I apologize in advance for what is sure to be a scathing rant.

The other day as I was driving to work, traffic got very backed up here in good 'ol Milpitas because some raving dumbass decided to "run" a red light... except he only got as far as the middle of the intersection.

So of course he blocked traffic at 2 different lights because of it. Consequently, I was a little late to work...instead of being there around 2:50pm (which gives me time to stuff my pockets with various instruments of medicine, find a chair, look over the day's menu a la patients, and generally settle in), I was there right at 3:00pm on the dot. I was in charge, so walking in one minute before report was to start was annoying.

With my one minute, I decided to tell the RN next to me why I was late (Hey, she asked!) and as soon as "some dork ran a red light" quietly came out of my mouth, I was bombarded with questions from other people around the table that I had not been talking to, and who had been in the middle of their own conversations: "Oh my god! Are you okay?" "Did he hit your car?" "Is that why you're late?" Of course they didn't hear the "and blocked the intersection, thereby holding up traffic" because they couldn't wait five damn seconds for me to finish my sentence.

I couldn't help it - I gave them all a bad bad geena look and simply said, "No." I didn't elaborate, and instead just looked at the day charge (who had just walked in), signaling that I, for one, was ready to listen to what she had to say.

I find that this happens a LOT out here in California... I honestly hadn't noticed in Illinois. People will blatantly interrupt your sentence to ask you what you were just about to tell them. Either that, or they will try to finish your sentence for you while you are still talking. I am as guilty as the next person of finishing other's sentences, but I typically only do so if they are suddenly at a loss for words. The thing that REALLY annoys me about these people trying to finish my sentence is that they are almost always wrong.

So then I usually stop talking, and say "no," wait until they have quieted down, and continue with "I was going to say...." This never deters them from doing it again.

Perhaps the most annoying conversation took place one night during my report to the night shift, between me and the RN who would be in charge on nights:
Me: "Now for bed 5 - he will transfer after midnight tonight, when his Fenoldapam has finished infusing."
Night Charge: "Fenoldapam? What is that?"
Me: "You know... it's that newish drug that they're using in the cath lab to increase blood flow to the kidneys, thereby lowering the risk of renal failure from the dye that's used. It's usually only used on especially high-risk patients. Patients on this drug have to be in CCU until they are done with it because it can raise the blood pressure too high."
[Note: Any RN who works CCU should know what that means.]
Night Charge: "Fenoldapam? What's that?"
Me: "It's a drug that they are giving patients who receive IVP dye in the cath lab who are at a higher risk for renal failure. It increases blood flow to the kidneys, but can also make the blood pressure too high, so he has to stay here until the infusion is finished, then he can transfer upstairs." [said in a respectful tone, btw]
Night Charge: "Oh... okay. Fenoldapam. Huh. What's it do?"
Me [looking around the room at the other nurses, who are also a bit incredulous]: "I'm not telling you again."
Night Charge: "Oh... okay."

Argh.