Swan song

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...

Stormy weekend? Perhaps not...

So maybe we won't have a stormy moon at our place this weekend...why you ask?

Let me count the ways...

1. We lost some patients. Spring has sprung and they'll do anything to get discharged or go on pass for the weekend. I love that part of spring!

2. The supervisors are not micromanaging at the moment. It helps that a few just got back from vacations in the tropics watching baseball and getting a tan. Want to divert them from looking at your drink at the nurses' station? Just ask them about spring training and who they saw.

3. Some of the drama mamas won't be working this weekend due to illness or vacation. At least they can go nuts at home with their families, and not with us!

I'd say the q-word, but I'm not going to jinx it....stay tuned!

A night out with the big men

No, I'm not going out with Dahey and Bubba, nor am I partaking in that festival of festivals called the NCAA tournament. (although a few of my patients will be glued to the TV). No, I'm working at the Hotel again. People come in, and people go out, and when I get in, we'll see who's left.

Lately, it's been placid, but that tends to change when 1) the moon does (the Storm Moon is coming Monday) and 2) the drama mamas come to work.

I'll just hang with the big men, thank you very much!

Stay tuned!