A while back I was working with a physician and we had just seen a psychiatric patient. Someone had pointed out to me how it was dumb to have the psych rooms so close the pediatric side of the Emergency Department. I decided to bring this up with the physician, in hopes to stimulate some conversation. There’s nothing like complaining about something to find some common ground, right?

So I mentioned it. His response was not what I was hoping for. He kind of half agreed with me, seemed uncomfortable, then justified why the rooms are there. It was awkward. So I didn’t bring it up again.

Later I realized I was working with the director of the Emergency Department. Oops.

He probably has big role in designing the layout of the department. In criticizing the placement of the rooms, I was also criticizing him.

Sometimes I think I’m an idiot.

Everybody loves talking about themselves. I’m guilty just as much as any other person. But you’d think parents with a sick kid in the ER would have the presence of mind to realize that their kid is the sick one who should deserve the attention, not them.

I worked in Pediatrics tonight and I swear half the parents tonight wanted to talk about their own medical conditions, or how they were recently sick, or that one time they had pneumonia and half their lungs were filled with “stuff”. I rarely speak in my role, so I’m always a little anxious to say something, but tonight I just wanted to scream, “Shut UP. Why are you so self centered?!”

Well, just needed to rant for a sec. People are weird.