I had a “call-out” for this morning at 8:00am to the laboratory – presumably to get my routine
screening labs done. Being prepared for the inevitable “hurry up and wait” situation. I brought
the book I was currently reading with me.
I arrived to find a small group of people from the 7:00am callouts still waiting to be called in.
Many of the people in my 8:00am group were all upset and anxious – worrying that we would
not be done by 9:00am, and have to wait until the 10:00am move to go back to our units or
wherever. I decided I wasn’t going to get into that mindset; there was nothing I could do about it
anyway. I had my book. However long it took, well, so be it. If I couldn’t get out at 9:00am to
return to work, there was nothing I could do about it.
About 8:20am, the nurse who performs the phlebotomy came out. She was a big-framed, tall
women that I had never seen before. She asked if there was anyone left from the 7:00am group.
Someone who apparently was called for 6:30am had arrived late. The nurse chewed him out,
telling him if he couldn’t get there on time, it wasn’t her problem, and that he would be on the
laboratory “call-outs” for next week. She came across as mean and scary. I thought “what am I in
for?”
About 8:40am I was called in. The first thing the nurse said was, “I don’t recall seeing you
before.” I replied that this was my first lab draw here. “Well, I never miss,” she said. I smiled and
said “I absolutely love your confidence, and I will hold you to that.” She chuckled and
immediately warmed up to me. I showed her an excellent vein in my right arm that is usually
preferred by my private physician’s nurse for phlebotomies. She stated she liked to find her own
vein to use, and picked one on my left arm.
Just as she had promised, she didn’t miss. I said, “I’m glad that you kept your promise to me –
not that I ever doubted you.” She smiled and we engaged in small talk while she labeled the
blood tubes and placed a bandage on my arm. The was NOT the same nurse from earlier who
was rude and had a mean look on her face. She was respectful and friendly to me, as I was to her.
As I walked back to work at 9:00am, I smiled. A little kindness and respect really goes a long
way.
