Yes, I'm out of the charge nurse racket for another bit. Thank heavens!
It was reasonably pleasant on the last round of Charge-o-Rama, even though RPIA LPN tried starting a riot by mentioning all the lazy people I had on my shift. Really? I replied. I'm keeping everyone busy, myself included, and we still had time to sit down. I was just thrilled to death I didn't have her to schedule around now that she's on light duty for twisting her ankle. (Thank you boss!)
I'm still in holding pattern re: my future in a new position at the Hotel. It looks good, but I'm not holding my breath. HR around here is slower than dirt, and to top it off, they're even advertising on TV more lately. I'm sure my lowly, newfangled Hotel position is way down the list, since they're recruiting ICU and OR nurses, as well as ICU docs on the slick commercials in our area. "Come work at Washington, where we know patients."
We'll see...back to grad student studying while I have some free time today. Stay tuned!
Showing posts with label LPN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LPN. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, October 6, 2008
Back to work
Oh, I had to wake up this morning to the alarm clock, which I have not done in days!
I got up early so I could make my breakfast and lunch and get ready to take Bubba to school. Dahey leaves before we do, so he was out and off to work in the dark.
I got Bubba to his latchkey program and away to work I went. I checked my e-mails and boy, there were a lot! The most exciting one was the invite to a special out-of-town conference in November. I have to get all my paperwork done tomorrow so I can go. The admin upstairs, L., has been assigned to help me. (You know it's going to be interesting when she tells you that you have to fill out a 12 page form...in order to book your flight.)
I had two patients I haven't had in a long time and I was the med nurse on one hall. It kept me busy. Today, the docs make group rounds to inspect wounds, so this is also interesting. I try to hang out in the room, undo the dressing, then get everyone cleaned up. They got into my room early, but I was really busy with these two guys...and their roommate had me helping him, too. Mr. R. is very needy, which is not unusual for a COPDer. He's always worried about something--his mask, his bowel program, his turns. He looked a bit ashen today, which is very scary in light of the fact that even with his fragile health, he's a full code. I pray we don't have to do CPR on him while I'm working!
I met some new LPNs visiting us with the recruiter. We're looking for them, so we'll see if they come to work for us!
More tomorrow...getting tired and I need to go to bed!
I got up early so I could make my breakfast and lunch and get ready to take Bubba to school. Dahey leaves before we do, so he was out and off to work in the dark.
I got Bubba to his latchkey program and away to work I went. I checked my e-mails and boy, there were a lot! The most exciting one was the invite to a special out-of-town conference in November. I have to get all my paperwork done tomorrow so I can go. The admin upstairs, L., has been assigned to help me. (You know it's going to be interesting when she tells you that you have to fill out a 12 page form...in order to book your flight.)
I had two patients I haven't had in a long time and I was the med nurse on one hall. It kept me busy. Today, the docs make group rounds to inspect wounds, so this is also interesting. I try to hang out in the room, undo the dressing, then get everyone cleaned up. They got into my room early, but I was really busy with these two guys...and their roommate had me helping him, too. Mr. R. is very needy, which is not unusual for a COPDer. He's always worried about something--his mask, his bowel program, his turns. He looked a bit ashen today, which is very scary in light of the fact that even with his fragile health, he's a full code. I pray we don't have to do CPR on him while I'm working!
I met some new LPNs visiting us with the recruiter. We're looking for them, so we'll see if they come to work for us!
More tomorrow...getting tired and I need to go to bed!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Not so late
Thankfully, everyone showed up for the night crew. I was warned in advance because as a rule, the charge nurse must stay over if anyone is missing from this shift. Since our charge had already volunteered to work as the fourth person, if someone called in, I'd have to stay. (We have other people who could, but usually they decline or have already left by the end of shift...which is a whole other story). Alas, this did not come to pass.
I found out from Dahey that his uncle passed away in another state. He debated going to the wake today, but was not up to driving 10 hours total in order to get back in time for work. With a kindergartener in the car, this is a LONG trip! One of these days, we'll have to get a portable DVD player, but since our car trips have been few and far between, we don't need one yet.
I ended up with three patients, administering the IVPBs and I picked up another patient until midnight when our 12 hour LPN went home at 2000. Everyone was pretty good, but Mr. R. was needy again. His O2 sats were good, but I think he's finally realizing the gravity of his situation and grasping for straws. He was fairly reasonable, but would complain that "you keep escaping." even when I'd tell him a ballpark amount of time that I'd be gone to work with the IVs and the other patients. Most likely, he will leave us to be closer to his family this week, but that remains to be seen. Nursing homes have a habit of losing spots for some of our people. Hopefully it helps that the first of the month is Wednesday.
My other patients were good. I got one of Mr. R.'s other roommates, and he is a delight. He's no trouble at all. I fed him and got his bowel program going and then I cleaned up and got Mr. R's dinner ready. (He was tired and didn't want to eat right away.) Mr. AB #1 was my other patient and he was relatively quiet, too, which was nice. He's hoping to get sent back west once he gets the clearance from the surgeon, since his family is all out that way. Happily, I had help watching the IVs, since K the LPN and our charge M., turned off some when I couldn't get to them.
Bubba and Dahey went to the pumpkin patch today with C. and C. We'll go to my friend's house a little later so Bubba can see her kids and get ready to visit on Friday, when he'll spend his first night away from home without Mom and Dad. It should be interesting!
More later.
I found out from Dahey that his uncle passed away in another state. He debated going to the wake today, but was not up to driving 10 hours total in order to get back in time for work. With a kindergartener in the car, this is a LONG trip! One of these days, we'll have to get a portable DVD player, but since our car trips have been few and far between, we don't need one yet.
I ended up with three patients, administering the IVPBs and I picked up another patient until midnight when our 12 hour LPN went home at 2000. Everyone was pretty good, but Mr. R. was needy again. His O2 sats were good, but I think he's finally realizing the gravity of his situation and grasping for straws. He was fairly reasonable, but would complain that "you keep escaping." even when I'd tell him a ballpark amount of time that I'd be gone to work with the IVs and the other patients. Most likely, he will leave us to be closer to his family this week, but that remains to be seen. Nursing homes have a habit of losing spots for some of our people. Hopefully it helps that the first of the month is Wednesday.
My other patients were good. I got one of Mr. R.'s other roommates, and he is a delight. He's no trouble at all. I fed him and got his bowel program going and then I cleaned up and got Mr. R's dinner ready. (He was tired and didn't want to eat right away.) Mr. AB #1 was my other patient and he was relatively quiet, too, which was nice. He's hoping to get sent back west once he gets the clearance from the surgeon, since his family is all out that way. Happily, I had help watching the IVs, since K the LPN and our charge M., turned off some when I couldn't get to them.
Bubba and Dahey went to the pumpkin patch today with C. and C. We'll go to my friend's house a little later so Bubba can see her kids and get ready to visit on Friday, when he'll spend his first night away from home without Mom and Dad. It should be interesting!
More later.
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