It's Nothing Personal Read Free Page A

Propofol, contained a clear liquid.   If it weren’t for the preprinted labels
Jenna had affixed to each syringe, it would be virtually impossible to
distinguish one medication from the other.   Ritualistically, Jenna arranged the syringes on the silver tray of the
anesthesia machine in the exact order that she intended to administer them to
her patient – Versed, Lidocaine, Fentanyl, Propofol, and Rocuronium.
    At 8:15, Jenna was still the only one
present.   It had been well over ten
minutes since she left Rebecca in the hallway.   With all of her drugs laid out in the
open, she was forced to remain in the room until the patient appeared.   Pulling out her phone, she engaged in a
quick round of Solitaire.   After
several more minutes, she finally heard the sound of voices approaching the
operating room doors.   Jenna waited
as Rebecca maneuvered the cumbersome hospital gurney, with Michelle Hollings
onboard, into the room and lined it up next to the operating room table.  
    Overly bright and cheery, Rebecca quipped,
“Hey, Dr. Reiner.   Here’s our friend,
Michelle.   Michelle, this is the operating
room.   I’d introduce you to the rest
of the gang, but they don’t seem to be back yet.”  
    Rebecca’s last sentence was said with
reproach, as she cocked her head in the direction of the surgical equipment and
glanced inquisitively over at Jenna.   Jenna correctly interpreted Rebecca’s expression and tone, as both women
questioned Hillary’s whereabouts.   Outside the view of her patient, Jenna shrugged her shoulders and shook
her head disapprovingly.
    “So, Michelle,” asked Jenna, “how’s that cocktail
treating you?”
    Completely lucid, Michelle responded, “What cocktail?”
    Michelle’s anxiety was evident as her eyes
darted from one daunting piece of surgical equipment to the next.   Jenna said compassionately, “Don’t worry.   I’ve got more.”  
    Jenna grasped the syringe of Versed and
injected its contents into Michelle’s intravenous line.   Not only would the Versed make Michelle
feel as though she had a few drinks, it would also cloud her memory from that
point forward.
    The second dose of Versed seemed to have an
impact on Michelle.   Wearing a silly
smirk, she slurred, “Oh yeah, I’m feeling it now.”
    Jenna guided Michelle from the hospital
gurney over to the operating room table.   Once the patient was positioned correctly, Jenna started her
pre-induction routine.   First, Jenna
secured a mask over Michelle’s face that delivered one hundred percent
oxygen.   She then applied the
standard monitors to Michelle – a blood pressure cuff, EKG leads, and an oxygen
saturation monitor.   While Jenna
went about her business, she overheard Rebecca on the phone with the charge
nurse.
    With unconcealed annoyance, Rebecca asked,
“Can you find out where Hillary is, and tell her we have the patient in the
room?   We are about to start the
case, and there’s no scrub tech!”  
    Jenna stopped eavesdropping and returned her
focus to her patient.  
    “Okay, Michelle, we’re ready to go off to
sleep.   I’m giving you the good
stuff.   You’re going to get really
sleepy, really fast.”  
    In rapid succession, Jenna injected Lidocaine,
Fentanyl, and Propofol.   Jenna
pushed the Propofol into Michelle’s intravenous line.   The milky white fluid travelled down the
IV tubing from the injection port and disappeared into Michelle’s
bloodstream.   At that point, Jenna
warned Michelle, “This last medicine that you are getting might burn a little
bit at your IV site, but it makes you fall asleep quickly.   I’m rubbing your arm as you drift off,
which helps some with the discomfort.   I promise, we are all going to take very good care of you, and we’ll see
you in a few hours.”  
    Thirty seconds later, Michelle’s eyes flickered
and then drifted shut as the rest of her body went limp under the effect of the
drugs.   Jenna then held a mask
securely over