The Invisible ICU Gatekeeper

"...I already told you I cannot leave before my shift ends!" said the gatekeeper.

In August 2021, my mom was hospitalized, and I spent several days and nights in the ICU waiting area of a hospital. As is standard in hospitals, relatives aren’t allowed to visit patients except during fixed visiting hours. A gatekeeper always guards the door to ensure no one sneaks through.

It was 8 PM on a Sunday, and the gatekeeper was diligently performing his duty, preventing unauthorized entry. However, he had started pacing anxiously up and down the lobby. "Nobody can go in before the start of the next visiting hour at 11 PM," he reiterated several times. Those of us in the waiting area wondered why he kept announcing this.

 

An hour later, I overheard a call he received, likely from his family, where he was trying to explain that he could not leave before the end of his shift. My curiosity piqued, so I casually walked up to him and asked "Is something wrong?" "I had promised my family that I would be home early today, but due to short staff on Sundays, I couldn't find anyone to cover for me. I can't leave before 11PM when the night shift guy arrives," he said with a helpless smile.

Another man who overheard our conversation and I both offered to sit in for him, ensuring no one entered the ICU. However, he politely declined, stating he couldn't allow that. Just then, a third elderly person nearby encouraged him to go ahead, assuring him that none of us would enter the ICU until 11 PM, so he wouldn’t get into trouble. After some persuasion, he hesitantly agreed and left for home, leaving the desk unmanned.

For the next two hours, it was heartening to see that none of the 15-20 relatives waiting attempted to enter the ICU. There was one restless guy, a habitual offender, who had tried to enter multiple times throughout the day. He got up from his seat once and walked toward the door but returned before reaching it. It was reassuring that until 11 PM, no one entered the ICU. As soon as the clock neared 11, we all scampered in to pay our loved ones one final visit for the day.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 - The gatekeeper who put his trust in unknown people in good faith.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 - The people who first engaged the gatekeeper, uncovering his dilemma and seeking a solution.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 - The senior who assured him we would not break the rules in his absence.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 - The people in the waiting area who respected the gatekeeper's situation and the influencer's assurance, refraining from taking advantage of the situation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 - The individual who, despite being tempted to break the rules, conformed due to the peer pressure and mutual respect shown by others.

When members of a family, team, organization, or society share the right values and intentions, things tend to go as planned. Outliers can be effectively managed through peer pressure and mutual respect.