Heard on the unit...2010

I haven't really had too much in a long while for this segment, but it's getting better and better everyday.

Here's a few I've had recently...
"Please call the minister. I want to let him know what I want for my funeral." Patient #1

He's not even dying yet, but this guy wanted us to do everything to get the chaplain on the unit right away recently. Chaplain had already left for the day, so we left the service a message. Now if he starts dreaming about the dead relatives and the farm...that's a whole other story!

"Is that a beer bottle over there on the shelf?"
"Where's my good luck kiss before I go in the ring?" Patient #2

This patient is demented and his worst periods often happen in the middle of the night. No, there is no beer bottle, but the flashlight we keep there sure can look like one in the dark.

I get the pleasure of reorienting him back to the hospital, which isn't nearly as exciting as his career in the Marines, the boxing ring, or as a bartender.

Stay tuned for more goodies!

Nuggets for September 11

First of all, I pause to remember those lost this day seven years ago. It's hard to believe it's been that long ago, and that I was living another life as an IT person. How things have changed!

A few of these items have been hanging out on my list for a while, so I will pass them along, right after I get off my soapbox on this first one.

No, this is not in my area of rehab per se, but due to a connection with an expert in the field, I feel a need to discuss this.

WARNING: Soapbox ahead!
Nurse.com has a great article about radiation safety. How does this affect you, you say? Well, if you work in an area where portable x-rays are done regularly, you are a student hanging out in such areas or if you accompany your patients to x-ray or any other radiological procedure and have to position them while the machine runs as I sometimes do, this article applies to you.

Mainly, follow the guidelines noted in this article. If you are supposed to wear your dosimetry badge, wear it. If you are hanging out in the PACU and they want to do a portable on someone in one of the bays, go hang out across the room behind a wall. If you position patients during a procedure, keep your hands out of the beam and wear your lead apron. If you remotely think you are pregnant, tell someone and stay out. If you have any questions, ask for the radiation safety officer and/or his/her's designate to know what's going on in your facility.

By doing this, hopefully, you'll help guarantee a long career as a nurse. That is all. End of soapbox.

Now for a few other items I've run into lately...

Dementia and Margaret Thatcher. This article discusses the book released in the UK by Thatcher's daughter and the ethics of such a release. (from the Blogs section of http://www.nytimes.com/)
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/margaret-thatchers-open-secret/

VA voter drives anytime soon? We shall see. None yet at Madison, anyway. (from http://www.nytimes.com/)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/us/politics/09vets.html

This article discusses all of the places you'll find technology in use by nurses. (from http://www.nursinglink.com/)
http://www.nursinglink.com/careers/5322-technology-in-nursing

And for something completely different, check out Tex's post about working with women and why he loves it. I can identify with the flipping part, Tex. Lots and lots of flipping in rehab!