Rumor Going 'Round (Lyrics and Love #3) - Lind, Samantha Page 0,12

says, just as both of our phones start buzzing. We carry special phones that each nurse is issued. We both look down at our screens and see the page that we’ve got multiple MVA patients on their way in to us.

“Looks like it is go time,” I say as I toss my trash, and we both take off for the ER.

“We’ve got a husband and wife on their way in; information from the EMTs is that a car turned right in front of them,” Betty tells us as we reach the nurses' station. Allison and I both pull-on protective gowns and gloves, along with face shields, just as we hear the sirens pull in. I meet the ambulance in the first bay, along with Dr. Knight.

“Female, fifty-five, pain in the left foot and abdomen. No loss of consciousness, all vitals have been stable,” the EMT tells us as we make our way into the treatment area.

“Transfer on my count, one, two, three,” Dr. Knight calls out as we all lift the sheet that is under the patient.

“Ma’am, can you tell me your name?” I ask the patient as I check the IV the EMTs placed in her arm.

“Julie, Julie Smith. Is my husband okay?” she asks, trying to move her head to look for him.

“I’m not sure, ma’am,” I tell her. “I’ll see what I can find out for you, but for now, are you in any pain?”

“My foot and belly hurt,” she says. Her foot appears to be fractured, and the belly pain could be from the seatbelt locking on impact.

“Mrs. Smith,” Dr. Knight addresses her. “Does it hurt when I press here?” he asks, palpating her abdomen. We get the answer when she wails in pain. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” he apologizes. “Administer two milligrams morphine, IV push. We’re going to need ultrasound down here ASAP after x-ray,” he tells me, and I do just as he asks.

I work fast to get Mrs. Smith’s pain under control. When the x-ray tech shows up a few moments later, we all step back while they take the images that Dr. Knight has ordered. I take a moment to step over a few treatment bays to see if I can get any information on Mr. Smith. I catch Allison’s attention, and she nods her head quickly. That is my one clue that while he might be in bad shape, it doesn’t appear to be life-threatening.

I head back to Mrs. Smith, stepping back up next to her now that the x-rays are all done. “I poked my head over to check on your husband, and they’re working on getting him fully checked over. I promise I’ll keep you updated once they’ve had the chance to fully evaluate him,” I tell her as the ultrasound tech shows up with her mobile machine.

“Thank you, dear,” she says, squeezing my hand.

“This will be a little cold,” the ultrasound tech warns before she squirts some gel on Mrs. Smith's abdomen. She starts to scan her, and I sigh in relief when no internal bleeding is found. Her pain is just from the trauma of the seatbelt locking upon impact. While that will cause some nasty bruising, it will be a lot easier to heal from than an emergency surgery to fix internal bleeding would be.

“Good news, Mrs. Smith,” Dr. Knight says. “You won’t be needing surgery today. We’ll get your foot booted and keep you for some observation for a few more hours, but otherwise, I think that you’ll heal just fine. You’ll need to follow up with an orthopedist in two to three days for the foot.”

“Thank you so much, doctor. How’s my husband?” she questions, still holding on to my hand.

“He’s still being assessed by one of my colleagues, but I do believe he’s possibly going to need surgery. I do know they asked for a consult with the general surgeon on call. Lindsay, here, can check in with his team and get some more information for you,” he tells her, nodding his head in my direction.

“Let me go check on him now,” I tell her, squeezing her hand before I pull my own from her grip. I press the button on her bed to help her sit up some before I leave the bay to go check on her husband.

“Can I get an update for the patient’s wife, who is in bay one?” I ask Dr. Murray.

“We’re prepping him for surgery. He’s got a bleed in the intestines and possibly his bladder; we’ll know