“Jayden’s parents. Just wanted to warn you that they’re there before we do bedside report.”
“Let’s save him for last. I’d like to talk to them.”
“Sure thing.”
First, they hit room twenty-two. A sweet little pair of twenty-eight-week twins slumbered in their incubator, tiny as could be. Their heads might have fit in her palm. These girls had straight-forward plans of care; regular feeding, and just general monitoring for illness and making sure their growth was on track. One had a bit of jaundice, so she’d need time under the bili-light for her phototherapy.
In room twenty-three, she had a newly admitted patient, a little boy with perinatal depression, which was just a fancy word for a traumatic delivery. His little body was overheating without enough oxygen, so the doctors had him on cooling packs to prevent brain injury. Rosie was familiar with that protocol as well.
In room twenty-four, lay Jayden, who still hadn’t been weaned off his vent. Jayden’s parents sat near his bed. Rosie couldn’t remember their names, so she quickly checked the chart as Shannon greeted them and introduced her. Then they went back into the hall to go over the report.
“Shannon?” Rosie asked quietly. “Why aren’t we doing this in the room?”
“Because we don’t have answers yet and I want to brief you without them hearing, so they don’t get the wrong idea.” Shannon’s usually sunny disposition had sobered. “Dr. Carter was expecting to get the results of his interstitial lung disease panel back today. They haven’t come in yet, but they should.”
Rosie bit her lip. That was a specific test to check lung function.
“You haven’t seen him in a while. But they still can’t wean him off the vent at all. He’s still at the maximum level.”
Rosie found herself wishing she’d called in sick for the first time since she started clinicals in college. Shannon had more experience than she did, and Rosie could see the other nurse fighting tears.
“I’m going to be a mess,” Rosie admitted out loud.
“You’ve never had this happen?”
“Never,” she gulped. “How? How do I do this?”
“The results might not come back until tomorrow. But Dr. Carter feels we’re delaying the inevitable.”
Rosie nodded. Shannon grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hall to the break room and shut the door firmly behind them.
“Listen, Rosie.” She put her hands on Rosie’s shoulders and bent over to look her in the eyes. “I’m not going to lie to you; I’ve lost several now. It never gets any easier. But you’re a nurse, and he’s still your patient. Jim and Mandy don’t need to worry about this yet. Let Dr. Carter doherjob. She’ll be the one to make the call. I just wanted to warn you that this might be coming.”
“Thanks.” Rosie took a deep breath.
“You gonna be okay?” Concern furrowed Shannon’s brows.
“Yeah. Get out of here, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As Shannon headed toward the computer to punch out of her shift, Rosie poured herself a cold drink of water and gave herself a pep talk. This was the career she chose, and she knew what she signed up for. Realistically, she knew they couldn’t save every baby that came through those doors. With a few moments to herself before she had to start her rounds, she pulled out her cell phone.
Rosie: Just a warning to everyone, it looks like it’s gonna be a bad night. I might have to go radio silent for a couple days.
Olivia: What’s wrong?
Nadia: You guys that busy?
Rosie: Not that. One of my favorite patients may not make it. I’m probably going to be a wreck when I get out of here. Sorry.
Mia: I’m so sorry, Rosie.:hugging GIF:
Jade: I’m sorry, sugar.
Olivia: You want to come over after your shift?
Rosie: Maybe. I’ll see how tired I am.
Olivia: Just buzz, I’ll let you up.
