“So did you choose to work…HERE”

For reference I work in an ICU of a level 1 trauma center and this particular patient’s room was right by the nurses station so there were constant alarms going off on the main monitor. Of course, there were lots of busy nurses running around tending to a few fresh admits within view, too.

Partially through my shift today, a significant other of my patient’s family member asked me (very abruptly) if I “saw a lot of turmoil here”, with a concerned look on his face. I told him it depends on the day and blah blah blah. With concern, again, he asked “So…did you choose to work here?? On this type of floor ??” add a hint of confusion and followed up with the classic “it’s take a special type of person to do this job”. Yessir I, a crazy person, chose to work here bc my Type A has type A and flourishes when shit hits the fan.

I found it darkly funny for some reason that he looked as if he hoped I somehow had to work in the unit against my will because he couldn’t fathom someone ever wanting to work in ICU conditions. Perhaps it was the look on his face and the tone of his voice that got to me…or by the way he said “special person” he meant someone that is absolutely bonkers…you just had to be there okay