The Right Combination

The Right Combination –

Smith With A Why

By Paul McCann

Introduction:  

A nurse carrying out her duties notices there are two patients with the same name and the date of birth even  look the same. During the shift, a number of mix ups occur and one could have been serious due to the fact that a blank minded doctor made a mistake before performing an operation to one of the two almost identical patients.  Luckily, nobody got hurt apart from the over inflated ego of the doctor who could not accept the fact he made a mistake.

Setting:

It is early morning in a hospital ward and a nurse is introducing herself to two patients scheduled for surgery  . The first patient is meditating as nurse Baxter walks into the room. After a brief hello, she realises he is deaf as well as being in deep  trance meditating so she reads his medical history and places a wrist band on him before leaving the room as he continues to meditate.

Dialogue Begins 

Nurse Rose  –  “Good morning Mr Smyth. My name is Rose. How are you this morning?”

Mr Smythe  – (Eyes closed and hands out in front of him)“Ahhhh Umm Mmmm .“

Nurse Rose  -“ So you’ve been fasting since 2am for surgery at ten past eight this morning . So no breakfast until you come out of surgery . ”

Mr Smythe  – (Never heard a word ) “Ahhhh Umm Mmmm .“

Nurse Rose  -“ Ok then, let’s have a look at your charts. (She places a wrist band on Mr Smythe as he continues to meditate. He is still unaware of her presence)  So, Mr Ron Smyth I see your date of birth is September 6^th 1945 and you have a wife as well as some allergies.? “

Mr Smythe  – (No response ) “Ahhhh Umm Mmmm .“

Nurse Rose  –: ”Ok Mr Smythe, I’ll come back later .“

Enter Mr Smith

Mr Smith : -“ Good morning Nurse. Could I have my BSL done before breakfast ?”

Nurse Rose  – “Good morning. I’m Rose and you must be…. (looking at her ipad) “

Mr Smith : - “Smith is my name, Ron Smith.” (He reaches out his hand . Lifts a finger)

Nurse Rose  – (She begins to get his BSL ) “ Ron Smith. Mmmm that’s interesting you look just like that other guy Ron Smith. That’s weird! Your date of birth is also September 6th 1945. “

Mr Smith : -“How do you mean weird Rose ?”

Nurse Rose  – “ Well, not weird weird Ron. Just a coincidence . Another patient has the same name and date of birth as you, that’s all. Your BSL is 5 but it says here you’re fasting since midnight so I need to check your BSL before surgery at 8am   . You can have something to eat after, Ron “.

Mr Smith : -“Ok, see you later Rose ”.

Nurse Rose  – “ Try to relax now. It won’t be long until you’re going into theatre.”

Mr Smith : -“Ok, I will. Thanks and bye Rose. ”

Nurse Rose  – “ That is very strange. Two Ron Smiths, one with a Y and  the other with an I .”  ( She makes a note about the similarities between the two patients )

Enter Mr Smythe

Mr Smythe : Hello and excused me nurse ,  could you help me with my hearing aids please . “

“Nurse Rose  : (She places them into his ears )  Is that better Ron ?. “

Mr Smythe : “Yes, thank you Nurse , can you tell me what is this wrist band doing on my wrist ?”

Nurse Rose  – “ Yes, well Mr Smythe,  I came in earlier on but you were out “ .

Mr Smythe : I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been here all night . Never left once. “

Nurse Rose  – “ Well I mean you were like deep in a trance “ .

Mr Smythe : “ Its  transcendental Nurse , I’m a buddist and often meditate . It helps me with my pain . I can channel into the positive energy and maybe it looked as if I was far away to you. “

Nurse Rose  – “ Oh that explains a lot, Mr Smythe . I placed the wrist band to alert the doctors and nurses about your allergy to Cephalexin and also not to administer any pain killer as you requested “.

Mr Smythe : “Thank you for that Nurse. As I said I meditate through the pain. You must try it yourself. If ever you want your Kundalini opened I can help you with that. I’ve been here all night. Never left once. “

Nurse Rose  – “Well, I’m not sure about that Ron “.

Mr Smythe  – “The kundalini energy is the form of life force, lying dormant in your body. It has self-healing abilities.“  

Nurse Rose  – “ Oh I don’t mean any disrespect but I have to say no . You must excuse me now as I have to do some checks before surgery which is going to happen very soon “.

Mr Smythe  : “ You must try to find the path to enlightenment . It’s nor too far from here. Peace and joy to you”   (He bows slightly and walks away ).

Exit Mr Smythe

(Nurse Rose is looking through her duty list and sniggers.) “  Now, that is weird,  I’ve never had anyone wanting to open my kundalini before . I’ll have to google that when I go home tonight.” 

Enter Doctor Herron

Doctor Herron :” Are you the nurse on duty this morning ?”

Nurse Rose  – “Yes Doctor, my name is Rose Baxter. Just graduated and now enrolled in my first year here “.

Doctor Herron –  “Wow! what a pretty girly you are. I’m Doc Herron, the legend around here and let me ask you something.  What about dinner later tonight?  I know this great little Sushi Train place in the city. You’ll love it. Trust me.  What do you say?”

Nurse Rose  – ::” Excuse me ? “

Doctor Herron - “If you’re too busy tonight there’s always the weekend. We’re having a party if you’re interested. Lots of stuff there, uppers, downers, mixers and fixers. So what do you say?  Are you coming or not?”

Nurse Rose  –  “ Get lost !.“

Doctor Herron “Ok! suit yourself. Your loss. I could have made your dreams come true“.

Nurse Rose  – “Keep dreaming “.

Doctor Herron - “ Here then. Take this. It’s a pathology test for Mr Smith and also the medications order for him as well. I want him in theatre right now !”

Nurse Rose  – “Sit on it .”

Doctor Herron “ What did you say “

Nurse Rose  – Did you say right away ?”

Doctor Herron “ Just do it “

Nurse Rose  – (She looks at the order) You’ve got to be kidding Doctor Merrin

Doctor Herron . ‘Its Herron not Merrin “

Nurse Rose  – So you want me to get Mr Smythe with a Y  down to theatre and you’re going to remove polyps from his bowel. Is that correct Doctor Herron?”

Doctor Herron- ”Just do your job Nurse! And don’t get on your high horse asking me questions! I’ve give you the pathology slip for a swab from the skin lesions and his medication order for IV antibiotics of Cephalexin. Now do your job!  “   

Nurse Rose  -“ I may be just a new recruit and just an enrolled nurse, however, if you would have checked the patient’s medical history and looked at the other patient having surgery this morning you would have seen there are two Mr. Smiths with the same name and date of birth “.

Doctor Herron  - “ What are you talking about?  Of course, I know there are two Mr. Smiths due for surgery. Do you think I’m stupid? ”  .

Nurse Rose  -“ Well, Mr. Doc Legend! Then you should have seen that Mr Smythe with a Y is allergic to Cephalexin and has requested that no medication be given to him during his procedures due to his cultural beliefs “.

Doctor Herron ‘(Mumbling) Ah um,  there must be some mix up here. Let me see that order!”

Nurse Rose -  “ I’m sorry Doctor Legend, but I need to show this to the RN and make an incident report. This could have been very serious, maybe even fatal for Mr Smythe with a Y, if I had carried out your request before theatre ”.

Doctor Herron - “I knew all the time. I was just testing your diligence “.

Nurse Rose - “This is just to inform you, (Holding up her mobile phone ) I have recorded this conversation from the moment you asked me out to dinner and I will be playing the recording to my supervisor. “ 

Doctor Herron  - “ You don’t know who I am “.

Nurse Rose – “In fact I do! And its time everyone else knows exactly who you are. “ 

The End