Janice Lynn - A Nurse To Tame The Er Doc

Taylor ran a thermometer over her forehead.

Eek. One hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit.

She glanced around to see who was free and could grab an ice pack. Everyone was with someone except Jack.

“Dr. Morgan?”

Odd to call him that when in her head he was Jack. He glanced up from his clipboard, his blue gaze meeting hers.

“I have a hyperthermia case. Temp is one-oh-five. Can you grab an ice pack and ice water, please, while I finish checking vitals?” She supposed she should have offered to get them and let him take over with the patient, but Jack didn’t balk, just rushed to get the needed supplies.

Cindy moaned and clutched at her stomach.

“Are you feeling nauseous?”

Eyes squished closed, she nodded. “I may throw up.”

Jack stepped up, handed Taylor the items she’d requested. “I’ll get an emesis pan and anti-emetic.”

Taylor wrapped the ice pack collar around the girl’s neck.

“That’s cold!” she complained, shivering.

“We have to cool you down. You got too hot and you’re dehydrated, that’s why you’re feeling so bad.”

Jack was back, and handed the plastic pan to the girl. He bent to shine a penlight into Cindy’s eyes, then her nose and mouth. He listened to her heart and lung sounds.

“She’s tachycardic.”

Taylor opened the bottle top then handed the girl the iced water. “I want you to get as much fluid in you as you can.”

“I’ll throw it up.”

“Maybe not, but if you do, use the pan if you can. Just drink.” She glanced at Jack. “You okay with me starting the cold IV fluid and putting the anti-emetic in?”

“You took the words out of my mouth.”

She checked the girl’s veins and frowned. Dehydrated, Cindy’s veins were poor at best. Still, Taylor had always prided herself on being good at accessing veins and hopefully would hit her mark the first try, despite not having much to work with.

Gathering her supplies, Taylor then cleaned her IV site with an alcohol pad while Jack finished examining Cindy, including rechecking her temperature.

“Still one-oh-five.”

“Is that bad?” Lori asked, wringing her hands as she watched them work on her friend.

“It hasn’t gone up, so that’s a good thing,” Taylor assured her, breathing a sigh of relief when the IV catheter slid into Cindy’s vein perfectly. “Once we get these cold fluids in, her temp should drop.”

If not, they’d put her in the ice tub.

“I feel like I can’t breathe,” Cindy gasped, putting her hand to her chest.

“It’s going to be okay, Cindy.” Jack sounded calm as he continued to assess the girl, watching her closely. “Just take slow, deep breaths.”

Cindy visibly took a deep breath.

As Taylor taped the IV line to Cindy’s left hand, she fought breathing deeply herself as Jack’s voice was so hypnotic.

“Your temperature will start dropping any minute,” Jack assured their patient. “Once that happens, you’ll slowly start feeling better.”

Jack’s soothing voice made Taylor feel better as she grabbed the anti-emetic to go into the IV. Lots better. How could he be so calm when the girl’s situation really could turn dire if what they were doing didn’t work?

“I’m scared,” Cindy admitted, bursting into tears, which caused her friend to also burst into tears.

“Look at me, Cindy.”

The young woman lifted her tearful gaze to Jack’s. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “It’s okay. You’re okay. We’re doing all the right things to get your temperature down and we’ll keep you here until you’re feeling okay. You’re going to be fine.”

“Phew,” Lori sighed in relief, sniffling as she plopped down onto an empty cot next to Cindy’s. “She’s not the only one who’s scared. I’ve heard about people dying at music events but never thought about it possibly happening to someone I knew. She had me terrified when she started blacking out.”

Taylor leaned forward to inject the medication, but before she could administer it, Cindy’s body tensed. Taylor grabbed for the emesis pan, but lightning fast Jack had it to the woman’s mouth, making it just in time.

“Oh, no,” her friend groaned as Cindy heaved her stomach contents into the pan. “This is bad. I know it is.”

“It’s not uncommon for someone with hyperthermia to throw up.” Taylor injected the anti-emetic into the IV solution. “The nausea should calm down soon, too.”

Fortunately, it did.

Due to the degree of Cindy’s hyperthermia, Taylor stayed with her, closely monitoring her vitals over the next thirty minutes.

Jack came and went as he checked other patients who’d come in for care. Most were minor issues, thank goodness.

As Taylor checked Cindy’s temperature yet again, Jack walked up behind her.

“What is her temp now?”

“Ninety-nine.”

“That’s awesome,” Jack praised, placing his hand on Taylor’s shoulder. “Almost back to normal.”

Relieved at how Cindy was responding to their treatment and wondering at how her own temperature had just spiked at Jack’s innocent touch, Taylor nodded.

He gave her shoulder a squeeze before his hand fell away.

Gracious. Had he felt it, too? The sparks that flew when they touched? Or was she just crazy and imagining things in the midst of patient care?

Cindy finished off her water.

Reaching to take the bottle, Taylor gave a thumbs-up. “Want another?”

Although her color and disposition had greatly improved, the girl still looked weak. “Will it help me get back to normal quicker?”

“You may not feel yourself for a few days but, yes, hydrating well is vital,” Jack answered, then listened to Cindy’s chest again. When he removed his stethoscope from his ears, he grinned. “Heart rate is down to eighty-eight.”

“Is that good?” Lori asked. To give the girl credit, she’d stayed by her friend’s side, encouraging her to drink more water and holding her hand during the times Cindy got overly emotional.

Taylor chatted with Cindy for a few minutes, then left her to rest on the cot with Lori watching over her so she could help with other patients now that Cindy was stable.

“Great job there,” Jack praised when she joined him at a triage table, where he was attending to a new patient.

“Thanks. I’ll take this one from here so you can check on the other patients,” she offered, knowing the tent was hopping with patients who probably needed his attention.

Their gazes met. Taylor’s belly flip-flopped.

Jack rose from where he sat. “Thanks.”

The new patient looked worn out, hot and couldn’t give any specific symptoms, just that she felt exhausted. Taylor took her information, checked her vitals—all of which were normal—then put her on a cot and went to get her water.

When she got back, the girl was sound asleep.

“Well, okay, then,” she said, picking up the clipboard with the girl’s information and making a note.

“We’ll have some who do that.” Jack walked up beside her to watch the girl sleep. “They’ll come to medical just to take a break from the hyper-stimulation and to cool down.”

“It’s a whole different world from anything I’ve ever known,” Taylor admitted.

“Just wait until we watch the shows tonight. Last night will seem tame.”

She shot a curious look his way. He planned on them going to watch the shows together again?

“The costumes, the people, the vibe in the air.” His excitement came through, creating its own vibe. “Tonight people will have found their bearings and will be more relaxed. There will be more booze, drugs, sex, more everything.”

More. Her cheeks heated. “Oh.”

“No worries. Most are here to have a good time. We’re here to make sure they do it without any lasting problems.”