Monday, Monday

Oh, the joys of Monday.

First, Bubba is in such a rush that he forgets to take his medicine. I run back home, get it, administer and go to work.

Next, I go to work and my computer has some weird error message on the screen. I turn it off, then it won't go back on. Finally, after an hour of futzing around, it comes back on (after I unplug and replug every single cord under my desk.)

Maybe it just got too hot in the office over the weekend. (I love all the fancy thermostats in our office, which assume that it can go up to 90 degrees when I go home.

I surprisingly got a lot of work done on my big project, but now I have a new nurse shadow.

So much for finishing that tomorrow! Only time will tell...stay tuned.

Looking for a nursing job?

I've been dragged, er, lucky enough to be asked by my boss to meet some of the interview candidates at the Hotel.

Part of my job is to also ask questions on our standard questionnaire (which is very short).

While I'm not Ask Annie, I am old (or "seasoned" as the PC people say) when it comes to interviews. If you want real specific HR information for yourself, you'll need to get an HR guru in your own state, as laws vary.

So here are my general tips.

RehabRN's top tips for interviewing success

1. Show up on time.
Not too early (we had one candidate show up at the end of night shift) and not late. NOTE: you may need to leave early to make sure you get to us on time, don't get stuck in traffic, find a place to park, and find the room.

2. Dress professionally.
Neat and clean are especially important, whether you are in scrubs or a suit.

3. Know the job description from the posting.
They may not give it to us to give to you (happens a lot). This is a valuable chunk of information that can help you ask questions of the job.

4. Answer the questions we ask you.
In the worst ever interview, one person was so slow in responding we thought he/she was asleep. He/she was the first interview of the day at 0900, so we're not sure if he/she just finished night shift, or was stoned. (it was hard to tell).

You know it's bad when your manager pleads, "Please, you must answer the question." (this actually happened.)

5. Be able to talk about your job and how you do it.
As the old saying goes, "It ain't bragging if it's true."  We don't know anything about you if you don't tell us.

We will check to see if a reference backs up your storyline. Make sure you have good ones (and at least one manager).

6. Have questions to ask of us about the job.
We can't tell you everything, but we can give you an idea of what you'll do. Preparation is key.

7. Leave your attitudes at the door.
Especially if it's bad or entitled.

8. Never assume.
Never act like we will just hire you because of your RN license and/or your impressive resume. Just because your spouse works in another department down the hall and a job at the Hotel would allow you to carpool is another thing that is not guaranteed to get you hired.

We may not hire you if you are not a good fit with the rest of the personalities, I mean, team, at the Hotel.

Need more information? Check out these sites:
http://www.hrworld.com/features/interviewing-cheat-sheet-092507/
http://humanresources.about.com/od/interviewing/ 
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/jobinterviews/

Best of luck in your next interview!

Something to look forward to...

As if random communicable diseases on a seasonal basis was not enough.

Why teenagers act crazy (from www.nytimes.com).

The wait is over...

Yes, as this nurse suspected, it was salmonellosis (and confirmed by the lab today).

Now that Dahey has had more symptoms (and he ate at the same place Bubba did), I get to play nurse coordinator and get him some medical advice, too.

Joy!

Hope your weekend is a little less exciting than mine. Stay tuned!

The waiting game continues...

Still waiting to see what exactly made Bubba (and Dahey later) sick this week.

Once I know, then Bubba can be ready to play the waiting game for sleepover camp, which is coming soon.

Yes, you got it, I'm stuck waiting, too.

TGIF folks!

Oh, the tummy!

Maybe I should have read this article before I took some naproxen before bed last night without eating.

Suffering....

The waiting game

Is Bubba still sick or not? Will I be rudely awakened again tonight by diarrhea and vomiting?

Will I finally get the stool samples I've been waiting for all day?

Should be interesting to see what happens when Dahey does kid watch duty tomorrow. He couldn't even handle me showing him the 10 language instruction sheet ("I just ate dinner" he said indignantly). He'd never make it as a nurse.

Let's have a show of hands who hasn't discussed a stool sample over a meal. (I thought so...)

At least, I got some other doctors' appointments made and files sorted and filed that I needed to do for months.

Crossing fingers and playing the waiting game...the RehabLand camp out will be here before we know it!

Summer things I don't miss

1. The dreaded heat and humidity combo.

2. Burning hot cars.

3. Food poisoning. 

Guess which one Bubba decided to get this weekend? Joy. Off we go to the pediatrician tomorrow.

Just another reason not to like Mondays, either.

Go get smashed

Yes, I got to get smashed. What on earth does that mean? Took the girls over to the radiology center and got my yearly test.

Call them whatever you want (girls, tatas, breasts) but THAT test is a mammogram. I don't have to be reminded, really, even though the Saintarama Medical Record nagged me at my last visit to my doctor.

There are plenty of other reasons why I don't forget. I can't forget that my mother-in-law is not here anymore because of breast cancer. Neither is a woman I went to grade school with, who was a labor and delivery nurse who left behind a little girl. My next door neighbor (also a nurse) who threw hilarious parties and sang on key when she wasn't working at Private U's trauma ICU, is also not here anymore because of breast cancer.

Besides all those missing souls, I think about the ladies I've taken care of who have had breast cancer with metastasis. They became rehab patients, because they couldn't walk (or walk right) anymore.

All because of something that, in many cases, can be detected by taking the girls to get smashed.

Please, ladies, go get smashed. I'd prefer to see you visiting rehab as a volunteer or family member, not as a patient for something that just might be found by getting smashed once a year.

Thank you and good night!

Some things aren't meant to be

This week there's been a lot of talk on the subject. Frankly, I'm glad this week is nearly over.

1. In the news, the Redskins lost their trademark protection.

2. They're redoing the parking lot (again) and we have a ton of traffic now. I can't wait to have some more!

3. My high school friend was at the far end of RehabLand with her daughter for a dance competition. Too bad I didn't have vacation. Said child one a first place in a national competition!

4. My attempts to get another side job foiled again. Better luck next time!

TGIF in advance!

Cup crazy

Yes, it's all sports around here all the time at the RehabRN ranch, but the boys (Dahey and Bubba) are really getting into the World Cup of soccer.

You can't really blame them, though. That Ghana vs. USA game started with a bang.

That is all...back to the latest game.

Hope you enjoy your week wherever you are.

Can fat really kill you?

I had a patient ask me that very question in the hallway the other day. Yes, indeed, Mr. XYZ, it can.

You could get any of the following diseases:

1. Fatty liver disease is becoming a growing cause of liver transplants.

2. Yes, cholesterol can get you too.

3.  And let's not forget diabetes, either.

Being fat and or predisposed to keeping fat on your body (some of this can be genetic, as noted in the article in #1) is dangerous.

And I made sure I documented my education note as soon as I got back to my desk.

There is never enough nursing education.

TGIF!

Sometimes, you really can't

Go home again. You can't go home without it changing you.

In this article in the NY Times, they discuss how many Africans who believe in female genital mutilation are sending their daughters out of the country for the process to occur in their former home countries, such as Somalia or Mali (including a few others).

I learn something new every day...

Dear recruiter (redux)

Dear Recruiter:

Yes, I'm sure Phoenix is a nice city and all, but no, I'm really not interested in even one week there in summertime. 100+ averages are not my thing.

Please call me in December when it is snowing here.

Yours sincerely,

RehabRN

How to perturb your coworkers, part 2

1. When I tell you something, don't bother listening the first time I tell you. Wait until I ask you later, then get hysterical as you are leaving a meeting. Looks grand in the hallway!

 Twenty points extra if this is your new manager who just got a clue.

2. Roll your eyes in every meeting. One day, I'm going to film our staff meetings to prove it.

3. Be paranoid in video conferences. It just shows that you may need to STAY here, not just work here.

The list grows...stay tuned or comment on some of your favorites!

In the middle of the pouring rain

This describes my life in so many ways lately.

How to perturb your coworkers, inaugural edition

Yes, this list will get long I'm certain, but here are a few things to make people really contemplate revenge.

1. Don't want to come into work? Call in tired. As in, "I'm just too tired to come in."
 NOTE: this is not a nurse who worked a double, but a cough, cough, provider who can't handle an eight hour work day...or children...or life.

Why no one's called the EAP for said MD is beyond me.

2. Wait for someone to leave, become the charge nurse, then reassign all the patients to the nurse with the least seniority. Can you say a$$H0l3? Why? Because said charge nurse can. (Thank goodness he/she will NEVER be my boss!)


3. Just be a general smarta$$. Don't have time for that! 

A dry heat

Dear Recruiter:

Would it be lovely to work the summer in Phoenix? (Yes, a nurse recruiter actually sent me this e-mail today.)

I don't think so. I'll pass. Maybe in January instead when it's icy here.

Sincerely hot (already in RehabLand),


RehabRN

OAS is not a blast from the past

From your history class, either. OAS happens every day to folks who have allergies, especially to tree and weed pollens.

Think you don't like a certain fruit because of a tingly feeling in your throat? You could have OAS.

Stay tuned...