Everything AND...

I almost sound like one of those bad infomercials. They seem to promise the world, but when you get down to it, it's really plastic.

Such has been my week. I thought the cold I got would go away if I took my cold medicine diligently. It didn't. I went to a big (over 1,000 folks) conference in sunny Florida and I suffered as a result.

I feel for all the consultants, etc. who have to fly regularly with a cold. I felt like I brought (and swallowed) a small medicine cabinet before I even got on the plane. I also bought some Earplanes ear plugs, since I knew my sinuses were stuffed. Even with all the drugs, etc., my ears still hurt (although I'd suspect less than if I didn't have the ear plugs).

Florida in winter is lovely. You actually don't feel so horrible when it's 80 degrees every day. Wearing sandals was also therapeutic. While I didn't go to the beach, my feet felt like it in those walking sandals. I sat outside and enjoyed lunch one day (since it was warm and sunny). There were threats of rain, but they never materialized. I even got in 10,000 steps almost every day. It helped that the hotel was a short walk from the conference location AND that the conference was in a convention center that was pretty big.

Coming home was another adventure. Thankfully, the plane was not full. I got to enjoy an aisle seat and no one next to me, which is rare these days. I made it two whole days before I caved and decided to seek medical attention for the infection I got.

Now I'm playing the doxycycline shuffle. It's really not fun rearranging meals and vitamins for the antibiotic, but since I'm feeling a little better, why not?

Hope you enjoy your day wherever you are. I'll be soldiering on...stay tuned!

Reality bites

Yes I'm still recuperating from my recent travels. It was fun, but tiring.

I did my presentation to lots of applause (along with my partner). Being scheduled after lunch is entertaining, since you get an upfront view of everyone in the room falling asleep. "No one was nodding off while you talked," my traveling partner said.

"Au contraire," I said. "You'd have seen them all snoozing from my seat." Luckily, she got some action shots of my speaking partner and I fielding questions at the end.

I got to see lots of people I haven't seen lately, including some folks who retired. They came for the CEUs.  We had a big group of folks go to dinner at one of these Food Channel-famous joints. It was interesting. After taking a stealth photo of the namesake owner talking to my traveling partner, I was waiting for security to come and throw me out. Needless to say, we're not famous, so said proprietor was not keen on a photo with us or my traveling partner, who told Mr. Big how excited she was to be there. Bubba, however, was impressed. (After watching all those episodes of MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, in addition to all the other food shows I miss...)

Thankfully, one of the folks who attended and works in a satellite office, knew that it was Restaurant Week in town and got us the "special menu" (similar to a prix fixe in normal places). It was good. The only thing that was annoying was the overcharging on the alcohol. I paid $14 for a glass of chianti when my traveling partner and I could have bought a bottle for the price of two glasses.

However, the happiest part of the trip, besides hanging out with my speaking partner and talking to the chief of staff of the organization (he/she was our main speaker one day), was escaping a hurricane. Despite Dr. H's insistence that he survived many a hurricane during his years in Florida, I was not keen on adding one to my own bucket list, thank you.

I made it home in time to do some chores, check my packed suitcases, then go out West with Bubba and Dahey to Dahey's niece's wedding. She's a sweet girl who was a guest book assistant at our wedding many years ago. Since then, she must have liked weddings, since she went into the wedding business herself. Needless to say, she had a whole lot of stuff and events. It was a busy weekend. Lots of food, drink and hanging out with the relatives, in-laws, and outlaws.

We even went on a horseback ride near one of the local wineries with the bride's Uncle Beau. Beau's brother, Bob, a professional rodeo star, had a party at his house for us when we were done. Bubba wanted nothing with riding a horse on the trails, so he went with the older folks on the wagon ride. However, he did ride the rodeo star's favorite horse, Biff at his house. We have lots of photos of Bubba smiling on Biff and he kept saying no, every time Uncle Beau asked if he wanted to get off. Thankfully, the other kids were busy playing in a water slide and didn't notice Biff was busy after a while. Despite keeping him up late, looking at those photos made him smile.

Thankfully, we didn't encounter any rattlesnakes or wild pigs in Bob's front yard as we were leaving. It was really dark and we could see the stars on a clear night. It was fun.

The day of the wedding we rested after all the excitement, because it was a long night. We went to the wedding at 5, had drinks after, then dinner, speeches, and dancing. Since everything was outside next to a famous creek side hotel, we also saw some wildlife. Mona, one of Dahey's relative's wives screamed when she saw a huge beetle on her side of the table. I wish we had a video of the encounter, because all of a sudden one of the flower girls appeared on scene. The bug rescuer was Dahey's five year old niece, Ella. She promptly rescued the flightless beetle and released him on a tree near the creek. She was smiling from ear-to-ear. Her father said, "Just call her my Crocodile Dundee."

After all the wedding excitement, we got up early and saw the Grand Canyon. It was clear, pretty and windy. Bubba was most impressed with the ambulance we saw about halfway through our hike. We heard no screams or saw any hysterics, so we kept moving along, since help had arrived. That definitely was one of the bucket list items I got to check off my list.

We returned home at the end of the holiday, then I went to work. It was tiring. I'm finally feeling like I'm not jet-lagged anymore.

So now it's almost the weekend. Hope you enjoy yours wherever you are. Hug your family members (human and furry) today. Life is short.

Miles to go

I feel like it. I have run a good race this week at the Hotel. I have set goals and attained some. Others make me want to beat my head into the desk. No way that's happening!

And I volunteered for a computer setup job tomorrow with one of my elderly relatives.

But I still have to get through Friday. Then I pack for not one, but two trips, for three people (because I have men who would pack socks and the computer (along with some allergy meds) and forget the rest.

I feel like I'm living that "miles to go before I sleep" line.

Stay tuned...

Thank goodness

It's almost time for vacation again. Surprisingly, I'm partaking of a little office escaping for one week for not one, not two, but THREE months in a row. In the computer, it's not vacation (I'm actually going out on the road for conferences, etc.) but to me, any day outside of the Hotel is freedom. I'll take it! Traveling partner and I get to have a reunion, too, which is even better.  Look out folks, as we shop and eat in interesting places in our off time (plans are underway...)

This week was a full moon. Somehow, I didn't realize this until I was driving home one night from an event. The sky was hazy but relatively cloudless. There it was: the big monster sturgeon moon right up there. It explained the craziness that was this week.

I work with technology that helps patients see their providers from home, so in theory, I shouldn't have people not show up. In a week with a full moon, don't count on it. One patient couldn't make it (we always call to check) because he had last minute visitors, or patients (he/she's also a healthcare professional). This happened last week, too, but that patient is a sweetheart and invited his/her guests to see us and talk to us before he/she completed our assessment. We dispensed with the usual formality, got the visit done post haste and wished them all well until the next visit.

Besides the fun at work, I'm doing plenty of work in advance for a committee that audits nurses' training and continuing education. What does this mean? I look at a lot of CEU certificates. My favorite one this week was a CE class on humor in healthcare. It is worth 20 CEUs. I thought to myself: if I could market a 20 CEU experience here in the Hotel, I'd bet I could make some money too. If that's too expensive for you, however, the author does belong to this group you can check out for free.

Now that Bubba is being a typical teenager, it's driving me nuts. Pray we survive...

Stay tuned...

A Wayne and Garth moment

"We're not worthy", I wanted to shout, complete with bows, but I took it all in stride.

My advisor from PublicU contacted me today about talking to her students in a conference about what I do in the SU.

Priceless.



I love you two, but I AM worthy. Three words: Bring it on!

 Stay tuned!

Interesting rehab conference in June

If you rehab cancer patients on your rehab unit,  you may want to check it out. This is going to be free and located at the NIH in Bethesda, MD.

I may have to see if I can escape to go!

That is all...super busy week. Lots more stories on tap, but will have to sit down long enough to process, then tell them.

Rehab nursing in a nutshell: the series

Oh, since I'm still thinking about  what I learned at a recent rehab nurses conference, I figure I'll share what I've learned along the way.

If you haven't already read some of the old stuff in this blog, feel free to go back in time. I've tried to keep most of the stuff that captures how I felt as a new nurse.

Frankly, being a new nurse wherever you are is scary. There are nice people out there, and there are the trolls and Nurse Ratcheds who will make your life hell (or at least attempt).

First rule: DO NOT LET THEM.  Sometimes the best thing you can do is to find a mentor (if you are in a residency program, thank your lucky stars...) and learn how to be a good nurse.

You can learn on your own some of the additional stuff you need to know in rehab.

Just remember Rule number 2: you will never stop learning. Don't even try, don't get sedentary, don't get sedate.

I can't tell you how many over 60+ year old nurses I saw at the recent rehab conference. Three of the original 12 nurses who started one group showed up. One had a cane, but let me tell you, she used that cane with confidence, and she went from session to session, several which I attended.

Our closing speaker (a nurse) helped his/her mom complete her CEUs for her license. She's 84.

Not sure if she's a rehab nurse, but she would have fit in fine with all of us (and would have ended up with lots of CEUs).

That's enough of an assignment for today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, wherever you are.

More to come...stay tuned.

Still recovering...

But darn it, it was FUN!

Beautiful days no need for a coat. Pretty nights and safe surroundings. Fireworks I could watch from my room and music. Lots of rehab nurses from all over the place.

I learned a lot. I had fun meeting everyone. It was pretty cool.

Yes, it really was the happiest place on Earth for one brief moment now it's back to work.

Stay tuned...

The joys of parenting

Tonight was our first "free-for-all" parent/teacher conference in the RehabLand school district.

What does this mean? Take all the classroom teachers for a particular grade and stick them in the cafeteria. Leave the tables exactly as they are so no one can tell who is standing in what line. Put all the major subject teachers together, so the traffic jams are even more acute around their area.

Do this for three hours. Thankfully, Bubba took me over early and pointed out all the important teachers to talk to while we were there. And no, they weren't just the ones who gave him A's in their classes (although surprisingly, he loves school this year).

I hated it, but I cannot imagine what the teachers think of this.

Just like running the gauntlet...more to come.

Another t-shirt moment

I love conferences, since you get to see people you haven't seen in ages and learn new stuff.

But I really hate it when you are so tired, you want to pass out, because you've been trapped in freezing cold rooms and staying up late.

Thank goodness I convinced the boss I need time to recoup (aka vacation). I might not be going anywhere, but being stationary, is a very good thing.

Stay tuned.

They don't have a T-shirt for this

Being a certified nurse can be nice, but documenting all of those continuing education things can be a pain.

Hooray! You're a certified nurse! Fast forward (it really didn't seem that long) and before you know it, it's time to renew that certification.

However, it's not impossible. Here are my tips (from personal experience since I've done this a couple of times this year) on how to get your stuff together and submit without ripping all your hair out.


1. Be organized. Keep good records of what educational seminars, conferences, webinars, etc. you attend. I bought a small scanner for receipts, but I scan every single document I get and put it in a folder on my computer.

You can really collect a lot of stuff over most certification periods (three to five years is standard).

2. If you go the electronic route, always remember to back up your info and put it in a safe place. You don't want all that time and work to go up in smoke. You can backup stuff online or on DVD or in a fireproof file box.

3. Start early. Many organizations charge late fees (and many are not cheap). Some (like one East Coast organization I will not mention) like to audit the folks who file late. For the most part, organizations audit a certain percentage of recertification candidates (this percentage varies).

How do I know? I was one of the lucky folks who got audited when I forgot to mail in my stuff while I was on vacation this spring. 

4. Read the instructions carefully and make sure you send in the appropriate amount of contact hours. Some organizations distinguish between online learning, webinars, conference calls, etc.

5. File electronically if your organization allows it. See #3. No late fees if you can send it in online by the due date and most send you a confirmation e-mail once you're done.

6. If you can't file electronically, always, always, always keep a copy of your completed application.

One friend applied for a certification and the certifying body lost his/her application. Thankfully, he/she had a copy and after a couple of phone calls, resent it, and all was good on the road to certification.

Without that copy, it would have been pretty ugly.

Enjoy your recertification adventure!

How to perturb your coworkers, part 2

1. When I tell you something, don't bother listening the first time I tell you. Wait until I ask you later, then get hysterical as you are leaving a meeting. Looks grand in the hallway!

 Twenty points extra if this is your new manager who just got a clue.

2. Roll your eyes in every meeting. One day, I'm going to film our staff meetings to prove it.

3. Be paranoid in video conferences. It just shows that you may need to STAY here, not just work here.

The list grows...stay tuned or comment on some of your favorites!

And tell us what you really think?

I know a lot of good folks come to us from At Your Cervix. The author doesn't mince words when she discusses a recent conference.

You go, girl. Tell it, because no one else will. We can't just do it because we've always done it that way.

Yes, EBP is a big hairy deal in the nursing world. And dosed with a healthy helping of common sense, it's a very good thing.

More later...

Labor day weekend

Well, the last, official holiday weekend of summer is finally here. It doesn't feel like it though.

The temperatures are still hot enough for Bubba to jump in Mr. Smith's pool down the road, and too hot to let WildDog lounge in the grass, lying in wait for the mailman.

I've been busy doing all the stuff I didn't get done yet since I got back from the conference. Labor Day really is a laboring holiday for me.

Enjoy your Labor Day whether you labor on the floor or at home. Will raise my cold, frosty glass for you all! Cheers.

Stay tuned!

Hurry up and go

Survived my presentation, survived my interrogation, er, interview for the SU.

Now to enjoy the rest of this conference and the long Labor Day weekend.

More later

Irony or Day two of the JC

Yes, one of the executive secretary's must get a "communication" bonus, because we're getting a recap every day (with emoticons and gifs...I wish I were kidding) that the Joint Commission is at our hospital.

Kinder, friendlier hospital? I don't think so.

But after another day of digging, sorting, and moving things around in the files for another upcoming audit, I discovered some very interesting things.

1. Some people think they can BS their way through everything. Including three months of work, where they didn't really do much.

That should be an interesting conference for the slimy critter whose nose is tilted so high that she'd drown in a rainstorm.

Have fun 'splaining,  honey. It was nice knowing you.

2. Some data is really a mess. I'm so glad it's not mine. I did the best I could with it, and passed it along.
 
3. Don't mess with a big Army veteran in a red truck. Thanks D for keeping that guy from running me over in the parking lot! (Quitting time is scary in our neck of the woods some days!)

4. Read something light and fluffy to destress when you get home. My favorite today was the classic blog, Fmylife. Just when you think your work day blows, you read about someone else's craziness.

My favorites today involve lack of anatomical knowledge and the good old general crazy character.

Ahh! I feel better already. Back to the iTunes and going through the years.

Enjoy your moments wherever you are. At least, JC can't visit EVERYONE this week.

Stay tuned...

Weekend follies - travel wrap-up

Yes, if you travel, you get to do lots of things.

Here's a few of the things I did:

1. Walk. I went over 10,000 steps on my pedometer every single day walking back and forth to various sessions. That's not including the to and from to the conference.

2. Eat. Lots and lots of restaurants (and some nice receptions) with loads of food. I tried to stay away from too many bagels (aka meeting room food).

3. Drink. Lots and lots of coffee--every kind you can imagine. Also had some of the local beverages which were quite tasty.

4. Chat with presidents. And vice presidents and marketing directors, as well as our sales reps. I was enlisted to do a demo with one of the products I use regularly for one vendor. She didn't know how to use it.

5. Collect swag. I got a gallon Ziploc full of pens for the nursing staff: light up pens and even the  new pens with stylus ends for your tablet. I also got a purple dragon and mints, among other things. Wish I could have gotten a fedora (yes, one vendor gave those out) for S.

6. Meet. Met lots of fellow nurses from around the country. Had lots of fun discussing everything we do in the SU. Was almost tempted to show up in scrubs when the dress code said "business dress".

Yes, even in the SU, scrubs are business attire. However, I caved and wore my "I could be a banker" suit.

And now, I get to do one more thing: prepare an expense report. It's all worth it. I learned a lot, walked a lot and had a lot of fun.

Stay tuned...

The joy of Bubba

We had Bubba's first parent-teacher conference of the year recently. It was a hoot.

This year, Bubba is in the big kids section of the LocalWarHero elementary school on the second floor (this is a nice building built in the early 1970s but with frequent updates so it looks pretty decent compared to my 1940-something bomb shelter looking grade school).

His teacher Mrs. G. is a riot. You can tell she's an old pro because one, she doesn't get upset that he's a rambunctious boy. Two, she's figured out how to harness that energy to learn. Bubba has taken it upon himself to study everything about the elections and he can tell you the who/what/where of all the candidates from president to municipal dog catcher (wait, we don't vote on that one anymore).

Three, unlike many of Bubba's other teachers, she doesn't tell us anything is wrong with him, she tells us how to manage his habits in the classroom and that it seems like we're doing a good job of that at home. "He is kind and a joy for everyone to be around."

He's pretty smart, since he's also figured out how to mess up the computerized tests by answering incorrectly on purpose. The test gets done faster, too, she said. (Can't say he's not efficient!)

Overall, compared to last year, Mrs. G. is a breath of fresh air. She really IS a professional teacher who knows how to get kids to learn.

More to come...

Sunday vegetating

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.~ Bertrand Russell

Sometimes I just have to remember Bubba is growing up. He makes me laugh so much. He really is becoming a tween before my very eyes.

We plan on having lots of fun jumping in piles of leaves and doing nothing today with Dahey.

I need a little break after a marathon conference call  with my classmates yesterday.

Stay tuned...

Flashbacks to the last conference tonight when Bubba played this

Now, just imagine a hundred or so nurses, young and old, hamming it up in a stuffed shirt old money style ballroom.

Ah, memories! Cheers boys and girls!