Orac is the nom de blog of a (not so) humble pseudonymous surgeon/scientist with an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his miscellaneous verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few will. (Continued 
I can't believe I almost forgot this, but in the U.S. May 6 is Nurses' Day. Doctors, show the nurses you work with how much you appreciate their care and help. I know my clinical workload would be far less manageable without my nurse; I might not even be able to handle it and my laboratory research at the same time. (Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until Monday to show my appreciation, as she was off work Thursday and Friday, and heavily involved working with my partner on Wednesday.)
Patients, show how much you appreciate their caring work.
Comments
For Nurses's Day I would like to honor my mother, Laura Anna Stata Merrill --
In 1927 there was a typhoid epidemic in Quebec with more than 4,100 cases recorded in three months. The epidemic started the first week in March with 8 cases and ended around the end of May. The death toll was over 300.
Nurses in Montreal were on 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. Mother was working in a makeshift ward at a warehouse, set up by the Red Cross. She had 13 abscessed teeth but no time to get dental care, so one morning she went off duty, had all of them pulled, and was back on duty that night.
Mother died in 1984. She never thought the story of her heroism was worth mentioning. But it is.
Posted by: E Jay | May 6, 2006 7:17 PM
When our son was born 11+weeks early, he spent 8 weeks in the NICU under the care of some fantastic nurses. He was an easy baby for them, ad he did not have any significant ongoing complications like hilar membrane disease, etc. Weaned off the respirator at one week...
We were so appreciative that we bought a nice oversized wood rocking chair for them to use when feeding the babies or just needing a break. On Nurses Day, we drop off new cushions for the chair and have done this for 16 years so far.
We occasionally visit, make the reunions, etc. The neonatologist has become a personal friend, and when her husband died a few years ago, we cried with her. He was chief of pediatric critical care at one of our large megahospital systems and quite brilliant. He could have had a lucrative private practice, as he was boarded in pediatrics, cardiology and pediatric cardiology, but chose to provide he expertise to those who really needed him.
Posted by: TheProbe | May 6, 2006 7:52 PM
I was going to comment but the twister carried me awayyy.....
Posted by: Dick Durata | May 7, 2006 1:56 AM
Thanks! It's my first, or at least I'll be a GN as of 12:30 pm tomorrow.
I spent most of US Nurse's day studying for my big final.
It's all good.
I'll take it.
Posted by: Jodi | May 7, 2006 1:12 PM
Looks like I missed out then. I'm a nurse, but I live in Scotland. And I did a twelve hour shift yesterday. Can I have it in lieu?
Posted by: Deacon Barry | May 7, 2006 5:47 PM