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NEONATE
(from "The 'Who Me?' Generation" R. Morris ©1991)
(Stage clears of people as NEW NURSE rolls her tray onto stage. One of the other actors to cross during the last scene can bring on the isolette. This is NEW NURSE's first time performing the Postmortem Care procedure by herself. The hospital is understaffed due to a strike and for that reason the HEAD NURSE can only check in on NEW NURSE on occasion, rather than help her through the process. NEW NURSE is very conscious of the good impression she wants to make on the HEAD NURSE)
NEW NURSE
(steeling herself as she heads to a tray table with numerous items on it)
"Purpose: To properly prepare fetus/neonate for viewing by parent or parents and family. To assume proper identification." Check equipment. Do I have all the equipment? "Baby blanket." Yes. "Weight scale," yes. "Tape measure," yes. "Three name tags." One, two ... wait. Oh. Okay. Yes. "Shroudpaper." Uh-huh. "Hat." Hat? Don't understand that. "Camera and film." Okay. "Ink pad. Crib card. Gloves." Yes, yes, yes.
(rolls tray cautiously towards an isolation crib)
Paperwork. Paperwork first. Name Um. Where's the birth certificate? There it is. Oh. Conlin, John. Time of birth, 4:14 am, January 5, 1990. Time of death 7:43 pm, January 9, 1990. Physician attending ... Dr. Stampos. "Cause of Death:" Hmm. Pneumocystis Carinii. Oh.
(takes gloves from tray and puts them on. Returns form to tray)
HEAD NURSE
(entering from US of NEW NURSE)
How are you doing? Any questions or problems so far?
NEW NURSE
(starting at the sound of HEAD NURSE's voice)
Um, well, yes, actually, while you're here. Two things. Dr. Stampos doesn't seem to have signed the death certificate. Or does he do that after I've completed all this other stuff.
HEAD NURSE
He usually signs them all at the end of his shift. He should have initialed the birth certificate, though. Did he?
NEW NURSE
(looking at certificate)
Yes.
HEAD NURSE
What was the other question? I have to get back to rounds.
NEW NURSE
Oh, um. Neverm--well, Baby Conlin died of Pneumocystis Carinii--
HEAD NURSE
--I know.
NEW NURSE
Was he HIV positive?
HEAD NURSE
(distinctly neutral)
Yes, I believe so. I'll check back in to see how you're doing on my way up to Fourth Floor.
(she exits back US)
NEW NURSE
(blankly looking after HEAD NURSE as she leaves, not really noticing. As if as an afterthought she puts on a second pair of gloves over the first pair and returns to work)
"If neonate is in isolation, place in blanket and then in shroud." Oh. Forgot to record the isolation..."lf parents and/or family wish to hold neonate, they may do so." The hat. Don't forget to put the hat on.
(NEW NURSE's concentration is slipping but she is aware that HEAD NURSE may return at any moment so she attempts to retain composure)
"If parents are unable to be contacted within one hour, neonate may be transp--" damn! "Neonate!" It's not a neonate. It's a baby. A little baby boy. (opens isolette and gently disconnects I.V. and oxygen tubes from baby within, gingerly, carefully avoiding touching the baby) There's no one to see him, anyway. I don't want to do this. A hat. A stupid, stupid hat. (she begins talking to the baby as she continues about her task) Hello, little Jimmy. You're very tiny, aren't you? I just have to take your footprints, okay? It won't hurt. (to herself) What am I saying of course-- (she chokes up and is silent as she takes prints of each hand and foot) There. That wasn't so bad, now, was it? (With a damp cloth, she proceeds to wash the baby, talking in a "baby" voice) You're such an awful mess! We're just cleaning you up an itsy-bit! Let's comb your hair and make it all nice and neat--
HEAD NURSE
(re-enters quickly)
--Did I forget my clipboard here?
NEW NURSE
(abruptly professional again, furtively wiping at the comers of her eyes before HEAD NURSE gets to where she is standing)
Ah, no. No, I don't think you did. "Dorsal recumbent position. Arms at side, close eyes, comb hair as needed." Maybe you left it at Nursery Admitting.
(she pauses, waiting for HEAD NURSE to leave)
HEAD NURSE
(passing through and out with a cursory glance for her clipboard)
Hmm. Maybe. Oh well, I'll catch up to it somewhere. One of those days.
NEW NURSE
(After HEAD NURSE exits, she positions baby in crib. With a last look to be sure HEAD NURSE is gone)
Guess what! Now we get to take a picture
(takes a single Polaroid of the baby, puts camera down and stares into crib for a long moment. Taking blanket from table, she wraps baby snugly in it and places the shroud over the blanket. She picks up the small knit hat from the table and looks at it)
"If neonate is to be disposed of by hospital, place neonate in surgical specimen container--
(choked up, she pauses)
"--handle according to Surgical Pathology Specimen Policy." Look! It's such a pretty color. So bright and cheerful It'll keep you warm all the time.
(there is a long pause after she finishes placing the hat on the infant. Heavy sigh. NEW NURSE quietly fills out three identification tags. She attaches one to the body of the infant, one to the outside of the isolette, and one to the forms she has been filling out. After looking at the infant for a moment, she wraps it in the shroud paper and closes the isolette, then turns to walk away. After a moment, she returns to the isolette, opens it, picks up the baby, and hugs it gently. She returns it to the isolette, closes the lid, and exits rapidly as lights fade over to phone conversation between MOTHER and MICHAEL. Both should be visible on respective phones on stage)