General
train wreck (verb: to be wrecked)
What does train wreck (verb: to be wrecked) mean?
Verb use of 'trainwreck' for being swamped by very sick, complicated patients during a shift.
"We got absolutely wrecked overnight — four crashing at once."
Origin
Extension of the 'trainwreck' noun.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to 'be wrecked' on shift?
It means to be overwhelmed by very sick, unstable, and complicated patients during a shift, from the 'trainwreck' noun used for such patients.
How is 'train wreck' used as a verb?
Staff say they got 'wrecked' when several complex or crashing patients hit at once and swamped the team.
Is 'trainwreck' about the patient or the staff?
The noun usually describes a critically unstable patient, while the verb form describes staff being overwhelmed by such cases.
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