Want of Something More

Posted on 16 Mar 2016 @ 7:46pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Petty Officer 3rd Class Veri RN
Edited on on 18 Mar 2016 @ 5:15pm

1,507 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - CMO's Office
Timeline: MD81 - 0845 Hours

[ON]

Most of Veri's shore leave had been studying. Brushing up on xenobiology. Diagnostic protocols. Everything an advanced nurse was likely to do in preparation for mastery studies.

She had received mail, unopened, from Starfleet Medical Academy's School of Nursing Sciences. Veri wished to open it in front of Allyndra, however, as she was not entirely sure if she would get in. Nurse Practitioner school was elite - only the best registered nurses got in.

It was the wait that made Veri visually nervous when she walked into Sickbay. She had her uniform on, though she was technically listed on leave. This was an important dive bomb, however.

"Errm... Allyndra?" Veri asked timidly as she stuck her head in the door. "I still feel odd calling you that, by the way."

Allyndra was going over her presentation one last time trying to see if it looked polished enough when Veri stuck her head into the office. "Yes, please come in. I am sorry. It is just me. I grew up with all the curtseys and titles and having just been back a bit from Akkadia and been exposed to all that informality suits me a bit. Besides, I figure we are all colleges here." Allyndra pushed the presentation to one side and said, "What can I help you with?"

"Umm... well..." Veri had to recall why she was there before she launched into the long-winded reason. "When shore leave started, I got to thinking I need more. And when my co-parents left video recordings of their displeasure of I not being a doctor, I felt I needed to really do something more with my life."

Veri began to pat her pants frantically for her PADD. "I had it.... where'd it go?" Her bald head stuck out the door to scan the floor, then felt her fabric on her rear tug at something on her left cheek.

"Oh! Right," Veri giggled and pulled it out before she handed it to Allyndra. "I might not get in - Though I really want to. I mean, it's Medical's School of Nursing. Though I bet my parents think an abroad program from one of Delta's more elite medical institutes means more, I do not care. I want to be a Nurse Practitioner."

Allyndra watched the antics clamely but with a slight bemused expression as Veri seemed to search for something and then finally retrieved the PaDD, handed it to her, and then with a rush of words that spilled out like a dam had given way.

She spared but a brief glance at the PaDD and nodded. "And I fully support that decision, please take a seat." She waved one slim fingered hand. "I will be most happy to write a recommendation and I think I can ensure you will get in." The later was said without a flinch of hesitation and with a certainty.

"That's the letter. And I wanted to prepare myself, for if I didn't get -" Veri paused for only a moment once she realized what Allyndra had said. Her tangents after that became much faster and hyper. "Oh! Thank you! I mean, if I did get in, I bet your letter might open doors to some of the more difficult areas of the degree. But I know I'll never let you down either. Really."

"Get your breath, and tell me more about your decision and I will in turn explain mine. Also, while you are here, I would like to take a look at my presentation and see what you think."

"Sure," Veri spoke with a viciously excited head bob. "I took tons of continuing education courses on my last posting. Three years. Lots of down time. Earned my RN there, really. And I just find myself loving being a nurse and I think a more qualified nurse on staff would be needed. Ya know?"

Allyndra smiled at the enthusiasm. The second officer and her origional boss was a NP. "I would also say that your inquisitive, that is needed to be a good diagnostician as well. I will not argue that the more everyone knows the better we can serve those in our care." Allyndra took a look at the PaDD a bit more carefully perusing it for a bit and then nodded.

"I can see that you have enough courses and experience that you should be able to enter the programme without any remedial. Now let me explain something. Your background is good, and as I said I will be more than delighted to write a recommendation, however there have been some recent changes back home for me." Allyndra leaned back though it was a bit uncomfortable. "Akkadia is not a Federation world. We are allied but not members. As such, the Federation is always trying to recruit worlds and of course keep allies in the political landscape. Recently I have become head of my guild house. It is the most powerful one on the planet and its word holds great weight with the planetary Council. I will add to my recommendation that I would take it as a personal favour to ensure your entry, though I think you should have no problems on your own, it will be...what is the Earth term? 'Loading the dice' I believe. If that is acceptable to you I will add that in."

"Oh it is. It is," Veri nodded joyfully. "I applied for the abroad program. Is it all right if you oversee my studies? Tuula makes me nervous when she holds knives, and Mott doesn't respect anyone without a doctorate."

"I would be delighted Veri," Allyndra nodded and smiled. She let that go and went to something else. "How is your presentation coming along?"

"Oh yes! I was surprised to get an invite because enlisted don't normally get acknowledged," Veri rambled happily. "But I decided to talk about how Medical Law is flawed with many cultural and religious beliefs."

"It sounds like a good presentation. You know of course, that putting in a presentation in this symposium will reflect well on your application as well. Did you want me to review it when it is ready? I would not mind you taking a look at mine as well."

"Oh, it's ready. My parents used to sit around the dinner table - sometimes breakfast, if Father had a long OR session," Veri explained happily. "It is something of an annoyance, Medical Law. Many times they've wanted to do more, but could not because of this restriction and that protocol that's outdated."

"Impressive. If you do not mind I would like to take a look. Medical ethics and law is a twisting snake is it not. Next after nurse practitioner you will be going to law school." Allyndra winked at that, but it was not beyond the realm of possibility. There were others that had gone from medical to law and combined the two.

"Law can be boring. Plus, as a nurse, I can see the good I do instantly," Veri pointed out animatedly before she opened up her presentation for Allyndra to look at.

"I would disagree with you on that point. The law can and is very interesting. Court practice can be an interesting game, and it like medicine or science is all about the details, if one is good. Well, let's concentrate on getting the NP out of the way first." Allyndra nodded and started to read the presentation. She was not paying too close attention wondering with part of her mind if perhaps that might not be something for her to look at as well. It might help if she was going to push Akkadia along. That was something she needed to talk to the higher ups about.

She perused it and nodded, "Looks well laid out. Certainly if nothing else thought provoking. Now then, when do I need to get the recommendation off?"

"Umm.... Soon. I guess. They put me on a waiting list, but with your credentials, they might award the program outright?" Veri was hopeful.

Allydnra nodded and made a note on a nearby PaDD. "Very well, I will write right after we are done. If they do not they are fools or worse to let a talented person slip by." She handed the presentation back. "Let me know when you hear alright? And best of luck Veri."

"Oh I shall!" Veri bobbed her head excitedly and nearly wet herself as she stood up. "Erm.. Is there anything else I should do before I leave?"

"No, just relax before your presentation and let me get that recommendation in," Allyndra said. "Oh, and I am proud of you wanting to take the next step in your medical career."

Veri could not stop glowing as she left the CMO's office. To hear someone was proud of her for her work.

[OFF]

---
LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

PO3 Veri
Surgical Nurse
USS Galileo
[PNPCed by Gyce]

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