Vital Signs by Bobby Hutchinson

IV, and then he could join the other kids more often in the playroom.
    Margaret tapped on the glass window, her face stern. Hailey knew Margaret’s shift was over and wondered what she wanted. She went to the door and knew immediately that something was wrong. The supervisor’s face was a triumphant mixture of blame and righteousness.
    â€œJoshua’s IV was somehow turned off during your party, and there’s every possibility this could result in a life-threatening situation for him.”
    All of a sudden Hailey couldn’t breathe.

CHAPTER SIX
    â€œT HAT CHILD missed his antibiotics because of your party.”
    Margaret spat out the words as if they were rotten. “Fortunately I checked and opened the valve again, but I’m sure you’re aware of how serious this is, Hailey.”
    Of course she was. Her worst nightmare was causing harm to any patient. Her heart gave a sickening thud and slammed against her ribs.
    â€œIs…is he okay?”
    Margaret responded with her own question. “How could a thing like this have happened? Tell me that.”
    Miserable, guilty, worried sick, Hailey shook her head, trying to figure it out. “It must have been when the clown pretended to pull the rabbit from Joshua’s IV,” she finally said, and then she had the sense to glance at her watch. “That was only about a half hour ago, Margaret.” A half hour without antibiotics wasn’t a life-threatening situation in Joshua’s case. For heaven’s sake, what was she thinking?
    That you’ve made what might have been a serious mistake.
    An awful sense of foreboding washed over Hailey. Margaret had been waiting a long time for her to make such a mistake.
    â€œThat’s your opinion. Mine happens to be quite different.” Margaret’s plump face was suffused with triumph. “I’ve called Joshua’s doctor and asked him to come by immediately. I told him exactly what happened. And I feel I have no choice but to go to the association with this.”
    Hailey stared at her, speechless. Margaret was threatening to report her to the Registered Nurses Association of B.C. over this?
    Incredulous, Hailey knew it was a first step in an effort to get her license lifted. She felt sick all over again, but she wasn’t about to give Margaret the satisfaction of knowing that.
    â€œLook, I’m terribly sorry for what happened, but I don’t agree that the situation warrants an investigation. However, I’m sure you’ll do what you feel you should, no matter what I say.” Hailey managed an even tone, but her mouth was dry, her throat constricted. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to check on Joshua myself.” She walked away from the older nurse, knees trembling. There was a linen closet off the hall, out of Margaret’s sight, and she stepped inside and shut the door.
    In spite of her show of bravado, in spite of knowing the situation wasn’t as serious as Margaret was making it out to be, a little boy’s treatment had been compromised because of her.
    It was the worst thing that had ever happened to her. She felt overwhelmed with guilt and remorse.She was trembling, and for a moment, hysteria almost got the better of her. But then her common sense took hold.
    It was highly unlikely that Margaret could get her license lifted because of this one small mistake. The important thing was that Joshua was okay, that he’d suffered no ill effects.
    She took another moment to compose herself and then went to Joshua’s room. The little boy was on his bed, engrossed in Lego, trying to fit wheels on something he’d built.
    â€œHey there, Josh, how ya doin’?”
    â€œOkay. I really liked that party, Hailey. Can I have one on my birthday?”
    Hailey mustered up a smile and a wink. “We’ll have to see. When’s your birthday?”
    He frowned and gave it some thought. “I think