Head Banging Deux

Quote of the patient about her night shift nurse:
"I just love "Amy". I've got her pegged. When she comes into the room, I just start feeding compliments to her and she eats it up. I use that to get my way all the time."
Okay, people, I feel the need to point the soon-to-follow fact out because most of the American population for whatever reason doesn't believe it. Nurses know when they are being manipulated. Really and truly. We do. Why? Because you aren't the first patient to try to pull that. I know that you think you are ingenious, lying in your hospital bed and thinking of ways to cadge what you want out of me. I'm just professional enough to not let on all the time. Not only have most of us done extensive psychiatric rotations but we've had enough patients to have what you might call "good character judgment". I know if you're phony, narcissistic, drug-seeking, or neurotic.
I reminded myself that she is young, very ill, and has everything to lose. I performed her chemo, turned a blind eye to her less than savory character, and was as congenial to her as I am to the rest of my patients.