My first couple months in nursing were spent on a general med-surg floor prior to our intensive care unit opening. Most of the rooms were semi-private and sometimes it was a challenge placing patients in these rooms as no one wanted to be placed with someone they could not get along with or who kept them up at all hours.

As I was passing out medications I entered the room of Martha and Gladys. These two ladies got along quite well, were about the same age and liked to talk about their families. I gave Martha her medicine but Gladys was not in the room. I didn't remember seeing her in the hall or the patient lounge. I asked Martha where she was and she abruptly said, "She's not here. She left!"

"What do you mean, she left?" I asked.

"Well, she got mad at me. She wanted to borrow my clean panties as she didn't have any. When I said no, get your own panties, she left in a huff with her car keys in her hand and told me to never mind!"

True story! Sure enough she drove home, got clean panties and returned to the hospital. Unfortunately both ladies continued to hold a grudge.