Normally it’s great fun to watch mental health being marched into the clinic under duress but this year?

This year the vaccine nurse got us good!

The vaccine nurse brought lollipops!

To get a lollipop you had to sit and get your shot.

No crying.

No whining.

Keep a lid on the paranoia.

I got a blackcurrant lollipop!

The dude was asleep and not waking up anytime soon.

I hadn’t peed since before I had left home and due to staffing issues I had not been able to got to the bathroom.

So, things were getting ... uncomfortable.

I asked a passing NA if they could watch my patient for a few minut a while I dashed to the toilet across the hall.

NA: *looks at sleeping 19 year old in terror* what? You-you want me to sit with him?

Me: Yes.

NA: On my own?

Me: Yes

NA: without you?

Me: Look I gotta pee. **** is asleep and settled I’ll be 5 minutes. I’ll even speed pee for you.

NA: *terrified look increases and actually steps backwards.*

Me: *Now annoyed that she’s reacting to my patient like this* It’s okay, I think I took the knife off him?

NA: *gasp* He has a knife?

Sometimes people are sent to this earth to try you!

So today marks my first day on the ward a a fully fledged mental health nurse!

I have the blue uniform and meds keys to prove it.

Just please no one ask me for any medication.

Just deep breaths and have a cup of tea? Yeah?