The Alpha Nurse

Illustration By Lynda Richardson

As an explorer, one will no doubt spend considerable time working with the nurse genus, an abundant group of species that has adapted to numerous environments in the healthcare habitat. Generally, these encounters can be a mixed bag due to the diversity of nurse species, with some being very happy to allow explorers into their pack, and others not really knowing what to do with us strange, often shy or unprepared interlopers.  One species of nurse that can be very helpful in an explorers integration to the pack is that of the "Alpha nurse".

Generally one of the nurses in a position of command, the alpha species is one of the most able, in terms of leadership, teamwork, patient interaction and task management. Most species of nurse will quickly defer to the alpha, and the most of the doctor genus' interaction with nurse species will come through this individual. As an explorer, it is very useful to shadow these members of the team, as they seem to be involved with everything that the pack is doing.

The welcoming and integrating process in a nurse pack is vastly different to the same process whilst working with species such as the Consultasaurus Rex. Where these species expect the explorer to only make themselves known when the species decides that they have the time to be inclusive, the alpha nurse expects any explorer seeking to integrate into a pack's ward to make their presence heard. This is best done by approaching a member of the pack, giving them a greeting, to which the pack member will normally redirect you towards the pack's alpha.

Boldness in this circumstance is highly rewarded - the pack is very busy during the day, and is less likely to approach an explorer stood at ward reception looking around sheepishly than it is to react pleasantly to an approach from a more daring explorer. Although, one must not go too far so as to be rude - alphas can become irritated if their daily rituals are directly interrupted by an overly abrasive explorer - and as is the case outside the healthcare habitat, a pack will always support their leader, meaning an icy reception from the alpha will incur further iciness from the rest of the pack.

If the pack leader believes that the explorer will be a useful addition to the pack, helping with more menial tasks, performing skills that would otherwise be seen as mundane chores, then the explorer will be brought into the fold with open arms. The benefits of this inclusion are numerous to an explorer, making time spent in the pack's territory much more useful. With pack support, an explorer will often be able to:

·         Cherry-pick the best activities and rituals to take part in - from taking bloods to inserting cannulas, if an explorer declares themselves up for a task, the alpha will gladly grant you the boon, normally with an underling pack member to guide you through the process. This can even extend so far as for some packs to hold onto certain rituals until the explorer's arrival, to give them the chance to take part if they so desire.

·         Gain pack intel about the best patients to talk to - with pack favour, the alpha will recommend which patients are best to interview - helping avoid difficult interactions with patients that are unwilling to entertain an explorer.

The alpha nurse, and in extension the nurse pack, are valuable allies to have gained in the healthcare habitat. The opportunities that a long-term pact with this species can produce are innumerable, and explorers are advised to build healthy relationships from the offset. They are, after all, going to be strongly present factors in the  rest of the explorers time in the healthcare habitat.