I was hoping it would never happen, but it did.
I was asked out today by a patient.
My 53 year old patient at that.
It was awesome. Awesomely awkward.
Sure I've had old men ask me to be their personal nurses at home, or tell their family they want to marry me, but they're always joking (I hope).
Today was my third day in a row and I'd been taking care of this guy for all those days. He had a blot clot and was on bedrest. He would talk to me when I was in his room giving meds and called me out from the hallway to ask me questions when I passed by. He seemed harmless. Some of his questions seemed a little personal, but not too creepy. Today in order to avoid personal questions I commented on the oil spill that was being talked about on the TV (he loves CNN). A few hours later he called me into his room and had written down notes from Obama's press conference. He was just going on about it and occasionally asking me questions about blood clots. And then he asks, "So, can I take you out to dinner?" Luckily my brain was working quick and I responded without hesitation that it isn't allowed (the whole nurse-patient relationship). He said ok, and then I changed the subject so as to not further the conversation.
I know I'm a spinster, but I'm not desperate. He's 53, not attractive, and our case manager informed me that he's not rich either. So it wouldn't even be worth going out with him in hopes of getting all his money when he dies... And also, in case you're wondering, this guy is alert, oriented and not delusional.
Anyway, later when he called me in, one of his questions is if I had a sister, which I told him I did not. He moved onto the next question about oil again. And then an hour later when he called me in, he told me that he asked if I had a sister in the hopes of asking her out instead (because that's normal to do when one family member is unavailable). Maybe I should have told him that my 50 year old sister would be more his age...
He was being discharged shortly after I was leaving, and when I went in to take out his IV, he had written a short goodbye list of things to say, which concluded with, "if things change, give me a call." No.
3 comments:
Kate?!! After you told him that you didn't have a sister, you could've told him that you had a really cool roommate who was like a sister. Ouch.
Also, your "Why do I have to be so darn charming?!!" is my favorite quote as of late.
Kate!!! THis is along the lines of me being asked out by my student's 50 year old father or my car mechanic! Both were awkward! Guess we are both soo charming and popular!
I got asked out by a claimant a few weeks ago, this was after a 20 minute conversation on his medical conditions- specifically his anal cancer. He said he would make it worth my while. I responded with flattery will not get your claim approved, and moved on to the next question.
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