Page 28 of Rise Above

means nothing to me. I’m Texas, born and bred. Football is in my blood. If you said JJ Watt was here, I’d be screaming my head off. The only hockey player I’ve ever heard of is Wayne Gretzsky.”

Julia shook her head. “Well, I’m dragging you to

meet them.”

“Fine. Can we at least focus on our discharge

planning for now?”

“I don’t know how you expect me to focus, but I’ll

try.” Julia laughed and sipped on her coffee as we each took notes for the floor.

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Before I knew it, we were headed up to

multidisciplinary discussion rounds (MDDR). It was where the floor nurses discussed the patients while the doctors, nutritionists, therapists (physical, occupational, and speech), and case management added their input. Usually, case management elected to stay silent unless we had a need to speak.

Julia and I took the elevator to the fourth floor.

Rounds started early in neuro ICU because they typically lasted so long. By the time we finished on four, we would have to sprint up to six for neuro acute rounds. We practically rounded half our day. Sometimes, this made discharge planning difficult. It was also probably one of the reasons we had a longer than average length of stay. That and the fact we were a comprehensive stroke unit. Insurance gave these patients three or four days when they often needed seven or more and then got mad when they were here for longer than their average. It was baffling and definitely an aspect of the medical world I wanted to overhaul.

We strolled into the unit, clipboards in hand and

determination on our faces. I loved neuro and I felt a connection to the floor. It was almost like I was destined to be there. Also, for some reason, everyone but Julia and I hated neuro. Sure, the patients were a little tougher, but that’s what made it fun.

Dr. Bowie nodded at both of us as we gathered by

the first room. Julia and I liked to divide the floor. I took the front; she took the back. On days Dr. Bowie worked, we never knew where he would choose for rounds to start. It was always a mystery. Bowie was incredibly intelligent and clearly loved his job. He was good at identifying 69

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medical barriers and listened to the other disciplines. He could be tough and direct, but he was definitely a doctor you wanted on your team. Too bad we had to rotate neurologists every week.

“We will be having two professional athletes

joining neuro today. They have been asked not to come until after rounds for patient privacy. When they arrive, please remember, we are a hospital. Continue to do your jobs,” Dr. Bowie said, looking each of us in the eye. “Chrissy, please start with our patient in 443.”

Since Bowie had decided to start backwards, I

headed off to complete some tasks I needed to. My mornings usually consisted of discharge planning assessments (DPAs), securing placement choices, contacting facilities to follow up on bed availability, and making ambulance packets. Today, I only had two DPAs on the fourth floor, but I had to “go choice” three rooms. Choicing usually took up the most time because I had to explain the difference in facilities and answer patient and family questions.

Quickly, I printed off some lists for facilities and

face sheets for my DPAs. I arranged my papers and decided on doing my DPAs first. They were quick and relatively easy. Inputting the notes for them, though, took the absolute longest time. It truly made no sense.

Knocking on a room, I entered while scrubbing

sanitizer into my hands. “Hello, Mr. Porter?”

The young, dark-haired man smiled at me. “Good

morning, Miss Aife.” He’d had a stroke from unregulated hypertension. He was lucky to be alive and getting somewhat back to normal.

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