How to advance a scene?

I’m working on an arc in my short story where my character falls backward off bus steps and hits the back of his head. He goes to the emergency room with his sister. They are both Christmas Elves and aren’t familiar with human hospitals. They were in the waiting room at the end of the last scene. He started throwing up from the headache, and the intake nurse was helping them. She told them that since the emergency room is busy (it’s in NYC) that it will be a while before he sees a doctor. I wanted the doctor to order a CT scan before he sees the patient, because of the symptoms he’s having. That way they will know whether he has an epidural hematoma, etc, and he could go down the priority list when it shows he doesn’t have a brain bleed.

I want to keep the story to my character’s POV, so I’m not sure how to start the next chapter. I do want to write the scene with the CT, to show how nervous and scared of the machine he is. I had a head CT three years ago, and it was quick and easy, but I’m familiar with such experiences.

Do I skip to him being in the CT room, with a short explanation as to why, or something else? Is there another direction I can take this to make things interesting?

 

Oh, that’s okay! I didn’t know that. I just wanted to give an idea of what was in the previous scene. Thanks for letting me know!

 

Yeah, you need to stick with her POV. But next time she sees him he could tell her what it was like.

In fact the very first lines of the next chapter could be something like "Oh it was horrible! .... (whatever whatever)" as he describes it. Then 'pull back' and reveal that she's visiting him in his room and he's telling her about the CT machine.

 

Thank you! This helps!

 

No doctor is going to order this without the doctor seeing them first. These tests are very expensive, and wouldn't be done unless the doctor thought it was necessary. If someone is in the ER this getting a CT just isn't going to be the first step in being evaluated. And even when a CT is ordered, it can take awhile to get this done. The patient would need to get an IV in first because in a CT scan they push contrast in through an IV to see the image better.

I wouldn't call getting a CT awful. It's not at all painful and the machine isn't like an MRI machine where the patient could feel claustrophobic. I can't imagine anyone having a hard time getting a CT scan. An MRI on the other hand is a small machine and for an MRI of the brain they would also kind of lock his head in to this device so he couldn't move it. With an MRI they give you a panic button you can press at any point you are scared where they will come get you out and try to calm you down before starting it again. There is no panic button involved with a CT scan. But, again, neither of these tests are done before seeing a doctor.

 

Thank you! I’ve asked around and have gotten conflicting answers on whether a doctor would order one before seeing the patient or not. I’ll change it! Yeah, the CT I had three years ago was no big deal. But for a character who has never had one, it’s a little scary. I actually started writing this scene finally. He’s not claustrophobic or anything, but afraid of what the machine will do.

Since this part will come later now, all I have to do is edit the first two sentences.

 

Well...I work in Radiology as a tech so I can tell you a CT scan is NOT at all like an MRI. Depending on his symptoms, they may or may not order contrast for a head scan. Also, if this is serious enough and it is a hospital that has a trauma center (there are varying levels of trauma and a PT will be routed to whichever is believed to offer the level of care they may need) if he came in as a trauma they get first priority upon entering the ED. And, as mentioned, they won't just do a CT scan without the doctor evaluating them first but most likely would be seen by a resident who would order the study. If so, they could put the order in as a STAT so that it is read as soon as possible by the radiologist who is working. A CT scan is very fast, only a few minutes and less prep than MR because MR involves strong magnets and there is a risk to anyone who may possibly have any metal in their body OR claustrophobia. Especially if they aren't using contrast. A CT scan basically x-rays your body is 3D in many "slices". A CT scanner is like a big plastic donut or ring...think of the thing they wrap Christmas trees in. The table moves you through it while it takes the imaging and that's it. Being that I don't order these things or read them I cannot give you any detail as to what a doctor may order over anything else but what I CAN tell you, is that if they suspect any kind of bleed (hemorrhage) they will NOT order contrast.

 

Thank you! I had a brain MRI when I was about eight years old, and a CT scan three years ago. The CT was definitely a piece of cake compared to the MRI. It was fast and they didn’t even have to strap my head down, like they did with the MRI. And thank you for mentioning the contrast! I had wondered about that too.

 

It seems a little strange that your character would be scared of the CT machine. And what it will do is take a picture of his brain. I don't see the fear factor in this.

 

He’s not human and has never seen one before! He’s paranoid it be will mess up his magic.

 

Got ya. That makes more sense. Good luck with your story!

 

Thank you!