Missing the First Day While Cleaning Up Vomit
There is a special place in hell, sis
For the nurses that screw the next shift
They throw away good IV lines
Forget to mark dates and times
Refuse to perform dressing changes
Give no platelets for hemostasis
And leave a psychosocial day shift problem
For a night shift nurse that feels like Gollum
Who has to call the security office
To locate a patient’s lost wallet
She gets angry, people tell her to calm down
Even though bed exits are alarming all around
No water no food no time to pee
No time to settle and deep breathe
It’s not her fault she was born this way
Strong sense of justice here to stay
And just when the work finally slows
It’s one minute after midnight, so it goes
Her perfectionism pinches her by the cheek
Realizing POMO lost out on her 30 day streak
She goes to the supply room and cries without tears
And silently screams into a towel so no one hears
6 thoughts on "Missing the First Day While Cleaning Up Vomit"
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It’s not about rushing to write a poem, each day before the clock strikes twelve! The poem you might have written June 1 would not be as good as the poem you wrote June 2 which was filled with such a powerful voice—contempt, humor, urgency, compassion—it would never have been written if you had made the June 1 deadline! Really enjoyed this poem’
That’s a good perspective. Thank you for your kind comment. ❤️
Really expressive. I could feel a frustration and sadness.
Great poem!
I believe nurses have the power to shift time—they help their patients pass theirs with quality.
And those with a strong sense of justice have the ability to send Eastern time submissions in a Pacific Time Zone. 😉
We all miss the poetic moment, but you’ve captured it for us, no matter the deadlines!
Thanks for the service you do as a nurse! a very tough, demanding job. Your poem tells it so well.
I know it’s tough to miss a day, but this is a hell of a poem to bounce back with. Thank you for bringing us into the moment with you!