Skip to main content

Ward

On call

Fifteen pages from a real night, one per room. Each runs the overnight sequence: what you ask for over the phone, what you find at the bedside, and the decision that keeps the night safe.

Hypotension after amlodipine

"Bed 12's BP is 82/50. She got her evening amlodipine an hour ago. Want anything?"

2 decisions · debrief

The desaturating patient

"Mr. K in bed 3 is sating 84%. He was 95% at handover. He's on 2 litres for his pneumonia."

2 decisions · debrief

Low urine output

"Post-op patient in 8, urine output 15 mL over the last 4 hours via catheter. Surgeons signed out to you."

2 decisions · debrief

Chest pain at 02:00

"Bed 5, the NSTEMI from Tuesday, says his chest feels tight again. He looks okay to me. Troponin's not due until morning."

2 decisions · debrief

Found on the floor

"Mrs. H in bed 11 was found on the floor beside her bed. She says she slipped. She seems fine. Do you want to see her or shall I just do a set of obs?"

2 decisions · debrief

The sweaty and confused

"Bed 2's bedtime sugar is 2.9. He's the diabetic gentleman who's nil by mouth for tomorrow's scope. He's sweaty but talking to me."

2 decisions · debrief

Fast AF overnight

"Post-op day 2 in bed 6, her heart rate's 140-something and the monitor looks all over the place. BP's holding. Surgeons say she's yours overnight."

2 decisions · debrief

Fever on chemotherapy

"The lymphoma patient in the side room, day 10 after chemo, has a temp of 38.4. He says he feels okay and doesn't want to be woken up again."

2 decisions · debrief

Seizing right now

"Bed 14 just had a seizure! Shaking all over for about a minute. He's stopped now but he's not really with it. Come quickly!"

2 decisions · debrief

Black stools overnight

"Bed 4 just passed a large black tarry stool. He's on apixaban for AF. BP 108/70, HR 96. Want anything?"

2 decisions · debrief

Agitated and pulling lines

"Bed 15, the 81-year-old with pneumonia, is climbing out of bed and pulled his cannula. Can I have something to settle him?"

2 decisions · debrief

The critical potassium callback

"Lab calling: bed 22's potassium is 6.9, hemolysis index normal. He's the CKD patient admitted with cellulitis. Nurse says he feels fine."

2 decisions · debrief

Fever on post-op day two

"Bed 7, day two after a hip replacement, temp 38.4. Comfortable, obs otherwise fine. Paracetamol and reassess?"

2 decisions · debrief

Breathless during transfusion

"Bed 11 is 40 minutes into her second unit and suddenly breathless. Sats 88 on air. Stop the unit or push through, and want anything?"

2 decisions · debrief

Rash and wheeze on antibiotics

"Bed 19 started IV co-amoxiclav ten minutes ago, now itchy with a rash and her chest feels tight. She sounds wheezy on the phone. Want anything?"

2 decisions · debrief