Emergency!

It was a very busy day on the Pediatric unit. My favorite time of the shift is when I get to take a deep breath and play a little or do a craft with my patients.


Kyle was 5 years old. Day 2 of his hospital stay. His mom comes out and tells me she has to go home for a few hours and Kyle will be on his own. I'm a little disappointed by this news because Kyle is already bored and clinging to mom and I am the only nurse on the unit to distract him.
As soon as mom leaves, Kyle hits the nurse call light. I go in to him and he says, "I was just checkin' to see if this works." Ok. Good.


1 minute later the light goes off again. "I'm lonely". I can't stay by his bedside but I show him I am right outside his door and put the movie of his choice on.
5 minutes later- "I'm bored". Crayons and paper supplied.
1 minute later, 2 minutes later; you get the picture. I tell Kyle that I understand he is bored and lonely without mom. Hard to leave his precious smile behind but he is nodding that he gets it.
 I tell him, "The call light is for emergencies only now. I will be in to see you every few minutes. Do you understand? "   He's nodding yes.


"DOCTOR! DOCTOR!"  Smile to myself because now I have been promoted to doctor status and he knows very well that I am his nurse Lori and part-time playmate. I take Kyle snack, fluff his pillows and ask him if he is having an emergency. Does he know what an emergency is? He nods and tells me  "I missed you. " Quite the charmer already. Again, I am so busy and remind Kyle the call light is for EMERGENCIES and I will be back in a few minutes. I switch out the movie to both of our favorite- TOY Story. Tell Kyle to keep track of what 's happening so he can tell me what I missed when I get back. Another snack. He seems happy.


Seconds later, shrieking and screaming my name along with the call light. "HELP! LORI! HURRY HURRY!" He is panicked. I run in because the screaming is heartfelt and real . I check him head to toe visually as I run in the room .


 He is wide eyed. "Lori!!! I'm an EMERGENCY!!!"
"Kyle! What's wrong?!"
Kyle- "My popcicle fell down my shirt and its freezing me!"
I am laughing. "Yes Kyle. That IS an emergency!"