Revenge Accomplished

The situation with Mr. Grange gave me a confidence that I didn’t have before. I wasn’t completely sure how I knew that something was wrong with Mr. Grange but I just knew. I had something that no medical school could teach. Something better than a couple of letters after my name. What I had was intuition. A voice inside me that told me something was wrong even though all of my patient’s vital signs were normal and lab results were negative. If I hadn’t had intuition that night, I don’t know what Mr. Grange’s outcome would have been but I did know that it was no thanks to Dr. Evangelist.

It would be several weeks before I would actually get my revenge on Dr. Evangelist. In fact, so much time had gone by I almost forgot I even had a personal vendetta against him. It all started when I got an admission from the emergency room. The patient came to me with nothing other than an irregular heart rate. It wasn’t fast and he wasn’t symptomatic but, nonetheless, there he came rolling down the hall in a cart being pushed by Sam. The sight of Sam’s smiling face brought a smile to mine. I realized that I had started to look forward to admissions in hopes that I would see him again. I would even go out of my way to help Wanda with her admissions just so I could see him.

Once I got the patient settled in his room and completed an assessment I went to the nurses’ station to call Dr. Evangelist. I wrote all of his orders down but before I could clarify the orders he hung up on me. So my revenge actually began, unintentionally, when I had to call him back to clarify a medication order. I had given Cardizem enough in the last few months to know that a bolus is usually given prior to starting the drip but a bolus was not ordered on this patient. When the phone rang I answered it immediately, “Telemetry this is Hope.”

“Hope, It’s Evangelist. Did you call me again?” I could hear his breathing and an annoyed sigh on the other end of the phone.

“Yes, I just wanted to clarify the Cardizem order. Did you want me to give a bolus before I start the drip?” I asked.

“Did I order a bolus?” he asked.

“No,” I replied.

“That’s what I thought,” he said and promptly hung up the phone. As many times as I had spoken to him, I don’t know why it always came as a surprise to me how much of a prick he could be. Some physicians didn’t like when nurses suggested orders to them. It didn’t matter what the nurse suggested if the physician didn’t think of it himself, he would never order what the nurse suggested even if it was the right thing to do. It was now obvious that Dr. Evangelist was one of those physicians.

Never mind him, I thought as I went on my way to get the Cardizem drip. I started the drip and within 40 minutes the patient’s heartbeat was regular again. Since Dr. Evangelist had already pissed me off I thought it would be appropriate to call him and let him know the patient had a ‘change in rhythm.’

Once I had Dr. Evangelist on the line, I informed him of the patient’s rhythm and vital signs. To my surprise he gave me orders, “Stop the Cardizem drip.”

“Okay. Do you want me to start him on an oral dose?” I asked forgetting that he would say no because I suggested it.

“Did I order it orally,” he asked.

“No you didn’t order it orally,” I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

“Then no,” Dr. Evangelist ended our conversation.

I stopped the Cardizem drip but when the patient’s heart rate sped up and went irregular again I wasn’t surprised. Without the medication in his system the heart was bound to get irregular again. Duh! I didn’t need a medical degree to know that would happen. So back I went to the nurses’ station to call Dr. Evangelist.

“Dr. Evangelist, It’s Hope again,” I said through the phone.

“What now, Hope?”

“We have A-Fib again, with a rate of 140-160,” I replied acting like I was just as frustrated as him, but really the sleepiness and irritation in his voice delighted me.

“Give him 25mg Diltiazem by mouth,” he mumbled.

“Okay,” I started to say but realized he had hung up already.

I gave the Diltiazem and within an hour the heart rate was regular again. I put a page out to Dr. Evangelist, once again to inform him, the cardiologist, of a ‘change in rhythm.”

Right then, my intuition told me this would be the last time I called him tonight and that I was about to get an earful. I hesitated building up my courage and picked up the phone, “Hi doctor, it’s Hope. I just wanted to let you know that Mr. Bare is back in normal sinus rhythm.” I closed my eyes and took a big gulp and as predicted he was furious. I held the phone out away from my ear as random words came out, “…supposed to…fucking stupid…Louise’s office… morning.“

When the ranting seemed to stop I quickly said, “Thanks. Dr. Evangelist,” and hung up the phone. I smiled to myself but knew it would be short lived and I would be back in Louise’s office soon.

Day shift nurses started filing in. As usual they moseyed in, gabbing with each other as if they hadn’t seen each other in years. Then there was coffee. They always had to get their cup of coffee before getting report, as if time stood still while the pot brewed. Normally, I waited patiently while they frolicked and sipped their cup of joe but this morning I sat at the end of my chair and tapped my foot repetitively, anxiously.

As soon as the nurse sat down, my mouth was moving. She fumbled with her papers nearly spilling her coffee but I continued regardless. Grabbing my bag and purse I quickly headed to the elevators. As the doors opened I heard a familiar voice out at the nurses’ station, “Where is Hope?” It was Dr. Evangelist. I could tell he was angry and if he could have my head on a silver platter he would gladly take it. I slipped into the elevator and pressed one. As the doors closed I could see Louise come out of her office. I smiled as the doors closed, “Not today Dr. Evangelist. Not Today. Tonight was my turn for revenge not yours.”

Still smiling and imagining Louise and Dr. Evangelist’s conversation I exited the elevator in a hurry and walked right into Sam.

“Oh my gosh, Sam. I’m so sorry,” I said flustered. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.

“You look awfully happy. Who you running from?” he asked.

“Are you walking out?” I asked.

“Yep,” Sam replied with a grin.

“Good. Walk out with me and I’ll tell you.” Sam walked me to my car as I rehashed my revenge on Dr. Evangelist. The parking lot was quite a walk leaving me plenty of time for all of the details.

“Wow, I knew he was an ass but I didn’t realize he was that bad. It must feel good to get back at him,” Sam replied when I finished the story.

We stopped at my car, “For now it does. I’m just going to enjoy the moment because it probably won’t feel so good the next time I work and I’m back in the manager’s office,” I laughed. “Where are you parked?”

Now Sam laughed as he pointed back to the hospital, “I’m parked by ER.” My jaw dropped. The emergency room was located clear on the other side of the hospital.

“Sam, oh gosh, you didn’t have to walk with me. I didn’t realize you weren’t parked out here. I thought everyone parked here,” I said.

“I don’t mind Hope. I wouldn’t have walked with you if I didn’t want to,” he said his dimples showing when he smiled.

“Well thanks, now can I drive you to your car please?” I asked.

“Sure,” Sam got into the passenger seat and a faint whiff of men’s cologne drifted my way. I suddenly had the urge to lean toward him to kiss him, to run my hands over his shaved head but instead I put my car in reverse and pulled out of the parking spot. I drove around to the other side of the hospital and wished the hospital were bigger. As I came up to the ER parking lot Sam pointed to his car. I pulled up behind it and he got out. “Hey Sam,” he turned back before closing the door. “Thanks for listening. It felt good to talk to you,” I said.

“No problem. I’ll see you later?” he asked.

“Yeah, see you later,” I waved as he closed my door. Pulling away I couldn’t think of a better way to end my revengeful night. Well… maybe I could think of one better way.