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A Good Shift (Niki introduces two coworkers)
Chapter 2 One good thing about working twelve-hour night shifts in a Southern California hospital is driving against traffic for the commute. Californians don’t measure commutes in miles, but by how...
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Myopia (What happens when a Child’s Only Access to Health Care is The ER)
Chapter 3 “Fuck! Liz, get in here! I need more light.” Dr. Polk, the PICU intensive care doctor is renowned throughout the hospital for his skill at inserting central lines into even the smallest...
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Little Earthquakes (Niki has a stress dream and learns about earthquake kits)
Chapter 5 I pulled into the driveway of our rented house. Simon’s left, so I park in the garage, closing the door. I removed the groceries from the backseat and set them on the washing machine before...
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The Center of This Body’s Universe (Niki needs caffeine and meets a nice...
Chapter 7 I can’t tell if my headache is caused by too much sleep or not enough. Without coffee my night shift tuned body doesn’t know whether to wake up, or go to bed, since neither daylight nor...
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Something Goes Wrong (Nice families always have the sickest kids)
Chapter 8 Besides my fourteen year-old head trauma there is only one other patient in the PICU. Because that one is stable and expected to transfer to the regular pediatric unit in the morning,...
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A Happy Shift (Niki explains PICU pain management)
Chapter 12 My next shift, I take report on a child admitted following surgery earlier that afternoon. The medical plan is for her to spend the night, and then transfer to the regular pediatric unit in...
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