BALTIMORE, MD – Patient Amanda Stanley was having a terrible day: her appendix had ruptured, her hospital gown was unflattering, and she was assigned to a hospital room with a drab view of the parking garage. To make matters worse, there was an intrusive thunderstorm outside. The weather was the final straw.
“Get me my nurse!” she told the poor nursing assistant Patty Booth. “I need the weather changed immediately!”
The nurse Mary Beth Arkins was busy resuscitating a dying patient down the hall. When she arrived in Stanley’s room apologizing profusely for the wait, the patient became even more livid. “I don’t want to hear your excuses, Nurse. I hate thunder! It triggers my depression, so make it stop now! NOW NOW NOW NOW! “
Mary Beth was horrified at the patient’s lack of understanding but then came to the acute realization that the weather too was her responsibility. If finding pharmacy medications, handling interns, efficient internet connection, and mediating divorces was part of her job, then changing the weather didn’t seem quite so unreasonable.
Determined to save the day, Mary Beth Arkins sent a high priority page to God and the weather was soon adjusted accordingly.
