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The Flu Shot Fiasco
Needles,negotiations and a little drama
As a nurse, I take pride in my ability to remain calm under pressure. But nothing tests my patience quite like flu season. For context, every year, our clinic transforms into a bustling hive of hesitant patients, each with their own excuse for avoiding the needle.
Take Mr. Thompson, a 60-year-old with a Southern accent and a lot of confidence. He strutted in, boasting, "Nurse Wesley , I have wrestled gators and survived three wives." This shot ain’t nothing!” However, as soon as I took out the syringe, his complexion turned ghostly. "Is it supposed to be that sharp?" he stammered, clutching the armrest as if it were a lifeline.
I reassured him that it would be over in seconds. "Just a little pinch," I said, but the man flinched so hard it was like I was holding a medieval spear. “Done!” I chirped, and he blinked at me, disbelief written across his face. "That is it?" he asked, sheepishly. I resisted the urge to say, "Told you so."
Then there was Jenny, a fiery six-year-old who negotiated like a seasoned diplomat. "I will let you give me the shot," she said, "but only if I get two stickers and an extra…
