At 11:24, the PM shift charge nurse was just finishing up her report to
the night crew. Laurie, the night charge, was making out the shift
assignments as Shirley added, almost as an afterthought, "Oh, and the old
lady in room 250 passed away about 9:30."
Laurie looked up from her paperwork. "That was Mrs. Enderlander," she
said and sighed. "She was such a nice old lady. A shame we couldn't
have done more to help her."
Shirley rose and stretched, then gathered up her purse and coat. "Well,
she had been here for days and had been sick for quite a while. We all
have to go sometime, you know," she said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"How old was she, anyway? 92 or something?"
"Her chart says she was 94."
"Wow. I should live so long," Laurie said with a slight smile. "Has she
been picked up, yet?"
"No. Her son has been in there all evening and wanted some time alone
with her before they came for the body. We didn't need the room right
away, so I told him to take as much time as he needs." Shirley slipped
her coat on and slung her purse over her shoulder. "See you guys
tomorrow night."
Laurie gave a wave as Shirley left the station and went back to passing
out the room assignments.