Well, not quite, but my last evening shift in charge recently was definitely interesting.
First problem: Since it was the boss's first day of vacation, I knew someone would call in sick. Mike, one of our nurse assistants (who will not miss me as a charge nurse) decided to be the one. No surprise, really. Mike likes those extended three-day weekends just like the rest of the slacker patrol and he's made it a habit of taking off the day before and the day after his weekend off, or when I'm in charge.
Second problem: one of our RNs, who has a chronic medical condition gets sick at the beginning of the shift. Docs are called (ours, not hers) and lots of fuss is made over her, because she could have gotten all wigged out on us. I let some of the crew keep her safe while I got the rest of the folks to hold down the fort until the super could determine whether I needed an ambulance or not.
Happily, she was fine within a couple of hours, but was pissed at me once she felt better. I was a witch and changed her assignment, so she had very little chance of potentially hurting any patients. Sure, she was bored, but what choice did I have? Not much. Oh, the joys of lots of CYA documentation!
Finally, I redistributed the load to the rest of the crew and we did well. My patients did well. I was so happy they were cooperating with everything, especially when I took a little longer on my regular rounds.. Even with all that, I still managed to get one in the shower, so he could get ready for an appointment tomorrow, and wash his hair, which he said was driving him crazy. Head and Shoulders to the rescue!
It was crazy, but we survived, even if no one stuck around to leave with me once I'd finished giving report to the next crew.
I won't miss the BS at all....come on clinic!
More to come...
Showing posts with label chronic illness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chronic illness. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Countdown
At the end of the week, I will get a long weekend away from the Hotel with my boys. It's not much, but I'll take every single second of it.
Some days are better than others. I was cruising into an uneventful end to my stint on the late shift recently when the quiet was replaced by pandemonium.
First, one patient spikes a ridiculous temp. Said patient's had problems before so we call our MD on call. Get orders. Rush about doing tasks. All is good, even if we have to harass some of our night pharmacists to get what we need.
Next, patient #2 does the same thing. Patient #2 has more pre-existing issues the MD worries about, so we call MD, get orders to have local MD see patient, and he doesn't show up. Nor does he call our MD or do whatever she asked me to ask him. Nope. He says "wait until tomorrow." Our MD is pissed. We had an issue getting the labs to this doc, so with some luck, we managed to do it (not everything is automated at the Hotel) and MD orders an IV.
What does this mean? I get to call pharmacy again and listen to the deep sighs when I tell them I have a stat order. It's as if they've never gotten one. I am so glad I'm not right there to see their faces. I really hate that "Oh, I can't do this because I don't want to do it" entitlement attitude, because I'm a crappy poker face and my thoughts aren't hidden for long.
Charge nurse got everything done because, for the most part, we worked as a team. I just wish all of our team would have cooperated without the attitude.
Outside of that, my grad class is almost done and for a short class, it's had it's share of drama, too, especially for my entire team. Every single solitary one of us has had something going on this semester that's been distracting, even life-threatening. My favorite team member, T., has problems now that may mean she won't be back next semester. I hope they can get resolved. I will miss working with her if she's not around.
Now, back to the grind, and on to the rest of the week. Stay tuned.
Some days are better than others. I was cruising into an uneventful end to my stint on the late shift recently when the quiet was replaced by pandemonium.
First, one patient spikes a ridiculous temp. Said patient's had problems before so we call our MD on call. Get orders. Rush about doing tasks. All is good, even if we have to harass some of our night pharmacists to get what we need.
Next, patient #2 does the same thing. Patient #2 has more pre-existing issues the MD worries about, so we call MD, get orders to have local MD see patient, and he doesn't show up. Nor does he call our MD or do whatever she asked me to ask him. Nope. He says "wait until tomorrow." Our MD is pissed. We had an issue getting the labs to this doc, so with some luck, we managed to do it (not everything is automated at the Hotel) and MD orders an IV.
What does this mean? I get to call pharmacy again and listen to the deep sighs when I tell them I have a stat order. It's as if they've never gotten one. I am so glad I'm not right there to see their faces. I really hate that "Oh, I can't do this because I don't want to do it" entitlement attitude, because I'm a crappy poker face and my thoughts aren't hidden for long.
Charge nurse got everything done because, for the most part, we worked as a team. I just wish all of our team would have cooperated without the attitude.
Outside of that, my grad class is almost done and for a short class, it's had it's share of drama, too, especially for my entire team. Every single solitary one of us has had something going on this semester that's been distracting, even life-threatening. My favorite team member, T., has problems now that may mean she won't be back next semester. I hope they can get resolved. I will miss working with her if she's not around.
Now, back to the grind, and on to the rest of the week. Stay tuned.
Friday, June 25, 2010
I know the secrets, too
Maha so eloquently described the secrets in the ER in a recent post and it got me thinking about the unspoken stories at the Hotel.
The secrets aren't secrets to everyone mind you, but they lie hidden. The cancer diagnosis no one wants to talk about, yet the specialist charts it in his/her notes. The criminal past of a patient, which includes violence against certain types of staff members. The homelessness, violence, love children, suicide attempts, and madness lurks everywhere you look.
In addition, it's not just the patients with the secrets. It's the staff, too. The relative of a nurse who was forced to go back to work to defend her husband in a criminal trial in which all of her significant assets were seized. The nurse who has an inappropriate relationship with a patient or two or three. The nurse who can't tell the boss he/she has a chronic illness, because he/she is afraid to lose his/her job. The nurse who is an alcoholic, and calls out a lot around the holidays, especially those involving parties or family gatherings.
I wish some would see the light of day, and others, I don't. I shudder at doctors giving a cancer diagnosis like it's just a day in the park, when the prognosis is grim. I wonder if the criminal patient will hurt me if I'm left alone in the right environment. I wonder if the nurse who's involved with the patient will suffer repercussions at home. And finally, with the nurses with illnesses of their own, I wonder what will have to happen for them to get the help they need, as the boss sits idly.
We can only wait and see...stay tuned!
The secrets aren't secrets to everyone mind you, but they lie hidden. The cancer diagnosis no one wants to talk about, yet the specialist charts it in his/her notes. The criminal past of a patient, which includes violence against certain types of staff members. The homelessness, violence, love children, suicide attempts, and madness lurks everywhere you look.
In addition, it's not just the patients with the secrets. It's the staff, too. The relative of a nurse who was forced to go back to work to defend her husband in a criminal trial in which all of her significant assets were seized. The nurse who has an inappropriate relationship with a patient or two or three. The nurse who can't tell the boss he/she has a chronic illness, because he/she is afraid to lose his/her job. The nurse who is an alcoholic, and calls out a lot around the holidays, especially those involving parties or family gatherings.
I wish some would see the light of day, and others, I don't. I shudder at doctors giving a cancer diagnosis like it's just a day in the park, when the prognosis is grim. I wonder if the criminal patient will hurt me if I'm left alone in the right environment. I wonder if the nurse who's involved with the patient will suffer repercussions at home. And finally, with the nurses with illnesses of their own, I wonder what will have to happen for them to get the help they need, as the boss sits idly.
We can only wait and see...stay tuned!
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