If it's time to celebrate an anniversary...

It's time for bedlam and mayhem here in the RehabRN household. Why, you ask? Let me count the ways...

On anniversary #1, Dahey and I had a wonderful hotel stay planned. On our way to the restaurant, we got locked in the parking garage. While we were at Chez Fancy, we got a call that WildDog was throwing up. (Crazy aunt left chocolates unattended while at church)

On anniversary #2, we got someone else's hotel room during that hotel stay. We got a new room on the side of the hotel where all the ambulances would speed by on their way to World Renown medical center.

On anniversary #3, while Bubba was a baby, and Dahey was returning from a TDY job out west, our sewer backed up in our basement. (Cause: random rug in storm sewer main.)

Frankly, I stopped counting after the first three. However, this year, since our celebration was delayed, obviously the mayhem was on hold until we celebrated at Old Restored Building's swanky restaurant. Before we went in, my best friend called to tell me her 40 something year old husband was weak Friday, but now could not walk, so what should she do. This nurse told her (and hubby) to get to the hospital pronto. She couldn't get him in her car, so she called an ambulance to take him and his interesting medical history to the nearest Saintarama hospital (where he normally goes). He's still there, awaiting a diagnosis as to why he cannot move his arms and legs. He passed all the usual guesses yesterday. Neuro hopefully will solve the mystery today.

And while I was savoring a delightful pot de creme, my brother Jethro, decided to call to tell me he was locked out of his apartment. He has a keypad to get in, but no key, and the batteries for the keypad were dead. Since there is no maintenance on site, I had to go over and provide my credit card so the locksmith could unlock his door.

Time to unlock: about 7 seconds. Cost $75. It took him longer to walk to the apartment than to unlock the door and run my credit card.

Alas, no matter when we celebrate, it's always something.  Thankfully, Dahey puts up with it.  Happy Anniversary.

Observations at work

Jo described a nurse she works with in this post over at Head Nurse. I had a good time reading the comments because it reminded me of some of the "get in to go somewhere else" folks we keep getting at our Hotel unit at Washington.

Why do the words, "Oh, I'll just go apply somewhere else" rankle me? Because they are often coming out of the mouths of the newly oriented. Really? You couldn't have done your homework which would have told you this is a unit part of a rehab hospital? You just want to whine about it and you just got here?

I digress....

What I really wanted to talk about is this article. I know this phenomena is not contained to men, but they are the main culprits. I see this in a committee I work on. The guy is "so busy" that all he can do is let that lil' ol' multiple thousands of dollars project wait because no one knows how the back end process works.

Really? Hello people! That's what the BUSINESS side folks are for. Bug them! They LOVE it because it's THEIR job. They don't want to be clinical. They want to buff the machinery of the business processes of a hospital and make it work. I need the project management fairy to come and hit him over the head with her magic Project wand.

Occasionally, you have a nurse like me who gets it (that former life helps) but even I don't know everything. That's why I defer to the experts. That's why I keep asking you to ask them to show up at our meetings. It would be nice to solve some problems instead of talk about them the whole time.

That is all. I'm celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a nice, cool beverage, which will help me forget all of this mess. Hope you enjoy your day wherever you are, margarita or not.

More later.

Only in my dreams

Only in my dreams could we get a Hotel Rehab as "smart" and "accessible" as this new one going up in Nebraska.

I'm kind of worried about those gestures turning on and off appliances, lights, etc.

What do I do with the guy who has spasms whenever we turn him (or whenever he tilts just right in his wheelchair)?

It could get REALLY interesting.

Just sayin'...stay tuned. (I'd love to be there when it opens!)

Truth or fiction version 46

You'd be surprised at some of the articles I've been reading lately.


Take a guess and see how many you get right. No prizes, but you too, can have bragging rights in your neck of the woods.

Go ahead! Get ready (or not) to entertain your friends and family. See who can get the most right. I'll post the answers 24 hours after the initial post.

Robots are running around the hospital seeing patients in rehab. Truth or fiction?

Women are getting the "Cinderall procedure" in droves?

And finally, since we have "bring your kids day", you may just want to bring a furry friend one of these days.

Stay tuned!

The latest in the news

This is the etiquette edition (aka don't do this). Enjoy!

They've got it right...and funny
Top 10 things not to say to someone in a wheelchair is a great article from the good folks at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Not exactly a funeral in a stadium, but...
Don't take selfies at a funeral is the point of this Mashable post.

Don't emit noxious fumes
In the ongoing saga, Huy Fong Foods, manufacturers of the famous "Rooster" sriracha sauce have halted shipments.

Not necessarily a no-no anymore...
In the old days, no one in their right mind would bring their dog to the hospital. This AJN article talks about how your pet can help you just by visiting.

Sunday Stealing

The latest from Sunday Stealing, but I'm not sure why they picked the name...

What would you totally eat right now?
A salad. 

Do you always wear a certain piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring.

What kind of jeans do you like?
Depends on the situation.

What's something on your want list?
A lawn service, so I don't have to rake leaves or garden (won't happen anytime soon though).

Do you bite your nails?
No. Never have.

What kind of smells do you like?
Lemon, peppermint, cinnamon

Would you change your eye color if you could?
No.

And what are your goals for the remainder of this year?
Get everything done before I go on vacation (at the end of the month).

When is the last time you were at the hospital? 
Wednesday.

You the citizen, decide!

Yes, we have a show in RehabLand that has a reporter who goes out and "exposes" local government and administrative hot messes on a regular basis.

It's a good thing he doesn't visit too many hospitals, or the Hotel Rehab's parent hospital (Washington) would be on his show.

One of our patients was getting discharged, but the "approved" transportation method to get him home was denied at the last moment because Mr. X. was not eligible for that type of travel due to his insurance.

Cost to discharge Mr. X as requested:
$500.

Cost to Washington to keep Mr. X until he CAN get "approved" travel:
$2000.

Cost of "approved" travel available tomorrow:
$12 (payable by patient, not hospital).

Difference to keep patient an extra day to get his $12 travel:
Cost of $1500 to the hospital. (And extra food, laundry, and maybe an ER diversion or two...)

Cost of patient going AMA because he's so p*&sed off  over the administrative idiocy of the hospital and wants to get to his wife's birthday party:
PRICELESS

As that reporter says, "You the citizen, decide...was it worth it?"

Some hospital genius needs a good ol' dope slap...

When you see

Several police cars in the parking lot and two hospital police officers in the lobby on your way into work, it usually means something is going on.

Boy, it's going to be an exciting day!

Stay tuned...

Awww....some lucky folks

This story on Spaulding Rehab in the Boston area reminded me of when Saintarama Rehab was moved. It was particularly moving, because of the patients who were excited to be the first occupants of the new hospital space, including some injured in the Boston Marathon bombing.

One quote was particularly telling:

“Traditionally, rehab has always been relegated to whatever rundown space existed in the corner of the hospital,” Storto said. “I have wanted this [building] to be a bold statement for the rehab field, for people with disabilities and their families.”

Amen, brother, (as more than a few of my patients said, when we opened our new wing at the Hotel), amen!

Wild Friday

Yes, I'm so, so glad this week is over. My Friday was really, really weird and probably just the culmination of an extraordinary week.

Besides all the brouhaha of the new digs opening, one of our nurses, who works the home health side had to call an ambulance for herself from a patient's home this week. We still don't know what happened to her.

The boss's boss came over to inspect again. S/he's just so friendly--only talks to the people she wants to. I've given up doing anything but speaking when spoken to. Why bother when s/he doesn't acknowledge you anyway?

And on top of this, my sibling who was coming to town got delayed and so did our hospitalized relative who was supposed to be discharging this week. Logistical nightmare trying to get him/her home caused a problem that could not be resolved until Monday. I personally don't believe it was all logistics, but then again, just call me a cynic.

I know a long weekend when I see one, so I'm taking one, myself.

Stay tuned...it should be a fun weekend.

You think you have it bad

Here are some items I saw recently in the news, thanks to the folks over the pond at the BBC.

Can't pay your hospital bill and you just had a baby? Be glad you're not in Greece.

The man who invented the remote control died this week. Should we blame him for selfish husbands who hog the remote and monopolize the TV?

Cherry wood and crystal in a car? What? Apparently this guy has that in his car.

I thought I had some obnoxious relatives until I read about hers.

I don't feel so bad anymore...

Can I put it on Craigslist?

Dear Hospital Equipment Engineer Guy:

The portable equipment has been waiting for six months already for you to pick it up. They even came and installed a new, handy, dandy one, so the techs don't even use this one as backup. We've called, cajoled and asked nicely multiple times.

So if you don't come and get it, here's what's happening.

1. I put it in the lobby. I'm tired of walking around the dinosaur every time I need to get one of my patients with wheelchairs in the room.

2. I'm calling you one more time.

3. If you choose not to pick it up, I'm turning the inspection form on the front over, writing "FREE" on it, and parking out in front of the building.

4. Right after it's staged there, I'll post that ad on craigslist to come by Madison Hospital for a great free "rare" equipment deal.

I know security won't do anything about it, because it's too heavy, but call you.

Sincerely not,

RehabRN

My nightmare

Shooting outside rehab hospital (from Washington Post)

It is my nightmare because some of my coworkers remember when the same thing happened on one off-hours shift at the Hotel. It happened on one of our sister units and our folks were dispatched to respond.

Even though no patients were involved in our incident, the mere thought of it brings shivers down my  spine. I am happy as a clam when security comes by for their regularly scheduled panic button check.

Because I hope and pray that it never, ever happens again.

The pleasures of resolutions

1. Started clipping coupons for stuff I needed. Saved $60 (or half of what I spent) in one, two-stop shopping trip. I know it's not extreme, but hey, I'm just starting.

2. Went outside and just enjoyed the lovely weather and did nothing.

3. Visited my relatives, then went over to Saintarama's new rehab hospital down the street from them. (It was needed. The building I worked in was ancient and not in a good way). Got another resume to take back to work to the boss for an open position at the Hotel.

4. Finished exercising and feel great.

Now I just wish I wasn't so happy about Bubba's basketball win today at the celebratory lunch we went to afterwards. I'm counting calories and there aren't many left. Whoops!

Still gonna enjoy the day, anyway. There's a Hefeweizen in the fridge with my name on it.

More to come...

I am thankful

Despite all of the horrible things that have happened in the past month at work and at home in the RehabRN household, we are so very, very lucky.

No one in our family (or extended family) will be spending the holidays in the hospital. Hooray!

Bubba is much happier now that he is out of the horrible situation he was in, and I am so, so, so thankful for the caring and support he has gotten at school from the teachers and the staff.

Slowly, but surely, I am seeing progress in my work, even though it's only been a short period of time since I started in my new job. The lights are going on...people get it, patients get it. Now all I have to do is get it all together, synched and working.

I have been one lucky human this year.

Happy Thanksgiving all, wherever you are!

You just never know...

One day, I ask a crazy question, get an answer, submit the details for a national conference, and voila! I'm on stage at one of the largest rehab conferences in the US with my boss.
 
Today, it's a Monday and I decide I need to do a little investigating about saving the department some money. I was talking to one of our docs about "what would you do" to save money. He/she tells me, and along with some guidance from our department NPs (patients would love it, they said), I write up a quickie proposal and ask the big boss if it would work.

By the end of the day, the chief of medicine has added it to the hospital's task force to investigate.

If all goes well, our unit could save our hospital big, big bucks.

Yes, indeed, it is a happy Monday.

Stay tuned...

Terrible tornadoes

Are currently terrorizing the middle of the country, and a really scary story..a tornado hits a hospital in Joplin, MO.

So happy our tribe made it back in one piece, since there were storms aplenty on our way back home. Bubba was content assembling his new toy dinosaur (which has a million pieces) and a trip to Dahey's favorite sandwich place. He wolfed down his Italian sandwich like we hadn't fed him in days. This couch potato child swam and played for hours and he ate everything in sight.

He also slept soundly every single night, which was lovely. Can't wait until the tribe can hit the road again one of these days.

It was nice to be away, though. I, am back to reality: housework, computer work and work at the Hotel. I'll be praying for no tornadoes.

Rolling into the holiday...

And you guessed it, yours truly will be at Madison working when the sun goes down. It may rain in our neck of the woods, so we'll see if there are any fireworks. Thankfully, this year, there isn't anyone with really active PTSD that we have to worry about (sometimes fireworks trigger flashbacks).

For your browsing pleasure, I've found a couple of interesting articles. They're not about fireworks or the holiday, but are interesting nevertheless.

My personal favorite, since I've always wondered about this one: Q: What is the role of probiotics in the the treatment of acute Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea? from the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. It's short, sweet and to the point.

FDA advisers vote to take Vicodin, Percocet off the market.
Will this really happen: Oh, this will be really interesting on our unit. (from www.cnn.com)

Finally, there was a character taking photos of our buildings and grounds recently, but I doubt we will make this list: 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals. I must say, however, that our location and neighborhood is very picturesque, even if our building's not so pretty.

Happy 4th of July to all wherever you are! More to come...stay tuned!

Nuggets for June 19

There were just too many good things I found out there this week, that I had to add this special edition of Nuggets (special because they only usually appear once a week...).

Enjoy!

Rehab-o-rama

As a rehab nurse, I know the FIM, but truthfully, it sometimes drives me crazy when I have to look at someone and when we talk about them in a meeting spit out their FIM numbers. Some are easy, since we take care of bowel and bladder all the time. Those other ones, however, tend to mess me up.

I found this article about how one hospital educated staff on their FIM scoring. It's very clever and involves a cartoon character. Hey, if it works, go for it!

Play nice

Since my OR pal reminded me...It really sucks that they have to write articles like this, but a recent one from AdvanceWEB talks about how nurses in the OR sometimes need to be reminded to be civil.

Relax

Need a quick, contemplative moment? This article by a certified hospice nurse may help you achieve your goal (also from AdvanceWEB).

And from the blogosphere....

Not Nurse Ratched is a new nurse who talks about making her first big med error. Listen up, all you new nurses!

Crass-Pollination had this great post about the inpatient shell game. Just call it bed bingo on steroids or you know it's bad when someone needs to die for you to get a free bed.

And Keith wins the most interesting day post for this one: Bat in a Basket. We have critters all around Madison, but thankfully, no bats.

More Nuggets

They just keep coming! One more day before Honest Abe's 200th birthday. Here are a few interesting articles (honest!) that I've encountered on the internet recently.

The good...
A happy hospital makes for happy patients
You may think this is a joke, but this is a very interesting article. Too bad we all can't work in this type of hospital, where the boss gets calls on off hours!

New surgery may give amputees more control (from http://www.msnbc.com/)
This article discusses how a new surgery will help those with arm amputations.

A great first-person account of prostate cancer treatment: Love in the Time of Prostate Cancer (from http://www.nytimes.com/)

The bad...
Drugs recalled due to manufacturing problems (from www.msnbc.com)

Pentagon reports US troop obesity doubles since 2003 (from http://www.usatoday.com/) Not unusual to see 25+ BMI anymore in our neck of the woods.

And the really ugly...
We deal with a lot of bodily fluids on our unit, but this one is a story about one that is absolutely horrible.