The Dedicated Doctor

摘要

The Dedicated Doctor smiled reflectively as he straightened his blue-striped tie and immaculately pressed white shirt with the care of one prone to a slight tendency of obsessiveness. Thank God it's Wednesday, he thought with an internal feeling of heartening anticipation. Teaching rounds break up an otherwise tedious week of wandering these white corridors."Jenny, how's my favorite nurse?" he inquired mischievously as he approached the slightly built woman seated at the main desk. Penny, a senior nurse who had worked on the floor for over thirty years, correctly assumed that this was directed at her and smiled indulgently at the veteran neurologist. Her kind face, with fine lines drawn by years of experience and nights of labor, contrasted against the fresh-faced male recruit who sat next to her, looking rather discomfited and, the Doctor thought, much too young to be a nurse. But perhaps it was just he who was getting old."Here's your list for rounds, Doctor," Penny said, handing him a typewritten sheet and warily observing a wandering male patient who appeared to be headed into a room occupied by two elderly women."I'll try not to be too hard on the residents today," he replied, giving her a quick wink."You'd better not be-they come just to spend time with you!" She glanced back toward the roaming patient. "Mr. Parker, why don't we go visit Mr. James instead?" she called, dashing off.