Yes, the day after a holiday sucks on so many levels. People who can't take it (or imbibed too much) take off.
Otherwise, it seems like any other Tuesday. Except today didn't seem like a day after a holiday or Tuesday. Today, after our regular weekly meeting, (which was blissfully short) had a terrible pall.
One of my favorite interdisciplinary team members, C. is dying. Dying as we had our meeting, and were talking about our current crop of rehab patients. It reminded me of one other time where I went into report and the boss told us, "As we speak Mr. Warhero is dying." He was right: Warhero died that night. To me, how small and insignificant the meeting seemed today.
I finally left the meeting (after our chaplain prayed for him/her) and it got a little better. I buried myself in a project or two. As a result, I had to look at the way things have been going over the past few years. Thankfully, they are getting better. C. helped us to get where we are. C. helped inspire other folks in his/her discipline to do the same. We are not where I want us to be for our little group in the Hotel Rehab (I thought we'd be there three years ago...) but we are closer.
I was sad for so many things when C. retired last year, due to health reasons. Sad that I could no longer go down the hall and see him/her. Sad that we'd never get to work together and get your rehab program where it rightly belonged. Sad that I knew this day would eventually come.
'Twas a pity it came so soon. Godspeed you on your journey, C, and may the angels greet you and lead you to paradise. You've earned it.
Showing posts with label journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journey. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Paint a picture
Some things aren't really believable until someone actually sees them. I heard this story recently and had to share because it is both hysterically funny and horrible on a professional level.
Our wound RN Dee rounds on patients at the Hotel in our hospital system, wherever they are. Her counterpart at Washington got a consult from a resident for a "new pressure ulcer", and said "You have to take it." Since she's conscientious, and likes the patient, she drives up to Washington from the Hotel that day (since pressure ulcers require immediate intervention assessments: mattress, etc.) Mr. I is sick and no one knows if he'll make it.
She gets to the ICU Mr. I is in and the nurses tell her, "I can't believe he came from there (meaning Hotel) with a new pressure ulcer." Dee is stunned, because Mr. I looked fine just before she left for a couple days off.
Dee visits with Mr. I. He knows she's there and shakes his head. She rolls him over to look at the "pressure ulcer". Mr. I. really needed a washcloth. Once she got one, she realized that he did not have a pressure ulcer, he had a rectal discharge from his colostomy.
Apparently, the resident and none of the nurses realized this was what happened. This consult, time, money, and energy could have been spared by a single washcloth.
Somehow, I really don't think that kind of picture is what's going to get us on the Magnet journey at the Hotel.
More later.
Our wound RN Dee rounds on patients at the Hotel in our hospital system, wherever they are. Her counterpart at Washington got a consult from a resident for a "new pressure ulcer", and said "You have to take it." Since she's conscientious, and likes the patient, she drives up to Washington from the Hotel that day (since pressure ulcers require immediate intervention assessments: mattress, etc.) Mr. I is sick and no one knows if he'll make it.
She gets to the ICU Mr. I is in and the nurses tell her, "I can't believe he came from there (meaning Hotel) with a new pressure ulcer." Dee is stunned, because Mr. I looked fine just before she left for a couple days off.
Dee visits with Mr. I. He knows she's there and shakes his head. She rolls him over to look at the "pressure ulcer". Mr. I. really needed a washcloth. Once she got one, she realized that he did not have a pressure ulcer, he had a rectal discharge from his colostomy.
Apparently, the resident and none of the nurses realized this was what happened. This consult, time, money, and energy could have been spared by a single washcloth.
Somehow, I really don't think that kind of picture is what's going to get us on the Magnet journey at the Hotel.
More later.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Follow your arrow
We talk a lot about how we work together as a team, but sometimes, it seems like we miss the point.
I have had to work with Manglement to bring nurses into the Hotel. One manager has retooled all the interview questions (yes, we use them for a number of reasons) to ask questions about the team.
One nurse wanted to transfer from one unit to another. No dice because this nurse has had an issue with the hiring manager in the past. We also had other unsuitable candidates. Why? Because some of them just don't come prepared. They don't sell themselves. You give them time and they don't know how to do it!
So, if you're on a journey, and want to go somewhere new, follow your arrow. Learn along the way. Just because something fails once or twice, or even three to thirteen times, you will eventually get to success. Listen. Find mentors and read the signs along the way.
Enjoy your weekend wherever you may roam.
I have had to work with Manglement to bring nurses into the Hotel. One manager has retooled all the interview questions (yes, we use them for a number of reasons) to ask questions about the team.
One nurse wanted to transfer from one unit to another. No dice because this nurse has had an issue with the hiring manager in the past. We also had other unsuitable candidates. Why? Because some of them just don't come prepared. They don't sell themselves. You give them time and they don't know how to do it!
So, if you're on a journey, and want to go somewhere new, follow your arrow. Learn along the way. Just because something fails once or twice, or even three to thirteen times, you will eventually get to success. Listen. Find mentors and read the signs along the way.
Enjoy your weekend wherever you may roam.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
On the cusp
Drugs are not always necessary. Belief in recovery always is. ~Norman Cousins
New beginnings: the Hotel got some much needed rehabbing and the occupants (staff and patients) are overjoyed. Nothing like new stuff to make people happy. The SU got some upgrades and will get more as the remodeling goes on down the way.
The end of the odyssey: my sick relative is finally going home after a trip through one hospital (twice) and one nursing home. Problems can indeed by solved eventually if you have a nervy nurse who just keeps asking questions. (The nervy nurse would be me.)
The beginning of the end of the great grad school journey: I have my date at PublicU for my exams, now all I have to do is work on my paper and my slide show and I'll be done. Hard to believe I will be done in less than two months.
Back to work....more to come.
New beginnings: the Hotel got some much needed rehabbing and the occupants (staff and patients) are overjoyed. Nothing like new stuff to make people happy. The SU got some upgrades and will get more as the remodeling goes on down the way.
The end of the odyssey: my sick relative is finally going home after a trip through one hospital (twice) and one nursing home. Problems can indeed by solved eventually if you have a nervy nurse who just keeps asking questions. (The nervy nurse would be me.)
The beginning of the end of the great grad school journey: I have my date at PublicU for my exams, now all I have to do is work on my paper and my slide show and I'll be done. Hard to believe I will be done in less than two months.
Back to work....more to come.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Open letter to the soon-to-be "not new" nurses
Dear New Nurses,
Can you believe you've been signing your name with RN behind it for nearly a year? We can't either. It's always nice to have new people on the unit.
Don't forget...
Speed will come. It gets even faster as you go along.
You will still learn something new every day. That's why K., the charge nurse, who's been here 30+ years is still here. Never a dull moment.
Your new ideas are still new and fresh. Keep learning and don't forget to share what you know.
Just remember...
This is work. Not an after-school gathering at a watering hole as some people seem to make it. Yes, work is a four letter word. Not a bad one, just happens to have four letters. Work never killed anyone.
Help is also a four letter word. Don't be shy. Ask people if you can help them when you're free (which, incidentally is also four letters). Feel free to do stuff people like, but don't always have time to do--stock supplies, get iced water, empty urinals and report the results.
Don't be a slug. We already have one (two, three...) already. That job is already taken, and will not endear you to management. It may not get you much at all, outside of acquiring a bad habit and an eventual pink slip.
Dream and dream big. Make your plans and go for them, be it climbing mountains, climbing the stairs, or even going into management. This may mean more work and/or school or liberal combinations of both, but don't rely on your youthful looks forever.
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” Greg Anderson
I'm glad you're here to do it with us.
Sincerely,
RehabRN
Can you believe you've been signing your name with RN behind it for nearly a year? We can't either. It's always nice to have new people on the unit.
Don't forget...
Speed will come. It gets even faster as you go along.
You will still learn something new every day. That's why K., the charge nurse, who's been here 30+ years is still here. Never a dull moment.
Your new ideas are still new and fresh. Keep learning and don't forget to share what you know.
Just remember...
This is work. Not an after-school gathering at a watering hole as some people seem to make it. Yes, work is a four letter word. Not a bad one, just happens to have four letters. Work never killed anyone.
Help is also a four letter word. Don't be shy. Ask people if you can help them when you're free (which, incidentally is also four letters). Feel free to do stuff people like, but don't always have time to do--stock supplies, get iced water, empty urinals and report the results.
Don't be a slug. We already have one (two, three...) already. That job is already taken, and will not endear you to management. It may not get you much at all, outside of acquiring a bad habit and an eventual pink slip.
Dream and dream big. Make your plans and go for them, be it climbing mountains, climbing the stairs, or even going into management. This may mean more work and/or school or liberal combinations of both, but don't rely on your youthful looks forever.
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” Greg Anderson
I'm glad you're here to do it with us.
Sincerely,
RehabRN
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