Death Of A Stranger
Hearing the rush of nurses heading toward the ICU, I followed the herd. My youthful intuition was kicking in as an eerie sense of suffocation and dread encircled me. I suddenly felt like a child waking from a nightmare.
I was already on edge since yesterday having been informed that three nurses were raped in the hospital parking lot after their varied shifts. Holding a knife to their throats, the perpetrator had threatened to kill them if even a whisper escaped their trembling lips. They were viciously raped and beaten. It took the hospital a month to share this horrifying news. The hospital’s splendid plan, already a month too late, was hiring a security officer to accompany all nurses to their cars at the end of their shifts. Truthfully, the administration simply didn’t want the damaging news publicized.
Opening the white ICU door, I was struck by the nauseating industrial-strength cleaner singeing the cilia in my nose. I saw three nurses, shoulder to shoulder, talking amongst themselves, hiding a gurney. All I could see were a pair of large black boots hanging off the end of the gurney. I acknowledged the ICU head nurse. Quietly I asked, “Why all the commotion?”
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An awesome read. Enjoyed the setup and the background with the twist.
The story is true except for the arc at the end where I ended up getting to the parking lot and ending up on that nurses table. That part was not real. I am delighted and thrilled that you are enjoying my writing – as I love your blog. Thank you my friend. Big hugs and blessing this weekend. ❤️🌹
I felt it to only be in movies. But reel life comes from real. Might be that end part would have been real for someone else. This is cruel.
It is always great to read and learn from your posts.
Thank you for sharing this horrific part of your life. Take care (hearts)
Yes, it is an awful story and it left a terrible impression on me. The ending was all fiction but the young man that died on the table was real. Thank you for reading my friend. Hope all is well with you. Big hugs and lots of love, Joni ❤️
Hope you felt a little relieved after writing about it.
Love and Hugs
Blessings to you my friend. I think that things have changed a lot since the days of my nursing. The main point of this story is do not be afraid to question another nurse or even a Dr. if you feel that someone’s life is in danger. Living with that kind of guilt that I did not call the doctor myself, although she was insisting I leave the ICU, I should have challenged her much more. We all make mistakes but he was a young man and I don’t know if he would have lived but he deserved a chance. That man will always be on my conscience. Thank you Kritika, it always helps to try and tell people when you feel you should have done more and you didn’t. I was very young at that time. ❤️
The story is horrifying, Joni, and extremely well written.
Thank you Timothy. The first half of this story is completely true. The only thing that was made up is that I wasn’t attacked by anyone in the parking lot because I took advantage of the security guard which was finally provided. The entire first part of that story was true. After just a few years, I got into the administrative side working for a consortium. It was too much stress and once I turned a nurse in for abusing a patient and she got two weeks paid vacation. Things are a lot different, there is much more accountability but I know that things still happen that are never reported because nurses are too hard to come by. Thanks for reading my friend. I went into your site the other day but didn’t see anything new. I will try again right now, perhaps you are still catching up from your wonderful family vacation – the stuff that really matters in life. Spending time with those that we love are what is so important. I think that we are more alike then you might imagine. Big hugs my friend and love to you and your family.
You always know how to grab your readers attention Joni! Scary scenario though.
Thank you Tiffany – that is very kind of you. Sending you and your family my love and prayers. Big hugs, Joni
Oh eerie, Joni.. right in time for halloween! Nicely done💕
Hard to believe that this one is true except for the twist or arch in the ending with me getting underneath Nurse Hatchet, and poor decision-making skills. Back then doctors were treated like god’s but I knew better. I never treated them like that even when I was in the rotation I used to argue with the practicing physicians especially when I did my Psych rotation. I could never get use to delivering my patients to their electro-shock treatments. The patients were like zombies for days afterward. I did not last in clinical nursing for long and got into the administrative side. That was back in the day when things were so different. Things are much better now obviously and many nurses take care of only 2 to 3 patients at the better hospital in Seattle anyway. They are responsible for their patient’s total care like it was when I was nursing. Again, thank you for reading and your kindness. Many blessings to the beautiful family and the families pets too.
Oh wow girl this is scary!!! I wasn’t prepared. Nice one
Thank you so much for reading, and how very gracious of you. The more comments I read and respond to, the more I know I will be sad until I will be back. You are such a sweet woman. I know you must have missed your college son and I am guessing he is already back at school. You must be so proud of him. You work hard to get a full ride and I pray he is protected always on the field. Love, Joni
Thank you Joni and your prayers are needed and wanted. Yes I miss him so much.
I will say a prayer for you right now, my friend. I bet you do miss him. You will be in my prayers, my friend. Love you, and keep the faith, my friend, he will be alright. I am sure you did a great job raising him. Much love, Joni🙏🙏