One minute slow...

Another one fast. My days are numbered in my current lair. The construction guys are coming to tear up my part of the SU.

I'll be a refugee for the next month, roaming around to see patients at bedside.

Which is not always a bad thing...stay tuned.

How many more days?

Yes, it's only Thursday, but as one patient relative said to me yesterday, "The days are all running together." Yes, that happens a lot at the Hotel.

So is it flow, as this theory says it is? 

Not sure, so, c'mon Friday!

The clock's ticking...

And in less than a month, I'll be on a jet plane, flying in to take my comprehensive exam at PublicU.

This is how I'm feeling right now, since this voyage is nearly over. And if I had my way, I'd enjoy every minute.

Just a little anxious now...

Only 42 days

And I feel like I'm still scrambling, running, trying to get everything done. They're not really as big as these, but still stress-inducing.

I just hope I know everything when I need to know it...or can make them think I do!

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

One of these days...

Spring will return to RehabLand. I guess it's just another example of global warming (or in our case, cooling).

Stay tuned...

It's been one (or more) of those days...

Sometimes I have those days. First, it wasn't that busy, it was a "hurry up and wait" kind of day. I did things really slowly considering the low census. The specialists were late, even though their meetings were short. My patient meandered with care, since time doesn't fly when you're on bedrest.

I also got to admit a patient with an unusual pet and acquaint one of our MDs with some new acronyms related to new groups of patients. I know the doc understands enough, but sometimes there is a lot of generational dissonance when we talk to the docs. It makes a difference when patients are in the same generation as you are. I feel as if I'm a translator to the doctors who have children my age.

Finally, one of our patients made me laugh. On his way to the dentist, he said, "My dentures are so old..guess when they were made?" I had no idea and I told him so. Turns out I'm as old as his dentures.

I was so tired and ready to take my real teeth home once the end of the day arrived.

Stay tuned...

Summertime

Only means one thing: lots of vacations. None yet for me. I'm still low enough on the totem pole to have garnered only two, count 'em, two weekdays off for all of the summer months.

I'd have to kill a relative soon in order to get any more time.

Fun...back to work.

A few more days...

Yes, I'm counting the days when I can escape the Hotel Rehab for a couple of fun conferences....

41 days until my travelling partner and I hit the road for conference #1

Please note, we will not be attending this conference, but it looks interesting!

and...

a mere 151 days when we roll the roadtrip map out again for conference #2, which is in that conference haven of all time, no, not Chicago...Las Vegas.

If only we could leave the bosses at home for both of them!

I get to rest...

On the evening shift. Yes, it's true. Days can be rough and today was no exception.

I got the characters I had on evenings last time. Joy. No one else wants one or both, so I get stuck in their room. When no one is anxious, all is good. When there's anxiety for them, there's lots of work for me.

Tomorrow will probably be different, though. One leaves early for his weekly appointment off-site. The other's got issues, and if that resident doesn't fix them tonight, he'll be going out with the last guy who was really perturbed that he was on bedrest all weekend. Alas, we'll see what happens.

More to come...