The crazy week continues

Snippets of my day:

1. Overheard while the tech support guy was in my office: "Really? It was on fire?" Medical equipment and fires just don't mix. It's especially troubling when it catches on fire due to the electrical outlet.

2. The headache from Hades. Was it pollen, sunlight, #1 or the storm front moving through? Not sure at all. Thank goodness for migraine meds!

3. In my role as nurse volunteer for a conference, I got to grade a selection of the poster and paper submissions.

I swear I graded one by some of the folks from Saintarama Rehab. It's blinded, but I do know they are from my neck of the woods. I hope I can stay long enough to see their poster (if the other folks accept it too).

BTW I thought it was pretty good. Would love to implement the same thing at the Hotel. Communication and keeping people from falling is a very good thing.

The pleasures of resolutions

1. Started clipping coupons for stuff I needed. Saved $60 (or half of what I spent) in one, two-stop shopping trip. I know it's not extreme, but hey, I'm just starting.

2. Went outside and just enjoyed the lovely weather and did nothing.

3. Visited my relatives, then went over to Saintarama's new rehab hospital down the street from them. (It was needed. The building I worked in was ancient and not in a good way). Got another resume to take back to work to the boss for an open position at the Hotel.

4. Finished exercising and feel great.

Now I just wish I wasn't so happy about Bubba's basketball win today at the celebratory lunch we went to afterwards. I'm counting calories and there aren't many left. Whoops!

Still gonna enjoy the day, anyway. There's a Hefeweizen in the fridge with my name on it.

More to come...

Hangin' with the Queen

The Queen of Saintarama Rehab on the occasion of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of her 30th natal day that is.

Yes, the Queen of Rehab Scheduling turns 5-0 (oops! said it!) Thanks so much for "forgetting" I (and a few others) was supposed to work every other weekend until they made you, and it was time for me to exit. It was so nice to catch up with everyone again.

I am still, and will be, eternally grateful. Enjoy another year of fun! At least Dr. S. won't be there with you to drive you crazy, just like at that conference. (wink wink) That's my extra special gift that wouldn't fit in the bag at the party.

Enjoy every minute!

Another...

I can hardly believe that another of my old coworkers from Saintarama has been diagnosed with cancer.

I never thought rehab was a dangerous specialty, but I'm wondering what might be causing this. So many epidemiological factors, so many people aging, so much time.

Whew...crossing fingers and hoping this ends soon. Too many people lately are getting lives stalled and retirements shortened.

Everyone knows everyone

Especially when you're from a smaller town.

Some examples (aka 6 degrees of separation):

J, one of our longtime RNs has a sick husband. We're chatting about him and I found out I worked with several docs in hubby's MD's practice. I even know some of their peculiar habits, like riding bicycles to work (one lives very close to the office).

One of our patients came from Saintarama to our rehab unit. People ask about him/her all the time, since patient comes in our place from time to time. (Hi, Zee! ) Patient visits them, but not as much (and the old coworkers are really jealous!)

Our boss is familiar with one of my docs. All I did was mention Dr. G's name and he diagnoses me. Nice. At least, I can keep a few things to myself. Besides, Dr. G. has known me forever. Dr. G. scared the bejeezus out of me recently when he/she asked, "Do you know what?" I was waiting for the "I'm retiring" speech. Thankfully, Dr. G. just told me I've been a patient more than half of my life.

Dr. G. forgot about seeing me in peds...must have just been doing research on those roaches or something.

Dahey had a party recently and invited all the geeks to our house. One has an MD relative, so I asked Dr. Specialist if he/she knew Dr. Miscellany. "Oh, I don't think Dr. Miscellany is (fill in specialty here)."

"Really?", I said, "I thought he/she was."

So what happens. Dr. Specialist's curiosity is piqued, and he/she heads to Google. "Well, I do know Dr. Miscellany was in xx practice. I know who trained him/her at xx university. He/she must be 60. Is your husband that old?" PA sitting next to Dr. Specialist is not amused (PA is 60+ and most of our patients enjoy his cameraderie).

Ahh, I love doctors! (tongue planted firmly in cheek)

Stay tuned...more excitement to come...

On to sunny skies...

I told G. I'd go since she was leaving town. I wandered back on the unit at Saintarama to celebrate one of the techs I worked with there. Suzy was a bright, cheery older woman, who worked really hard and took wonderful care of her patients...and I'm not just saying that.

When Suzy had an assignment, you breathed a sigh of relief. You knew your back was covered. Suzy knew what was going on because she was out in the rooms taking care of her people. You didn't have to ask her if it was done, because she just did it. They tell you a lot about working with unlicensed personnel in nursing school, but if they had a poster child for a nurse's dream unlicensed staff member, Suzy would have been on it.

You could occasionally help Suzy...if by chance she missed something because she was with someone else for a moment and you snuck in to do it. She always came to work immaculate--hair done just so, clothes pressed, makeup on. The patients loved her and she loved the patients.

They also tell you about having staff reinforce different teaching points with patients, and Suzy was a champ. I remember one of my patients had had a UTI, and Suzy even told her family to bring in a big bottle of cranberry juice, so she could make sure her patient had it every day, in case our dietary folks forgot theirs. Suzy fed this patient on each shift she worked, so I knew she'd get that cranberry juice, even though the patient said, "I'm never going to drink it again, I've had so much." When she saw Suzy, she always relented and drank it. "I don't want another infection," she said, looking at Suzy.

When I found out Suzy had cancer, I really wanted to see her, but I missed the party they threw for her. She wanted her wake while she was alive, she said, so a bunch of staff went to her house and threw a barbecue. Suzy was weak, but loved every minute of it.

So, today, on a beautiful spring day, we celebrated her life, which ended a few weeks ago. Always giving, Suzy willed her body to one of the local medical schools. The service was beautiful --there were prayers and tears and lots of stories about her perfectly coiffed hair (which was usually a wig, since she loved wigs.) Her goddaughters showed up, children in tow, and one from across the country, to release bunches of balloons in her favorite color, yellow.

And they floated skyward in a gentle breeze. One strayed and looked as if it would land on the spike of one of the wings of the hospital, but quickly, it was lifted up by a gust, and floated toward the others. Perhaps, just another sign, of a part of Suzy wanting to stay behind.

The beginning of the end

No, it's not the end of blogging as Monkeygirl is doing, it's the end of the year. And what a year it's been!

In the news today, I saw an article about the vaunted rumor that there will be no more free pens at some of the conferences because of perceived conflicts of interest. What, oh what, I ask, will the docs and NPs bring to impress the floor nurses with now, since there is no more swag? An old, leftover pizza from that drug rep's lunch just doesn't make the same impression as the light up pens and the pens with highlighters AND post-it notes attached. I guess we like them because they're things we can actually use.

As the year counts down, I'm thanking my lucky stars that I came to the VA from Saintarama Rehab. The top three reasons: no low census, no low census, no low census! Some of the things that go with the job aren't the greatest, but that benefits package is great considering everything in these recessionary times.

Finally, I'm thankful that I still have this blog. It keeps me out of trouble and keeps my mind humming. I have so many ideas for next year, I ought to be busy!

The end is near, but this is just the beginning...so stay tuned and have a great night!

Nuggets for April 3

Here are a few goodies I've read lately from the internet and various blogs.

Doctor, did you wash your hands (from http://www.nytimes.com/)
This article discusses a study about patient questions to doctors and nurse. No, I don't mind if you ask at all.

60-plus, ripped and natural (from http://www.nytimes.com/)
This isn't your average bodybuilding article, and it brings up some really interesting points. Now, if they could just convince women to do it, not just for looks, but for the health aspects (like stronger bones, for one)

I don't like gas stations in the alternate universe very much (from drugnazi)
I really enjoyed this post, since I've had a few weird dreams like this myself.

I just couldn't pass this one up, in light of my recent dealings with car insurance companies.


see more crazy cat pics


Enjoy these goodies!

A real code and nuggets for March 1

I went back to work yesterday, just to get into the computer and get access to my timecard. Saintarama, in their infinite wisdom, doesn't make this accessible to employees from home (since that would be too logical, maybe...) After fun and excitement talking to the Kronos admin, he let me in and I downloaded my report and left down the hall. One patient, Mr. R., was in the room on the left. I talked to my manager for a little bit and told her what I had done, since I had discussed it with her on Thursday.

J and K were working and so I talked to them on the way out. Things had just quieted down from the AM therapy rush. I wished them well for the rest of the day. I even chatted with S., the secretary.

All of a sudden, the code lights flashed. This has been a regular thing on our unit, since we were blessed with all sorts of mechanical difficulties. However, this was not a drill. Apparently, Mr. R. went down and Y. the tech called for backup. Uh-oh. J and K ran down the hall. S. answered the calls and told everyone who called the code was real. She got Mr. R's chart and I saw the contingent of docs, residents and the rest of the code team go down the hall. Dr. D. was going that way, so I gave him the chart, just outside the room. He passed it on, since this patient coding, was not his. Hubby and I walked off the unit with him and I told him that I was finished at Saintarama. He was surprised, but wished me well. It turns out, he lives two blocks away from Saintarama. He knows how I feel.

After that, I came home and just surfed away. Here are a few of the interesting things I encountered yesterday, and some today. Enjoy!

Not sick, but TIRED (from aboutanurse.com)
A post that makes me tired just reading it!

An old poster with a timeless theme (at weirdnursingtales)
Thankfully, we don't see much of this bug in rehab, at least not in the ones I've worked in lately.

The Great White Hunter and the ER Nurse (from Nurse Ratched's Place)
I just love this story of bait and switch and revenge. The security part is the best.

The problem with "you" nurses (from first do no harm)
A great story from Podunk Memorial. Oh, CYA, the story of my life...