You may know someone like him, if you are lucky. Bill is a nurse in the emergency department where I work as the clinical instructor. He has worked there nearly as long as I have, over 10 years now. In that time he has become one of the best nurses we have. Beyond having sound clinical judgement, an excellent knowledge base, and stellar communication skills, he is a riot.
Nurses know the value of humor to the survival of our species.
Emergency humor is not easy to master. There is a fine line between irreverence and disrespect. Bill has mastered that domain. Staff members watch what they say around him, lest their words be fuel for his repartee. Night shift was patiently awaiting the arrival of day shift, for the changing of the guard.