The Way Your Heart Sounds

“Lauren? New patient in bed seven.”

Looking up from the computer she was charting notes into, she smiled.

“What are we looking at?”

“27 year old male. Been in here three times in the past month for alcohol poisoning. He was brought in by ambulance because he fainted at his friend’s house. Currently awake, confused, and vomiting. Bradypnea, cyanosis, pretty much a textbook case.”

Lauren nodded, thanked her co-worker, and gathered her stethoscope before she walked towards bed seven. Working in the Emergency Room, alcohol and drug overdoses were pretty much a daily occurrence. She pulled back the curtain and smiled at her next patient.

His jet black hair was messed up in all different directions, he had eyeliner smeared all around his eyes, and he was deathly pale. He jolted a bit when Lauren pulled back the curtains. She took a quick moment to observe him. The tattoos, the clothes, the makeup. Musician? Tattoo artist, perhaps?

A man who had a similar look and appeared to be around the same age was in the chair next to him. Probably the friend he passed out in front of.

“Sorry to startle you. My name is Lauren, and I’ll be your nurse for tonight. How are you feeling, Mr. Sullivan?”

“Please call me Jimmy... I feel alright, just a little tired. This asshole over here insisted I come here,” he mumbled, pointing to the man in the chair, who promptly frowned.

“You said he fainted, correct?” she asked the man, who nodded in response.

“Yeah, after the second bottle of JD he was out like a light. Scared the shit out of me,” he said.

“Jimmy, how much did you have to drink today?” she asked. He didn’t answer at first, and his eyes rolled up in thought. If he had to think about it, it probably wasn’t going to be a very good answer. She moved closer to him and adjusted his clothes so she could listen to his heartbeat. He jerked away from her at first, and then slowly relaxed. He seemed very tense for someone who was inebriated.

“I dunno, I had two beers and then like … two bottles…” he drawled, inhaling deeply as she pressed the cool metal to his chest.

“Two bottles of JD? Is that vodka?” She asked.

“Jack Daniels… Whiskey. Hey, can I leave now? I’m fine,” Jimmy pleaded.

Lauren held her finger up, signaling for him to hush while she listened. His heart sounded fine. Breathing was slow. Nothing that seemed extremely out of the ordinary.

“So Jimmy, we’re going to give you some fluids and medications to help re-hydrate you and flush the remaining alcohol out of your system. I’d like the attending physician to admit you here overnight for observation as well, to err on the side of caution.”

Jimmy scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“Look, Lauren, I appreciate that. But I’m fine…. Seriously… I just need some sleep is all.” Jimmy attempted to shift himself up out of bed. Lauren noticed the way his torso convulsed as he did so, and handed him a pink bucket.

“What’s that for?” Jimmy’s friend asked. A few seconds later, Jimmy vomited into the bucket as Lauren gently patted his shoulder for comfort.

“Woah, good call,” the friend said, “So should I stay here with you, Jimbo? I don’t mind keeping you company until they kick me out.”

Lauren handed Jimmy a moist paper towel to wipe his face with. He took a few deep breaths.

“Nah. Go home, Bri.... I don’t think you wanna sit here and watch me puke for the next couple of hours,” Jimmy mumbled.

“Alright. Feel better buddy, call me tomorrow morning when you need a ride?” Jimmy nodded in response, before throwing up again.

“He’s in great hands. Thank you for being a good friend,” Lauren said. She couldn’t begin to tell him how many times people had died from a night of heavy drinking just because their friends decided to leave them passed out drunk. The man smiled and patted his friend on the head before leaving.

“Do you think you’re up for answering a few more questions, Jimmy?” Lauren asked, after the friend had left.

“What else you needa know?” he slurred.

“How long have you been drinking so heavily?”

“I’m in a rock band. Drinking is part of our lives. It’s just what we do, ya know? God… I drink almost everyday… I just overdid it tonight…” he trailed off. He pushed his messy hair out of his face and slowly leaned back against the bed again.

“You know, the hospital has an Alcoholics Anonymous group that meets every week. Maybe you’d want to check it out when you leave? If not, I would be happy to refer you to other resources nearby,” Lauren explained, as she set up one of Jimmy’s IV bags. His somewhat neutral look suddenly turned dark, and his bright blue eyes narrowed.

“Look, I’m not going to stop drinking anytime in the near future. So don’t bother. I’m not going to any meetings, or rehab, or any of that crap. Just do what you gotta do and let me leave.” Lauren frowned.

“If you change your mind, let me or someone else know. As nice as you are, I would prefer that we don’t see you around here as often, okay?” She finished hanging the second IV bag and let him know that they would move him into a room as soon as possible so he could get some sleep. His face softened and he smiled at her, truly, for the first time.

“Thanks. Sorry to clog up your ER with my drunkenness... And sorry if I’m being an asshole too.. You’re an angel, Lauren.”

Lauren smiled and nodded her thanks at him, before collecting her things and leaving. As she approached the nurses station, she sat down for a moment to record their conversation, his vital signs, and what she distributed to him. She also put in a recommendation for referral to substance abuse and psychiatric services, figuring he would just throw them in the trash as soon as he left. At least she could say she gave it her best shot.

Notes

Hi all! First time posting here. Would love to hear some feedback and thoughts from you guys!