Whinefest of the day:
Today at work I almost witnessed a stranger's urology exam. It was hella weird.
I'd just gotten to work (at a hospital), so I hadn't changed into the scrubs yet (I work as a secretary, but still have to wear the scrubs, and frankly, it's awesome because it feels like hanging around in my PJs all day), and one of the people I work with asked me if I could accompany this old lady to the 7th floor, because she had problems walking alone. So, I had to guide her upstairs, while she kept holding on to me and whining about how far it was to walk (elevator, so not that far). Thing is, I've worked there for 11 weeks spread over two summers, and I sit in an office on the first door to the left on the 1st floor, so I pretty much know where that office is, where the cafeteria is and where to get scrubs in the basement. And that's it. I have no idea where anything else is.
Well, we got to the 7th floor, and I asked her where she was going. "I don't know.. An urologist, maybe?". So I asked if she'd ever been there before. "Yes, lots of times. But I don't remember how it looks like."... So, I asked some woman who works at the hospital where we should go, and she went "Well, this is the maternity ward, so I don't think this is the right place." (The woman was like 75.), to which I asked "Well, she thinks she's going to a urology exam, do you know where that is?", and she told us to go down to the 6th floor. At this point, the old lady is becoming a total bitch, whining to me about having her walk too far because I don't know where I'm going. What the fuck? I'm not the one who has been there "lots of times", but doesn't even remember what it looks like.
So we went down to the 6th floor, and I asked some other nurse if we were in the right place. "Hm. She's supposed to register here, but then you have to go up to the 7th floor." Goddamnit. So, she gets registered, and I have to follow her upstairs again, after being told where to go. So we get there, and the old lady is still whining, even more so now because she has to wait for 10 minutes. And I have to wait with her, because she needs help walking the 5m to the examination room (seriously, she walked into the hospital just fine?!). So, after 10 minutes of awkward silence with this old lady, I help her inside, and then the doctor starts talking to her like I'm not even there, and when he tells her to sit down and get ready, I exclaim "Ehm, okay, you don't need me anymore, I'll just go!", and it turns out, the doctor thought I was her granddaughter (due to no scrubs), and he was just going to examine her while I was in the room. Who the hell wants to undergo a urology exam with their granddaughter in the room, and who wants to watch their grandmother have a urology exam?! And for some reason, I wonder if it's even allowed without consent or whatever.
Summarized: This shit is not my job! I'm supposed to listen to case summaries, write them down and hit "Send to writer for approval..", and that's it. I didn't sign up for dealing with bitter old ladies who are mean to people who are just trying to help, even if it isn't their jobs. I'm beginning to lose hope in old people - I haven't met anyone nice in a while.