Ratchet Nurse.

Last week, I was working a particularly strenuous stretch of three days at the hospital.  Around 0815, we nursies decided that the day would not carry on efficiently without adequate dark brown caffeinated delight, so another nurse and I volunteered to walk the two blocks down the street to the local Starbucks for some brew.

You ever notice how a face lights up when you ask "You want anything at Starbucks?"  It's like seeing snow for the first time.  No?  Well, I'm a shift worker.  Coffee is revered*.

So the two of us trekked over to the Green Lady Caffeine Mecca with a looong list.  .... and as some of you might guess, many fussy fussy orders:

"-half calf skinny upside down caramel macchiato with extra sauce but no whip.

-venti light caramel frap with extra caramel IN THE CUP, NOT THE DRINK."
                                                                                                        oh Lawdy.

I was somewhat mortified to be relaying these requests to the employee behind the counter, but this is LA, and I had to assume that fussiness is forgiven here.  I even put her through the "I'm going to use my card, but when someone else in line uses cash and you open your drawer, would you break this twenty dollar bill?"  Like she didn't have enough to deal with.

Imagine my surprise, then, when she and another barista handed us our drinks/trays/lid stoppers/change/whatever else we wanted short of a pony and said,

"I just wanted you to know that you guys are the nicest nurses I have ever dealt with in here.  Seriously, you are the first to say 'please' and 'thank you'.  We have had so many nurses in here that are just demanding and rude.  Thank you guys so much."

UGH. (stomach drops).  That made me soo sad.  I mean, I have come across plenty a cranky nurse, but seriously?!  This Starbucks is within three blocks of three major hospitals in LA, so I can only imagine that the number of healthcare workers they encounter is great.  We were the first to be polite?!  I just mumbled something about working with babies and shamefully carried my seven drink trays our of the door.

I hate the reputation nurses have for being grumpy, lazy, oversensitive, patronizing, and demanding.  I also hate that the reputation isn't fabricated.  I know that it's not all nurses are known for, and I have also had a lot of positive reactions about this profession, but this encounter just hit hard.

Be kind.  Love Love Love.

*sidenote: to those who know me, you might be balking at this dialogue inferring that I am drinking coffee again.  I had gone through the torturous process of rehab-ing myself off of it after nursing school, and alas, I have fallen off of the bandwagon.  Most of it is psychological.  I feel better just holding it in my hands.  I know, pray for me.