Zhang Huayao asked her to prepare beds, indicating that these two patients are very likely to need immediate rescue upon arrival, and clearing beds at that point might delay things.
After thinking it through, the head nurse turned around and instructed the nurses under her, "Make two rescue beds available."
"Head nurse, the plane might not be able to land," one of the nurses said, trying to remain optimistic. No one hopes their work becomes too busy, medical staff feel the same way.
"Youâre overthinking it. It will definitely land." The head nurse was very experienced in this. Unless thereâs dramatic weather changes, a little thunderstorm doesnât affect an airplane landing at the airport. However, it will definitely affect critically ill patients on board. Cardiovascular patients can be on the brink of life and death due to the slightest fluctuation on a regular day, not to mention theyâre now being jostled around in the air.
"What if, what if they die on the plane?" The nervous nurse following the leadership voiced her concern, and immediately covered her mouth for saying something inauspicious.
The head nurse waved her hand, telling her to prepare the rescue beds, while turning back to watch as the hospitalâs ambulance prepared to head to the airport to pick up the patients.
The emergency duty doctor assigned to pick up the patients, a male doctor, walked out of the surgical clinic and approached the head nurse to inquire, "Head nurse, I was told that you might know the condition of the patients we need to pick up at the airport."
"Dr. Shi, are you going on the ambulance?" The head nurse was puzzled why a surgeon was going on the call. The 120 call seemed to indicate the two critically ill patients did not require a surgeon, as Dr. Shim, an internal medicine doctor, was the one previously notified.
"Director Zhang asked me to go," Dr. Shi replied.
Zhang Huayaoâs rationale was straightforward; of course, he wanted a surgeon from his hospital to go, to see Student Xieâs skills firsthand for an informed report back to him. Only a surgical mentor could better understand and evaluate the mindset and operations of a surgical student.
Not knowing what was on the leadershipâs mind, the head nurse faithfully relayed the patientâs information to Dr. Shi: "One of the patients is the one Dr. Shim was going to pick up. Dr. Shim sent another vehicle to the airport, and thereâs a Dr. Xie accompanying. I donât know much about this patientâs situation, as I didnât ask Dr. Shim. The patient you are to pick up, according to information from Dr. Xie onboard, is suspected to have a pericardial effusion."
"Pericardial effusion."
The head nurse thought, indeed, a pericardial effusion might require a pericardial puncture to draw the fluid or a pericardiectomy operation, which would require a surgeon.
"Is it acute pericarditis?" Dr. Shi pondered what the patientâs condition might be.
"They said itâs caused by hypothyroidismâ" said the head nurse, thinking it was likely that the patient themselves told Xie Wanying about their hypothyroid heart condition.
Dr. Shi thought to himself; itâs unlikely the patient informed the doctor about this. Clinically, many patients with pericardial effusion are unaware of their heart condition before coming to the hospital. Moreover, most patients with hypothyroidism have no noticeable symptoms until they come for a checkup due to some symptoms.
This Dr. Xie was able to discern hypothyroidism on the plane? Dr. Shi contemplated for a moment and replied, "Iâll go see and then talk."
See what? The head nurse could only infer that he meant seeing the patient, not realizing he actually meant meeting this Dr. Xie who could identify hypothyroidism.
Accompanying the ambulance away from the emergency department, the thunder rolled, and rain began to drizzle from the sky.
Capital Airport was suddenly struck by a thunderstorm. The plane that was scheduled to land was temporarily unable to do so and hovered over Capital Airport, waiting for the optimal landing opportunity.