Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Leena
Joanne: Can you please come to the desk? Dr. Jacobs is throwing a man-child tantrum and is “requesting” you.
What?
Staring down at my phone with a frown, I scratch at my eyebrow, at a loss for what I’m reading.
Julian doesn’t throw tantrums of any kind, much less a ‘man-child’ fit. Other doctors? Yes, unfortunately, some do. But Julian is calm and easy-going, so I’m worried something is really wrong.
Excusing myself from a huddle with the recovery room charge nurse and AIC, I make my way to the front desk.
As I come around the corner, Julian’s ramrod straight back is the first thing I see.
With hands on hips, I can see the tendons on his forearm flexing in obvious agitation.
Joanne is focusing on the monitor in front of her, studiously ignoring my boyfriend.
The sound of my footsteps must alert him to my approach because Julian turns his head to look—make that glare—at me over his shoulder
Already being on constant edge from the secret I’ve been keeping from him, I feel alarm bells ringing in my head. I consciously work to keep my face even and calm. “Hey, guys. Jo, what’s going on?”
Coming to a stop in front of the desk next to Julian and facing Joanne, I make sure there is a decent amount of distance between us. She opens her mouth, but Julian’s sharp tone beats her to the punch.
“I have a case that needs to come back as soon as possible, an open tibia fracture. I asked for Charlie and Sarina because this is going to be a pretty big case and I need the most capable staff in the room.”
Turning back to Joanne, I ask, “Where are Charlie and Sarina now?”
“They picked up Merritt’s abdominal washout.
I called in and they may end up doing a bowel resection.
I let Dr. Jacobs know they weren’t available, but Myles and Devin can do his case.
Anesthesia agreed to hold whichever room comes out next to ensure we have a team available for lunches, or in case another STAT case needs to come back. ”
I appreciate the full picture she gives, but I will need to find out why Sarina and Charlie picked up the Merritt case instead of Myles and Devin. I had made those assignments this morning, specifically to have the former pair be the second add-on room crew and available for Julian if needed.
“Oh, okay. Well . . . Then what’s the issue?”
“As I’ve already said, I need Charlie and Sarina. They are my team, and I don’t need anyone who will dick around for this case.”
Shocked, I recoil. “I can assure you, our staff will not ‘dick around.’” I’m unable to not finger-quote the last part.
Julian turns his entire body toward me, leaning forward imploringly. “Leena, please. I need Charlie and Sarina.”
This is the hardest part of my job, but now with Julian, it is almost unbearable.
Swallowing, I force myself to give our usual spiel in this situation.
“As a Level III trauma hospital, we ensure all our staff are trained and capable of working any case they may encounter, both during normal scheduled hours and on call. That includes the crew available to you right now—Myles and Devin. When the next room comes down, we can have that crew support your case in any way possible.”
Hyper-aware of Joanne watching our exchange, I shuffle back a few inches.
Then, as if in slow motion, Julian follows, his hand reaching out for mine—thankfully hidden by the chest-high counter—and starts to say, “Pretty g—” At the almost use of his nickname for me, my eyes go wide, and I clench my jaw, but force it to relax and act as if my heart didn’t just feel like it stopped.
“Pretty goddamn sure Devin doesn’t have a fucking clue what this case is going to entail.
She can barely handle a simple soft tissue debridement. ”
My head rears back, and I feel my face flush with the burst of anger that goes through me.
I had every intention of working with Joanne to rearrange assignments to ensure competent staffing for the acuity of this case.
It would have been done behind the scenes after evaluating all the other rooms and cases with as little impact as possible, just as I always do when we have multiple emergent cases.
This is why I am constantly monitoring the board and checking in with our charge nurse throughout the day.
However, right now, there is a sinking feeling in my stomach and I just stare at Julian with cold, unyielding eyes, flabbergasted that he almost outed us and had the audacity to talk shit about an employee to me, in front of one of my other employees.
As his girlfriend, in the privacy of our own space, I would respond in total agreement.
Devin has been a headache I’ve been dealing with for quite some time now, having multiple surgeons complain about her skill level.
We have implemented improvement measures, but, with lack of adequate progress, she is facing a pending termination.
Here at work though, speaking in an extremely unprofessional manner, and with a witness, I am infuriated.
With his astounding ability to read me, as quickly as the outburst happened, Julian seems to catch himself. Straightening to his full height, his eyes shutter all emotion, and he clears his throat. “Please excuse me, that was—”
“Dr. Jacobs, we make every effort to ensure our staff is able to handle the many variety of cases this facility sees. You have stated this case is emergent. As such, we have given you the same resources as any other surgeon needing to come back as quickly as possible. Now, please, how would you like to proceed? With the crew that is available and currently setting up,” I look to Joanne for confirmation.
At her nod, I continue, “or would you prefer to follow Dr. Merritt’s case so you can have your preferred nurse and tech? ”
His Adam’s apple bobs up and down, and I have to blink rapidly to contain the burning in my eyes. My throat tightens when he responds, voice low and hoarse. “My patient can’t wait to follow another room. But I am requesting, when another tech is available, please switch them with Devin.”
Looking away from Julian, I address Joanne. “If we can accommodate Dr. Jacobs’s request for a different scrub tech, please see that it happens.”
Upset but trying to appear calm, I give them both a tight smile. Julian’s blue-gray eyes hold my stare, and with an almost imperceptible shake of his head, he turns toward the semi-restricted hallway and stomps away.