it is a protocol to check with the conscious, oriented patient, what is his/her birthday is before putting the ID band. to verify the identification. what gives me the creeps is that somebody told me once (or did i read it somewhere?) that people usually die a couple of days or weeks before or after their birthday.

this explains why i am freaking out everytime i check a patient’s birthday, and it turns out that it was yesterday, or that it will be next week…sometimes, the paranoia gets so overwhelming, i would rather not check. only, i am one of those RNs with OCD who try to stick to the protocol if i can.

i have to stop myself from telling the patient: “so mr. S…you will be 78 this coming saturday, i’m afraid i need to remind you to reconsider your will before you go through with that surgery”. i know what you’re thinking…it must be horrible having me for a nurse.

i did a little research this morning…walked around a cemetery just a couple of blocks from our house. i regret doing it. now, i’m almost beyond paranoid.aprroximately 50-60 of the people in there died on the month they were born!

but then again…it was just a small cemetery.