A note to all the civilians out there

Yes, your friends in the medical or healthcare industry may scare you.

I went out a while ago with some friends from high school. You could almost part the room by who's in a healthcare job and who is not or is not familiar with the healthcare industry.

Some interesting observations:

1. People with boys tend to know a lot about emergency rooms. One of my friends has several and rarely blanches when he tells the stories of Kid X running into the fancy glass table at the department store and getting a cut on his head or when Kid Y goes and has a compound arm fracture after some skateboarding stunt gone awry.

I just thank my lucky stars I don't work in the pediatric ER.

2. Allied health professionals often have their own interesting stories about doctors. One friend has a doctor she works with who asks her to call the special back office line so he can take care of whatever she needs for his patients right away. She can also tell you what doctors have the best staff in town.

3. Another one of my friends still works the night shift after several kids and 18+ years. I never cease to be amazed at how well she functions. I just shudder at the thought of 18 hours on the night shift, let alone 18 years! She works at a major teaching hospital, so she always has some funny stories about dazed and confused people on nights, especially the residents.

Sometimes I think she should have been a nurse. She'd be one kicka$s patient advocate. She is kind and pleasant and takes no crap from anyone.

4. One of my friends is a doc. I always think about this before I get really annoyed. Friend A has some great stories and some real heartbreakers, so I know the line Dr. K. told me a long time ago is really is true: "I have some patients I will never forget."

5. I am always surprised that these same healthcare professionals, who have years of experience tell me that they're amazed at what I do, and here I am, a newbie nurse. And no, I didn't pay them to say that. They work 24/7 just like we do. They've paid their dues and they've put on the flak jackets when some crazed MD or patient screams at them for no reason.

It reminds me that in many environments, nurses are on the front lines of healthcare. We are in the hospital trenches with patients. First, when things get down and dirty, we have to go and get whomever cleaned up and out of there. We're a little like infantry in that regard; a little like MPs, since we have to keep our guard up and watch out for trouble.

Finally, it gives me hope to know that these good people, doing their jobs in the other healthcare disciplines, are out there watching my back, too, even if they're not next to me in the trenches.