Wednesday, December 14, 2011

NITROPASTE

A middle aged man presented to the ER with complaints of new onset intermittent chest discomfort.  I explained everything to him. . .the purpose of the EKG, the chest x-ray, the need for blood work, the standard use of O2 in this situation and the purpose of precautionery IV access.  He listened intently to everything I said.

Finally, I prepared one inch of nitropaste to apply to his anterior chest wall. I told him it was the same thing as the little white nitro pills people with angina used when they experienced chest pain.

He frowned and then said: "Please put it on my arm instead of my chest. I can lick my arm but I can't lick my chest."

Just proves you can have a good laugh at work.

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