Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli Page A
Authors: Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli
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to handle these kinds of crises in journalism school," she smiled weakly.
"Elizabeth, nobody's prepared for anything like this. The best thing to do, at this po int, is to admit there was an attack on the Governor’s wife and that she is stable . Tell them something while telling them nothing. You can do it. You know, the Texas two-step kind of thing... Draft it up and we'll talk about it later."
***
The Six North nursing unit was crackling with chaos and activity. Instead of the normal early morning baths, treatments and vital signs, there wasn’t a nurse in sight. There were three uniformed NOPD police officers in the hall, and three others in the nursing station. Alex was greeted by Janelle Wells, nursing director of Six North. Her disheveled appearance and rapid speech indicated her stress.
"T hings are bad. Six nursing assistants and hospital attenda nts have left the hospital, saying they were afraid to work here today. We've only two RNs . Angela's working days, and Susan is still here from a 12 hour night s hift . S he volunteered to stay over, but she's zonked emotionally and probably too tired and stressed to be useful ." Janelle pa used for a breath and continued as s he waved her arms toward the policemen. "These guys in the police uniforms have got to go, or at least change their clothes. Patients are frantic, and their families are asking all sorts of questions. There are all kinds of rumors floating out there and s ome families are threatening to take patients to another hospital. I can't give care to these people with only two nurses. This is crazy." Janelle threw up her arms in dismay.
"Where's Bette?" Alex looked around for the nurse executive.
"In the examining room interrogating Susan who's so tired and ups et she can hardly talk. Bette, B.F., the bitch, is brow - beating her to death. " Janelle again threw up her arms in frustration. Susan told the police everything she knows, there's nothing else to say. Bette told her that if she had been on her toes, this wouldn’t have happened. What kind of bull shit is that? " Janelle's voice expressed her contempt for her boss .
Alex smiled as Janelle referred to Bette as B.F. She'd heard many interpretations of the initials by both nursing and medical staff, from big foot to butt face, and other less gracious interpretations. "What's Bette want from her?"
"Who knows? She's asking her over and over again why no one charted on Mrs. Raccine between two o-clock and five-fifte en this morning. Like, give me a break. Who gives a damn about the charting? Susan thinks she is blaming her for what happened. "
Alex nodded but made no comment. "We'll worry about the documentation later. Call the nursing office and see how many of these patients can be transferred to other units. Have them call an agency and arrange for supplemental staffing to get us through the next few days."
Janelle's eyes dilated instantly, her fear evident. " Are you out of your mind?! I can't do this without Bette's approval. She'd fire me." Janelle paled at the thought.
"I'll handle Bette . Now, m ove before someone falls out of bed or leaves AMA ," Alex said crisply.
Janelle hesitated, and then disappeared into her office to make the calls.
Alex walked down the hall. Robert Bonnet was walking toward her. He looked terrible.
"Robert, any change in Mrs. Raccine?"
"No, Alex. Things are the same. Physically, she was pretty stable but now her heart's acting up. She's traumatized. I d on't know if she'll ever recover psychologically."
"A little early for such a dire prediction isn't it? Please keep that to yourself, " Alex said, putting on her lawyer hat . " How's the Governor taking this?"
"As well as he can. Hasn't said much and hasn't asked any questions. I don't think he's put things together, or realizes what's going on yet. I’m n ot sure I do." Robert sighed deeply. "Anyway, he was
"Elizabeth, nobody's prepared for anything like this. The best thing to do, at this po int, is to admit there was an attack on the Governor’s wife and that she is stable . Tell them something while telling them nothing. You can do it. You know, the Texas two-step kind of thing... Draft it up and we'll talk about it later."
***
The Six North nursing unit was crackling with chaos and activity. Instead of the normal early morning baths, treatments and vital signs, there wasn’t a nurse in sight. There were three uniformed NOPD police officers in the hall, and three others in the nursing station. Alex was greeted by Janelle Wells, nursing director of Six North. Her disheveled appearance and rapid speech indicated her stress.
"T hings are bad. Six nursing assistants and hospital attenda nts have left the hospital, saying they were afraid to work here today. We've only two RNs . Angela's working days, and Susan is still here from a 12 hour night s hift . S he volunteered to stay over, but she's zonked emotionally and probably too tired and stressed to be useful ." Janelle pa used for a breath and continued as s he waved her arms toward the policemen. "These guys in the police uniforms have got to go, or at least change their clothes. Patients are frantic, and their families are asking all sorts of questions. There are all kinds of rumors floating out there and s ome families are threatening to take patients to another hospital. I can't give care to these people with only two nurses. This is crazy." Janelle threw up her arms in dismay.
"Where's Bette?" Alex looked around for the nurse executive.
"In the examining room interrogating Susan who's so tired and ups et she can hardly talk. Bette, B.F., the bitch, is brow - beating her to death. " Janelle again threw up her arms in frustration. Susan told the police everything she knows, there's nothing else to say. Bette told her that if she had been on her toes, this wouldn’t have happened. What kind of bull shit is that? " Janelle's voice expressed her contempt for her boss .
Alex smiled as Janelle referred to Bette as B.F. She'd heard many interpretations of the initials by both nursing and medical staff, from big foot to butt face, and other less gracious interpretations. "What's Bette want from her?"
"Who knows? She's asking her over and over again why no one charted on Mrs. Raccine between two o-clock and five-fifte en this morning. Like, give me a break. Who gives a damn about the charting? Susan thinks she is blaming her for what happened. "
Alex nodded but made no comment. "We'll worry about the documentation later. Call the nursing office and see how many of these patients can be transferred to other units. Have them call an agency and arrange for supplemental staffing to get us through the next few days."
Janelle's eyes dilated instantly, her fear evident. " Are you out of your mind?! I can't do this without Bette's approval. She'd fire me." Janelle paled at the thought.
"I'll handle Bette . Now, m ove before someone falls out of bed or leaves AMA ," Alex said crisply.
Janelle hesitated, and then disappeared into her office to make the calls.
Alex walked down the hall. Robert Bonnet was walking toward her. He looked terrible.
"Robert, any change in Mrs. Raccine?"
"No, Alex. Things are the same. Physically, she was pretty stable but now her heart's acting up. She's traumatized. I d on't know if she'll ever recover psychologically."
"A little early for such a dire prediction isn't it? Please keep that to yourself, " Alex said, putting on her lawyer hat . " How's the Governor taking this?"
"As well as he can. Hasn't said much and hasn't asked any questions. I don't think he's put things together, or realizes what's going on yet. I’m n ot sure I do." Robert sighed deeply. "Anyway, he was
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