Here are a few ways to continue the sentence "The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late," depending on the intended meaning and context:

**Focusing on the reason for the lateness:**

* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **and he needed an update on the patient's vital signs.**
* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **and he was concerned about the morning rounds.**
* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **and he suspected she might have gotten stuck in traffic.**

**Focusing on the doctor's reaction/purpose:**

* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **to see if everything was alright.**
* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **to remind her that the surgery was scheduled to begin promptly.**
* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **to ask her to bring the patient's chart with her.**

**Focusing on the consequence of the lateness:**

* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **which meant the next patient had to wait even longer.**
* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **and they had to rearrange the morning schedule.**

**Adding a touch of personality or intrigue:**

* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **which was unusual for the always-punctual Sarah.**
* The doctor phoned the nurse because she was late, **and he was starting to get a little annoyed.**

Choose the continuation that best fits the story or situation you have in mind!
