Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Stirrup fail

It is preferable that when new patients come to the clinic, newFNP is (A) on time, (B) fashionable and (C) attentive. Thanks to her super cute new not-even-on-the-website-yet JCrew top, she was quite fashionable. Thanks to her caring nature, she was attentive. On time, however, remains an elusive trait for newFNP in her professional life -- ironic in that newFNP is pathologically early in every other aspect of her life.


So, all in all, two outta three. NewFNP will take it.

The appointment was moving along as smoothly as a newly threaded brow when newFNP attempted to extract the stirrup from its in the table hiding place. The stirrup gave newFNP a little resistance. Not to be deterred, newFNP gave it a little tug. Nothing. Determined to get the best of the stirrup, newFNP pulled at it with a little force.

And that is when the entire fucking stirrup came out of the table and into newFNP's hand. Imagine her surprise! She felt somewhat like the Statue of Liberty carrying her torch as she walked around the clinic, folded stirrup in hand, attempting to find her MA both to share with her the craziness of our clinic environment and to have her help newFNP replace the errant stirrup. Give newFNP your tired, your poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free -- and to have their pap tests with intact examination tables.

NewFNP not so gently maneuvered the stirrup back into place and with the snap of broken plastic, shifted the stirrup, and subsequently the patient, into position and continued on with the exam.

Bienvenidos a nuestra clinica de la comunidad!, newFNP told her patient, who was kind enough to laugh.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nasty language has no place coming from a professional. Others outside the profession read this blog- try to be somewhat well mannered. You represent more than yourself here.

BostonFNP said...

This blog is voluntary to read. If you disagree with the language used, feel free to stop following the content.

Love the picture of you striding around with an errant stirrup in your hand! How many blind paps have I done because I didn't have a working light? Ah, community health, I miss you.

Anonymous said...

i love the "nasty" language, from one np to another, keep it (and the laughs with it) coming! Anonymous.... read older postings, this is a blog with a certain flavor that you may not find to your liking, and that is ok...

Anonymous said...

I'd also like to add, Spanish is NOT a "Nasty" language. Gosh, some people are so culturally insensitive. Keep up the good work NewFNP.

Anonymous said...

Love this blog...keep the "nasty" language coming!

Anonymous said...

I also work in community health and am LOL. Sometimes the only fitting word to express my frustration is an F-bomb but never around my patients. So, I appreciate the "nasty" language. I hate the damn rusty exam tables and difficult to adjust stirrups!

David said...

I guess 5:43am post does not live in the real world. Being in the healthcare field swearing is a regular part of stress release. Sometimes the patients are very good at it.

Anonymous said...

hey! im doing a career research on your career, have anything to say?

Laura said...

So been there done that.