Chapter 9 - The Purge
Carla Mintz was arrested at the nurse’s station three minutes later, in full view of the entire night shift. Britt Holloway was escorted out of the hospital in handcuffs, her head bowed as the staff she had bullied and dominated for twelve years watched in absolute, stunned silence.
The atmosphere in the trauma unit changed instantly. The heavy, oppressive silence that had hung over the break room for six weeks dissolved, replaced by a sudden, collective sigh of relief. The senior nurses who had turned away from Nora now looked at her with a mixture of awe and profound gratitude. She hadn't just saved the Admiral; she had cleaned out the rot that had threatened the integrity of the entire ward.
The next morning, Dr. Harrison called Nora into his office.
"Nurse Vance," he said, handing her a folder. "As of today, the charge nurse position is open. I know you've only been here six weeks, but the courage, focus, and clinical judgment you displayed over the last forty-eight hours are exactly what this unit needs to rebuild its reputation."
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Nora looked at the promotion offer, then looked through the glass toward the trauma bays. "Thank you, Dr. Harrison. But I don't want to be behind a desk. I want to be on the floor. I want to be where the patients are."
Harrison smiled, a genuine, warm expression. "I expected you'd say that. Your promotion to Senior Trauma Nurse is approved. You will lead the clinical training program for all incoming staff. No more jokes, Nora. Just real medicine."
