Throwing Out Terminology
Canada, Coworkers, Hospital, Patients, Wordplay | Healthy | December 12, 2021
I am working at the entrance of a hospital. My coworkers are sitting near our cart with supplies, and since there isn’t enough room, I’m sitting at a table just across the entryway from them. A patient comes down from a unit in rough shape, walking slowly, kind of hunched over and carrying a catheter bag.
After being there for a few minutes:
Patient: “Do you guys have a [mumble] bag?”
Coworkers: “A what bag?”
Patient: “An emesis bag.”
My coworkers are silent.
Me: *Blurting out* “Like to throw up!”
They moved pretty quickly after that.
They quickly grabbed her a bag from the cart, and then she staggered outside.
People who work in my position have a variety of backgrounds and don’t have to have training in medical terminology, especially since we do not provide any kind of patient care. I do have training in terminology, and I’m thankful I remembered what it meant! I’m also surprised the patient used the correct terminology! Hopefully, the patient recovers soon!
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