You know it when you smell it. It's sickly, sweet almost, and nauseating. Once it permeates my nose, I'm done until I can get purge the remnants from my nostrils.
It's the smell of C-diff. I had a patient who had all the classic signs: loose stools, brown going to golden colored stool and the horrific smell. Rehab nurses are used to dealing with bowel, bladder and skin issues. This bowel problem made me want to run out in the arctic tundra that is our parking lot just to get away. And I was starving.
Thank goodness for bleach wipes and my handy, dandy air freshener. The air freshener permeated the room and made the smell go away.
Escaping and taking a nice, long walk helped, along with my lunch. It's amazing how therapeutic a lunch break and a walk at work can make you feel.
More to come...
Showing posts with label break. Show all posts
Showing posts with label break. Show all posts
Monday, December 19, 2016
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Things not to do, part 77
It really seems like it. It's so very easy to find things folks should not do.
1. Don't wear jewelry to CPR class.
Especially, if it is a long necklace and is going to get tangled up in the AED simulator. Shock anyone?
2. Diss the nurses.
Not my patient, but even my doctor relatives know this is not a good thing.
3. Stick a q-tip up your nose.
Because it really, really is a bad thing if you break off the long wooden stick, and the rest of it stays in your nose. We will have to send you for an extraction.
Stay tuned!
1. Don't wear jewelry to CPR class.
Especially, if it is a long necklace and is going to get tangled up in the AED simulator. Shock anyone?
2. Diss the nurses.
Not my patient, but even my doctor relatives know this is not a good thing.
3. Stick a q-tip up your nose.
Because it really, really is a bad thing if you break off the long wooden stick, and the rest of it stays in your nose. We will have to send you for an extraction.
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
After a rough day...
Sometimes you need a break, after walking all of your 10000 daily steps going up and down hills to meetings.
So glad the weather is finally nice in RehabLand!
More to come...with a nice German Kolsch. Tasty relief!
So glad the weather is finally nice in RehabLand!
More to come...with a nice German Kolsch. Tasty relief!
Monday, November 5, 2012
One thing after another
I thought we'd chalk up all the weirdness last week to the full moon.
However, it surely was a crazy Monday...for teeth. I had two of my coworkers break one (or more) teeth today after start time.
Oh, right before open season. At least, they can start planning for some of that dental work ahead of time.
Back to work and what a welcome it was. Lots of happy campers...
However, it surely was a crazy Monday...for teeth. I had two of my coworkers break one (or more) teeth today after start time.
Oh, right before open season. At least, they can start planning for some of that dental work ahead of time.
Back to work and what a welcome it was. Lots of happy campers...
Sunday, October 28, 2012
A little break
And while I was doing that I got flashbacks to the old days when I worked in marketing. First when I saw this new Adobe commercial and then later when I saw this classic IBM ad on buzzword bingo (which we actually played at one firm).
Fun times....stay tuned.
Fun times....stay tuned.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Seven survival skills
Stuff I've taught Bubba over the Christmas break from school so far...
1. This is a washing machine. This is how the clothes go in (adding detergent, etc.) I don't know if he's old enough for it to stick, but it can't hurt trying.
2. This is the dryer (refer to #1).
3. These are sharp knives. Be careful (as I nick my finger with the chef's knife I just got sharpened today.)
4. While Mom and Dad drive old cars, you need to know how to get out when the doors are locked. These old fashioned things are called buttons. Pull them up to get your door unlocked. If that doesn't work, slide across the seat to the other door. Voila! It opens (even if it sets off the alarm). Do not sit unattended in the car in the driveway and cry when you can get yourself out.
5. This is a key. It opens the door. Use it.
6. Life is too short not to have pumpkin pie, cookies and cakes for the holidays. Be certain to add in a few fruits and vegetables, too.
7. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be kind. Say please and thank you. And tell your family and friends you love them when you see them. You may not get a second chance.
1. This is a washing machine. This is how the clothes go in (adding detergent, etc.) I don't know if he's old enough for it to stick, but it can't hurt trying.
2. This is the dryer (refer to #1).
3. These are sharp knives. Be careful (as I nick my finger with the chef's knife I just got sharpened today.)
4. While Mom and Dad drive old cars, you need to know how to get out when the doors are locked. These old fashioned things are called buttons. Pull them up to get your door unlocked. If that doesn't work, slide across the seat to the other door. Voila! It opens (even if it sets off the alarm). Do not sit unattended in the car in the driveway and cry when you can get yourself out.
5. This is a key. It opens the door. Use it.
6. Life is too short not to have pumpkin pie, cookies and cakes for the holidays. Be certain to add in a few fruits and vegetables, too.
7. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be kind. Say please and thank you. And tell your family and friends you love them when you see them. You may not get a second chance.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Heart ache, heart break
It's not a song, but heart ache and heart break has been the story of the unit recently.
One of our nurses breaks up via phone with her latest boyfriend. He tells her just had to get back to the babe who threw him to the curb at Christmas when she didn't like the gift he bought. She decided she wants him now, so he calls our nurse to say adios.
Another nurse comes up to me and says, "I have a pain." Which leads to more questions, then a call to the supervisor, and an ambulance shows up and away she goes. Who thinks of a young woman having a heart attack at work? She did.
Finally, one of our friends lost her brother, due to a medical error, on top of another medical error. We are just stunned. They don't want to sue, she says, they just want to make sure it doesn't happen again to someone else.
We just wait to see if we get a new name, like Heartbreak Hotel, anytime soon. Stay tuned...
One of our nurses breaks up via phone with her latest boyfriend. He tells her just had to get back to the babe who threw him to the curb at Christmas when she didn't like the gift he bought. She decided she wants him now, so he calls our nurse to say adios.
Another nurse comes up to me and says, "I have a pain." Which leads to more questions, then a call to the supervisor, and an ambulance shows up and away she goes. Who thinks of a young woman having a heart attack at work? She did.
Finally, one of our friends lost her brother, due to a medical error, on top of another medical error. We are just stunned. They don't want to sue, she says, they just want to make sure it doesn't happen again to someone else.
We just wait to see if we get a new name, like Heartbreak Hotel, anytime soon. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hurry up and wait
Yes, it's my day off again, so now I'm engaged in the latest version of Hurry Up and Wait, the car maintenance edition.
Since the mechanic's got wifi at the shop, I thought I'd keep busy, even if I'd really like to find a quiet corner with a big couch and go to sleep. Thankfully, I'm well-caffeinated with my Starbucks and working away.
Work was finally placid...at least for most of the night. We had bed bingo again because C-diff is loose on the unit again, much to everyone's surprise. It was bound to happen since our docs throw Vancomycin at everything all the time. One of our guys was even on prophylatic PO Flagyl and lactobacillus and still came up positive. So much for that idea...
I tagged teamed with another nurse to get one of my patients cared for, since he's a two person turner. It was nice. We got her guy situated, since he works better when he stays up longer than he wants. He's a rehab patient who would like to stay in bed all the time, but he is just starting to get his conditioning back again. Since the docs want him up, we have a good excuse to keep him there until he's ready for his nightly rituals.
Otherwise, I'm glad I'm off today. I need the break! More later...
Since the mechanic's got wifi at the shop, I thought I'd keep busy, even if I'd really like to find a quiet corner with a big couch and go to sleep. Thankfully, I'm well-caffeinated with my Starbucks and working away.
Work was finally placid...at least for most of the night. We had bed bingo again because C-diff is loose on the unit again, much to everyone's surprise. It was bound to happen since our docs throw Vancomycin at everything all the time. One of our guys was even on prophylatic PO Flagyl and lactobacillus and still came up positive. So much for that idea...
I tagged teamed with another nurse to get one of my patients cared for, since he's a two person turner. It was nice. We got her guy situated, since he works better when he stays up longer than he wants. He's a rehab patient who would like to stay in bed all the time, but he is just starting to get his conditioning back again. Since the docs want him up, we have a good excuse to keep him there until he's ready for his nightly rituals.
Otherwise, I'm glad I'm off today. I need the break! More later...
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