aware of all that. I guess my preference is to work with people who aren't in critical conditions. I like helping folks with an existing problem, on the upswing, not necessarily the ones who are coming in with who knows what going on. I think I'm also scared I'll make a mistake and get someone hurt."
Barry nodded, handing her several medical instruments. "Look at how I have my things arranged and put those on your scrubs the same way. Nice flower pattern shirt by the way. Aren't those worn by pediatric nurses? Brings out the green in your eyes."
Sabrina blushed, "Well we've got several young kids on my floor right today, so I'm borrowing this from Deanna. Thought the little ones would like it." She slid all the tools into the small pockets and folds of her scrubs as he continued to talk.
"Let me give you very simple advice Sabrina, and if you can remember some of it, we'll get through this okay today, and we might even help some folks out in the process. First off, stay calm. Panic kills. Panic makes you do things too fast, and even though time is a factor here in the ER, you need to do things at a controlled speed. As long as you're under control, you'll be able to do the right things, right?" Barry asked her, his voice instilling her with a measure of confidence.
Sabrina felt encouraged. "Yeah, right."
"And remember, ABCDE and compression Sabrina. Just go down the check list, and if they are meant to be saved, then it will happen. I'll try to direct you as best I can, and you stay calm okay?"
"Deal."
"You can do this Sabrina," Barry said as the wail of an ambulance's approach could be heard through the heavy ER sliding doors. The first of the victims was here.
Sabrina said a short prayer, and hoped that she could indeed do this.
*****
Very quickly indeed her confidence was thrown out the window.
One after another a series of ambulances pulled in and vomited out a crew of EMTs and blood soaked people that needed incredible levels of skilled medical treatment. She felt like a tornado had descended on her and the hospital, complete with death and destruction in every direction. She focused cleanly on the good young Doctor, and did her level best to follow his every instruction. There were many, many instructions.
The first four injured were whisked directly into the trauma rooms where they were put into direct emergency care. Immediately thereafter a man with massive chest trauma was wheeled directly into surgery. And from there, things went downhill.
"This is where we step up Sabrina. When the ER is full, we need to triage, okay? Decide who can be fixed and who can't, okay?" Doctor Barry was serious now, his voice flat. His tone authoritative.
All Sabrina could do was adjust her gear and nod. She hadn't even helped anyone yet and there were already large smears of blood on her scrubs. It seemed like blood was everywhere. She heard the voices of the next batch of EMTs, and it overwhelmed her.
"Large human bite wound at the neck, appears that the carotid is perforated, blood loss is severe-" and that voice trailed off, loudly and quickly giving Doctor Barry a litany of medical facts that frightened her.
"Blood pressure is dropping-"
"IVs are in and running. But he's lost a lot of blood-"
"Need plasma-"
"Intubate immediately, the airway can be made clear-"
"Gunshot is a flesh wound, send him to the lobby. He waits."
And more. It all sounded like death to her.
Seconds later another patient came in on foot, likely from the same
Sabrina swallowed, "Yeah. I'm not really the kind of person who deals well with this kind of thing."
"This kind of thing? You did go to school to be a nurse? They did tell you that at some point in time you might need to step up and help save lives right?" The Doctor replied, still smiling. He was almost flirting with her.
Sabrina laughed at his jest, "Yes Doctor, I'm aware of all that. I guess my preference is to work with people who aren't in critical conditions. I like helping folks with an existing problem, on the upswing, not necessarily the ones who are coming in with who knows what going on. I think I'm also scared I'll make a mistake and get someone hurt."
Barry nodded, handing her several medical instruments. "Look at how I have my things arranged and put those on your scrubs the same way. Nice flower pattern shirt by the way. Aren't those worn by pediatric nurses? Brings out the green in your eyes."
Sabrina blushed, "Well we've got several young kids on my floor right today, so I'm borrowing this from Deanna. Thought the little ones would like it." She slid all the tools into the small pockets and folds of her scrubs as he continued to talk.
"Let me give you very simple advice Sabrina, and if you can remember some of it, we'll get through this okay today, and we might even help some folks out in the process. First off, stay calm. Panic kills. Panic makes you do things too fast, and even though time is a factor here in the ER, you need to do things at a controlled speed. As long as you're under control, you'll be able to do the right things, right?" Barry asked her, his voice instilling her with a measure of confidence.
Sabrina felt encouraged. "Yeah, right."
"And remember, ABCDE and compression Sabrina. Just go down the check list, and if they are meant to be saved, then it will happen. I'll try to direct you as best I can, and you stay calm okay?"
"Deal."
"You can do this Sabrina," Barry said as the wail of an ambulance's approach could be heard through the heavy ER sliding doors. The first of the victims was here.
Sabrina said a short prayer, and hoped that she could indeed do this.
*****
Very quickly indeed her confidence was thrown out the window.
One after another a series of ambulances pulled in and vomited out a crew of EMTs and blood soaked people that needed incredible levels of skilled medical treatment. She felt like a tornado had descended on her and the hospital, complete with death and destruction in every direction. She focused cleanly on the good young Doctor, and did her level best to follow his every instruction. There were many, many instructions.
The first four injured were whisked directly into the trauma rooms where they were put into direct emergency care. Immediately thereafter a man with massive chest trauma was wheeled directly into surgery. And from there, things went downhill.
"This is where we step up Sabrina. When the ER is full, we need to triage, okay? Decide who can be fixed and who can't, okay?" Doctor Barry was serious now, his voice flat. His tone authoritative.
All Sabrina could do was adjust her gear and nod. She hadn't even helped anyone yet and there were already large smears of blood on her scrubs. It seemed like blood was everywhere. She heard the voices of the next batch of EMTs, and it overwhelmed her.
"Large human bite wound at the neck, appears that the carotid is perforated, blood loss is severe-" and that voice trailed off, loudly and quickly giving Doctor Barry a litany of medical facts that frightened her.
"Blood pressure is dropping-"
"IVs are in and running. But he's lost a lot of blood-"
"Need plasma-"
"Intubate immediately, the airway can be made clear-"
"Gunshot is a flesh wound, send him to the lobby. He waits."
And more. It all sounded like death to her.
Seconds later another patient came in on foot, likely from the same
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