At this point the doctor tells me I will have to get a flu shot. (I still have not gotten changed into my regular clothes yet.)

I tell her, “I don’t want a flu shot.”

She response, “Well you have to get one, it’s for your own good.”

My wife response, “I guess you don’t get a choice.”

So then I say, “I guess not. Well ok.”

Then the doctor explains that the nurse will be back in to give me my shot.

She then says, “Goodbye Patient John. Be well. See you next time.” And she leaves the room as I thank her. She closes the door as she leaves.

I anxiously wait there in silence for a few minutes as I lay down on my back, then sit up, then lay back down again, then sit up again, then lay back down again. Finally the nurse comes back in with the needle, closing the door behind herself.

“Do I really have to get a flu shot?” I ask.

“Yes Patient John, you do.” She response firmly.

“Which arm?” She asks.

I respond “left” because I’m right handed.

She rolls up the left sleeve of my johnny and wipes my elbow with the alcohol pad, waits a few seconds then stabs me with the needle. Then as she injects the vaccine I say “Ow”.

She takes the needle out and says sweetly, “See that wasn’t so bad.”

She puts a little bandage on it.

I then rub it because it is sore.

I say, “So now I’m done?”

The nurse response, “You still need blood work. Wait here and I will be right back.”

“Oh, you have to stab me again?” I say.

She leaves but this time she returns quickly with another needle and a tube that fits in it. She closes the door as she enters.

She asks me which arm again and again I say left.

She is excellent at taking blood. It hurts a little when she pokes me and I say, “Ow” but as she is taking it, it doesn’t really hurt. She pokes me on the lower arm near the joint. She only takes one tube of blood. When she removes the needle it hurts a little again and I say “Ow”. She covers it with a piece of gauze and medical tape.

“There. All done. That wasn’t so bad now was it?” She says gently.

I respond, “You really did a good job, it didn’t hurt that much at all.”

“Thank you Patient John.”

She then says, “Just give me one moment. Be right back.”

She leaves with the sample and returns less than a minute later. She closes the door as she enters the exam room.

Then she instructs me to get changed back into my clothes.

After I put my underwear and socks back on she reaches to my back and says, “Here, let me get that for you.” As she unties the johnny.

After I am changed back into my regular clothes she tells me to see the receptionist on the way out so I can pick up my paperwork.

As my wife and I leave the nurse says, “Thank you Patient John. Take care now.”

I respond back, “Thank you.” And we leave.

On the way back home my wife comments that that was a very thorough exam. We agree that it’s great that they do such a thorough job. We also agree that the clinic we used to go to has never been that thorough.

We are both very glad we made the switch.

A few days later I get a call from the hospital informing me that all my lab work came back normal. My wife tells me that she is very glad I am in good health and happy that we found a place that cares so deeply about our health.

The End