Monday again

Surprisingly, I did not have hundreds of e-mails when I returned to the office. I had about a dozen.  One of these days, the crazy admin who works for us will figure out that we ALL really don't need to receive a 9MB attachment on every e-mail she sends. (I bounced this request to the tech people today).

I worked with a patient (Mr. X) who always seems to show up in my office. Some therapists need to be working with him, but they're off doing other things, so I think of things for him to do. I allot about 30 minutes a day on this. I wish I could bill for my time in a clinic visit like the therapists do.

Meanwhile, Mr. X thought he was evading the medical staff on rounds by hiding out in an area near the remodeling being done in our part of the Hotel. Nope. They saw him. I managed to coax him out of the corner so he could talk to his doc. Once she arrived, I was out of there.

I also got a referral to one of our docs today. Patient found us on a website, made a phone call, and ended up in my voice mail. Before I could call, he called me. Mr. Persistent wants a second opinion with a specialist who works with us. He has a disease that requires a choice between two medications that will keep his disease at bay, but one, if he's got certain conditions, could actually kill him. Once specialist is back from his family jaunt across the country, he'll be on his consult list.

One patient made my Monday melancholy. Mr. E. has been coming to our place for a few years. His wife has never really coped with his issues very well. The caregiver stress they talk about in nursing school is starting to show. Mr. E. came in to a clinic visit with a week old beard. This is highly unusual for him, since he tends to shave every other day. Mrs. E. didn't come in with him, either, which is unusual.  She told us he had some issues and that she thought he was sick. She was correct. He got admitted.

Staff are getting bend out of shape about Mr. E. not being cared for. He's not the only one. I think Mrs. E. has finally broken. The strain of caring for her loving husband, who was once a tall, strong, highly educated man is killing her. Her back is strained from the weight. The role of loving wife and partner has been permanently replaced with caregiver. It's not what she signed up for. She doesn't say it, but the vacant look in her eyes tells you. The folks who promised to help just aren't doing it anymore.

The burden has fallen to us to carry at the Hotel,  as we wait to see how the rest of the questions in our minds will be answered.

Stay tuned...

Somedays, I wonder...

Dear Clerk:

Yes, indeed, it is 15 minutes before your day should end and I'm not too impressed that you decided to leave early. There was only a slight dusting (literally, not even an inch) of snow on the ground.

And yes, your cohort really thought I was causing trouble when I asked her to do your job, even when she's supposed to fill in for you when you leave. You are two peas in a pod: Dumb and Dumber, Lazy and Lazier, etc.

I particularly loved it when Clerk #2 called her Clerical lead, then the lead told me I didn't know what I was doing and I'd have to go ask the department IT liaison to fix the schedule. Yes, the clerical lead is the person who does all the scheduling, including inputting the main clinic data into the system.

Nevertheless, after 10 minutes, I got the two step job done by calling the IT liaison at home, because the administration does not allow nursing to input appointments, as this is called "working below our license" (aka doing your job).

Thank goodness the liaison knows how to do a job, doesn't give excuses and really knows that the important thing is that we make sure the patient has an appointment so he can see the doctor and we all get paid.

Too bad the rest of you don't think the same way, instead of just passing the buck.

Sincerely not,

RehabRN