TB Testing is Troubling

Marissa and Jessica want to job shadow with Sister Lisa Elmasri at Baptist East Hospital to see what it would be like to be a pediatric nurse.  Marissa is really the one that wants to be a nurse, but Jessica is curious and wants to do it with her even though she gets squeamish at the thought of needles or bolod.

Well, Today Jessica and Marissa went in to get the required TB test in order to volunteer in the hospital.
Today was the first time I didn't go back with them.  There isn't much room and it's just to administer the test.  OOPS!

Jessica is the first to get the test.  She says in her own words, "I did really great.  I even watched him put the needle in and make it bubble.  After it was done I still felt great.  I was so proud of myself for not getting weak."  Well, because she felt good the technician let her get out of the chair.  Marissa sat down and was  just about to have the test administered to her when she saw Jessica sway left and right and then just PASS OUT backwards.  Jessica hit her head on the counter and then fall to the floor.  Luckily the technician heard her hit the cabinet and caught her just before she hit the floor.  She also cut the back of her foot when she fell.

Okay, so at this point I still don't know.  Then a nurse comes into the waiting room and asks me to come back.  I walk around the corner and Jessica is sitting in a heap on the floor.  I can't get her to respond.  We lay her down (pillow under her head) for about 10 minutes.  I keep talking to her and asking her questions to keep her alert and attentive.  We get her water but what she really needs is some sugar/food.

It takes about 30 minutes to get her color back.  In the mean time Marissa sees Jessica get sick and starts to feel sick herself.  They have cold compresses on both girls.  Marissa is moved to a different room so she can't see what's happening with Jessica.  She has a nurse with her, while Jessica has a nurse and me attending to her.  Finally they clean up her foot and move her to another room to get her stable.

In the end we didn't leave what was supposed to be a 10 minute appointment for 1 hour and 30 minutes and Jessica still didn't feel good.  Marissa did great.  She felt fine the whole time and kept telling me to go away.  We got both girls home, fed and rested.


What a day!