That smell

You know it when you smell it. It's sickly, sweet almost, and nauseating. Once it permeates my nose, I'm done until I can get purge the remnants from my nostrils.

It's the smell of C-diff. I had a patient who had all the classic signs: loose stools, brown going to golden colored stool and the horrific smell. Rehab nurses are used to dealing with bowel, bladder and skin issues. This bowel problem made me want to run out in the arctic tundra that is our parking lot just to get away. And I was starving.

Thank goodness for bleach wipes and my handy, dandy air freshener. The air freshener permeated the room and made the smell go away.

Escaping and taking a nice, long walk helped, along with my lunch. It's amazing how therapeutic a lunch break and a walk at work can make you feel.

More to come...

Reality bites

Yes I'm still recuperating from my recent travels. It was fun, but tiring.

I did my presentation to lots of applause (along with my partner). Being scheduled after lunch is entertaining, since you get an upfront view of everyone in the room falling asleep. "No one was nodding off while you talked," my traveling partner said.

"Au contraire," I said. "You'd have seen them all snoozing from my seat." Luckily, she got some action shots of my speaking partner and I fielding questions at the end.

I got to see lots of people I haven't seen lately, including some folks who retired. They came for the CEUs.  We had a big group of folks go to dinner at one of these Food Channel-famous joints. It was interesting. After taking a stealth photo of the namesake owner talking to my traveling partner, I was waiting for security to come and throw me out. Needless to say, we're not famous, so said proprietor was not keen on a photo with us or my traveling partner, who told Mr. Big how excited she was to be there. Bubba, however, was impressed. (After watching all those episodes of MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, in addition to all the other food shows I miss...)

Thankfully, one of the folks who attended and works in a satellite office, knew that it was Restaurant Week in town and got us the "special menu" (similar to a prix fixe in normal places). It was good. The only thing that was annoying was the overcharging on the alcohol. I paid $14 for a glass of chianti when my traveling partner and I could have bought a bottle for the price of two glasses.

However, the happiest part of the trip, besides hanging out with my speaking partner and talking to the chief of staff of the organization (he/she was our main speaker one day), was escaping a hurricane. Despite Dr. H's insistence that he survived many a hurricane during his years in Florida, I was not keen on adding one to my own bucket list, thank you.

I made it home in time to do some chores, check my packed suitcases, then go out West with Bubba and Dahey to Dahey's niece's wedding. She's a sweet girl who was a guest book assistant at our wedding many years ago. Since then, she must have liked weddings, since she went into the wedding business herself. Needless to say, she had a whole lot of stuff and events. It was a busy weekend. Lots of food, drink and hanging out with the relatives, in-laws, and outlaws.

We even went on a horseback ride near one of the local wineries with the bride's Uncle Beau. Beau's brother, Bob, a professional rodeo star, had a party at his house for us when we were done. Bubba wanted nothing with riding a horse on the trails, so he went with the older folks on the wagon ride. However, he did ride the rodeo star's favorite horse, Biff at his house. We have lots of photos of Bubba smiling on Biff and he kept saying no, every time Uncle Beau asked if he wanted to get off. Thankfully, the other kids were busy playing in a water slide and didn't notice Biff was busy after a while. Despite keeping him up late, looking at those photos made him smile.

Thankfully, we didn't encounter any rattlesnakes or wild pigs in Bob's front yard as we were leaving. It was really dark and we could see the stars on a clear night. It was fun.

The day of the wedding we rested after all the excitement, because it was a long night. We went to the wedding at 5, had drinks after, then dinner, speeches, and dancing. Since everything was outside next to a famous creek side hotel, we also saw some wildlife. Mona, one of Dahey's relative's wives screamed when she saw a huge beetle on her side of the table. I wish we had a video of the encounter, because all of a sudden one of the flower girls appeared on scene. The bug rescuer was Dahey's five year old niece, Ella. She promptly rescued the flightless beetle and released him on a tree near the creek. She was smiling from ear-to-ear. Her father said, "Just call her my Crocodile Dundee."

After all the wedding excitement, we got up early and saw the Grand Canyon. It was clear, pretty and windy. Bubba was most impressed with the ambulance we saw about halfway through our hike. We heard no screams or saw any hysterics, so we kept moving along, since help had arrived. That definitely was one of the bucket list items I got to check off my list.

We returned home at the end of the holiday, then I went to work. It was tiring. I'm finally feeling like I'm not jet-lagged anymore.

So now it's almost the weekend. Hope you enjoy yours wherever you are. Hug your family members (human and furry) today. Life is short.

Pills, possibilities and picadillos

Ah, what a week it's been. Starting off with Pi Day on Monday, I feel as if I've been sprinting everywhere. Spouting might have been correct, though. After I had my lunch and ordered a new computer (which was absolutely crazy--for both the discount and the credit card hold), I showed my friend K. the new office, since she's rarely over anymore. I look up, and there it is: a huge leak on one of the ceiling tiles.

Since my office is in an older part of the Hotel, leaks are not that uncommon. After three days, moving from this room to that room, they finally finished the search for the leak. They found it in one of the radiator lines upstairs. I was ecstatic that the leak was repaired and I didn't have to wonder if the tile would come crashing down while a person was visiting me.

The CDC also published guidelines this week about opioid prescriptions. Our folks in the SU hope it works. They had another unruly customer in the building who required a two person assist, I mean escort out of the building by security. On top of that, we have a very troublesome patient, who's behavior is escalating. It's making things difficult for the staff.

For picadillos, Google says I must remind all of my European visitors that we use cookies here on Blogger. I don't use the data, so I hope you don't mind.

Despite all the mess, today is St. Patrick's Day. I celebrated by wearing my green and eating corned beef and cabbage at the lunch one organization had for the staff  and patients at the Hotel. I remember that without those Irish ancestors (or some like these) I probably wouldn't be here today.

More to come...

Back to the grind

The polar vortex arrived in force yesterday. Bubba was out of school so we packed a lunch and visited our doctor (since he sometimes runs late). All went well and we actually got out earlier than expected.

I sat at my computer so long working on my PublicU presentation that I hurt last night. Oh, the back and other muscles should balk when I'm awake and have plenty of time to walk around.

Tuesdays after a holiday always seem like Mondays.

Oh, the excitement the day will bring.

Stay tuned...

What a wonderful Monday

If you call getting prepped for the upcoming full moon wonderful. Sure!

My day in a nutshell:

1. Go to do your first rounds and they're looking for Dr. X. I go to the clinic Dr. X is usually in, and they say, no, Dr. X is off today.

2. Get on the elevator to go to your next part of rounds (your unit) and Dr. X. sends me a text saying "I'm here, where's the patient."

3. Call the cavalry, explain Dr. X. really is here now, so go find the patient. Cavalry is successful.

4. Run down several flights of stairs, find Dr. X and then see the patient coming in. Whew!

5. Return back to the ranch to figure out what is going on with a pending problem. No one is around. Finally get answers after two text messages and three phone calls. Problem not resolved until tomorrow.

6. Find out person you have worked with for five years is leaving her current job.

7. Find out people are retiring in droves due to pressure, illness and just plain ready. Sad on some, not on others.

8. Try to fix a patient's problem, but the help for that is not working today.

There were some good things, though.

1. The day was beautiful.

2. I went home for lunch and made a BLT. It was good, even though I set off the smoke detector.

3. I saw an incredible Buckeye butterfly today. It stopped long enough for me to snap a photo and send to my dear husband Dahey who collected butterflies as a child.

4. My friend's husband is getting stronger. He will also be getting a longer course of treatment. Neuro wanted five more doses, nephro wanted no more. They decided to meet (almost) in the middle: two.

Sure beats watching a neurologist and a nephrologist duke it out in his room.

I'm resting up hoping tomorrow is even better. Stay tuned.

Fun, fun, fun

So much fun on my last day of vacation. Visited my sister, went to lunch with Bubba, got his favorite treats, saw a new art exhibit and went to a local history museum, which had a new exhibit on one of my favorite things: coffee, and included samples.

Life is good. Here's hoping next week is good as that cold brew they served (freaking amazing).

More to come...

Dear Surgeon

When you come on the floor, could you actually talk? Grunting and pointing are things Bubba did when he was three years old. Besides, you're not in the OR with a mask on any more. It scares the patients. They think you never smile. (BTW I win bets when you do.)

And finally, please, please, please, do not poke around on folks who have pressure ulcers near bones.
I do not like finding out a patient is in a pool of blood when I turn him/her for the other provider to see his/her wounds because you were just poking around to see what would happen. (Just ask me--I've seen exsanguination like this before.) Dr. X  can't see anything with all the blood and I have to get our people to get your people, and then you can't take off on time to go eat your lunch on the veranda with your wife.

It is not fun to volume deplete someone here at the Hotel when getting blood products here is a major, hours long ordeal. We don't have an ICU, so if you screw up, we call 911 and pray.

Thanking you in advance (and I promise I won't trip you in the hallway),

Sincerely not,

RehabRN

TGIF fun

It was gorgeous! The pollen may be high and driving Bubba crazy, but it was beautiful. I took my friend K. to Washington to get some admin stuff out of the way and I checked in on a new patient in our acute wing. We stopped by and grabbed lunch on the way back to the Hotel, so I could sit outside at work on the patio and enjoy the glory of a bright, sunny day.

K. had lots to do so she had to go back to her desk in the inventory department. It was sad we couldn't enjoy lunch together. I really miss her now that she's back in that group full-time. We don't see each other often, even though, we're on the same hospital campus.

I got a lot of work done, because I opened the blinds to look out regularly, and whenever I could, I stepped out the front door and just looked around. As my Irish grandma used to say, you need to go outside "and get the stink blown off you." Maybe life's not a smelly, but yes, fresh air is good!

My favorite specialist (Dr. E.I.) came to see us for a Grand Rounds that Hippy Nurse planned on her favorite topic. However, HN didn't quite complete her task: she forgot to show up today. I'll remind her (and her nurse manager) that she's really not too good on completing tasks. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. Working behind her on the floor is a nightmare. Some things she does beautifully (she can get an IV in just about anyone) but some things really vary (like charting, turning and paying attention to detail).  They vary because  it depends on how enthralled she is on Facebook that day. Other staff and patients complain, but nothing (including her work) never seems to get done some days. Needless to say, other shifts get angry. This is just one (of many reasons) I don't miss working the floor.

But nothing could stop me from running out the door when the day was done. It was just too pretty.

Hope your weekend is beautiful, too, wherever you are.

Six kinds of crazy

1. You don't get enough sleep, then have to go to work. Ugh!

2. Your procrastinating husband decides to empty a storage locker on the day before the rent on it is due. You're required to come along to haul back all the c#$p, er, stuff.

3. You find your lunch in the office fridge after it had been there too long.

4.  People who really need to read e-mails don't do it. Thankfully, that read receipt thing on your e-mail system allows you to prove to the manager, that, yes, indeed, the Slug may have heard you, but you have no idea if he/she comprehended, since there's no proof he/she can read.

5. Your colleagues elsewhere in the Hotel ask "Why So and So doesn't do this/that anymore?" Hmm...ask So and So maybe?

6. You schedule a patient to see a specialist, as part of your role as a care coordinator in your hospital system. Right after you schedule the patient, the patient's attending MD finds you to tell you he/she's already going for a procedure, so can the specialist see him/her while he/she's there? Panic ensues. You calmly make three phone calls and get a plan together. Finally, you get the details done and get to go home.

And that ends your six kinds of crazy day. More excitement for another day. Enjoy yours wherever you are!

Gotta love the men

I go to my gynecologist and he's asking what my secret is to losing seven pounds since last year. I tell him I watch carbs and sweets.

He must have missed lunch because we had a lengthy discussion about donuts. (Fortunately, his office is close to a donut shop and within 2 miles of a cable network rated one).

Then I come home and read Dr. Grumpy's post about nurses over at kevinmd.com. Aww! I know who appreciates me, and who doesn't.

Yes, indeed, it was a good day. Gotta love the men!

Bonding with Bubba

Oh, the fun and excitement of living with a tween boy who is spring break staycationing.

1. Bubba thinks he's immune to taking baths or showers (and he loves swimming). I'm reminding him that he really does need to clean the cracks and crevices more than he does.

2. Since Dahey had to work, I took him to soccer. His team lost. He was sad. Dahey got updates via text and phone, though. The team got lots of shots, but nothing would go into the goal.

3. We took my sister out to lunch. Both of them are never happier than in an eating establishment. No one is ever bored with food around.

4. Movies are on the agenda, but since it was later in the day when we got home, I decided to hold off on seeing  Mr. Peabody and Sherman, but we had to get Thor.

I was so tired from my crazy week, I promptly feel asleep during most of the movie.

Ah, togetherness...

The joys of jury duty

Jury duty can be a blessing, or a curse.

Some of the perks/hazards/interesting things: 
 
1. It gets you out of the office. Plenty of interesting folks hang around courthouses. And even more pay traffic (or parking) tickets.

2. You could get sequestered.

2. You know it will get interesting if the folks can't follow directions at the metal detectors.

3. It's also sad seeing the little old people there (many because they need a conservator.)

4. At lunch time, you can eat, shop and roam around. (Lunches for court staff under an hour are rare in our neck of the woods).

5.  Finally, you realize that your job's not so bad after all, your family's not totally silly and the food at the Hotel cafeteria really is pretty good.

And soon enough, it will be time to go home again, back to reality.

That is all...stay tuned.

Friday, Friday

It was a good day knowing that the weekend was coming!

I got a few things done before one of my coworkers comes back, and we review paperwork (joy!) from one inspection,and I help the senior NP and nurse manager with some other stuff related to another inspection. Panic, of course, ensues when people realize (at the last minute) that things got to be done.

Dahey brought me lunch. I was starved, so it was all lovely! 

I'm ready for the weekend! More later...

Friday the 13th

It's come and gone.

A little fire, a little ice, a lot of interesting stuff. How many fire alarms did we have today? I have no idea because I stopped counting after the first four. Old buildings are interesting.

I just wish the doc who was in my meeting hadn't fallen asleep with boredom. Dad (the chief of his section) made no efforts to keep him awake. I was the bad nurse, as I commented when he went by, "Hope I didn't disturb your nap too much." Like an insolent child, he glared at me. I really wanted to say, "I have lots of practice with a little kid." but I was nice.

It wasn't all bad, though. My husband even got me lunch today on his day off. I worked with some really nice patients. I felt like I got things done.

The day ended, and it was beautiful outside. It was worth the wait.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are!

Oh happy day

I should be worried, but so far, I've done all I can do until next week.

I have to teach at a caregiver seminar with some folks I haven't seen in ages. I can't wait! I hope they deliver us a very good lunch, because the crazy doctor I work with will be there, too.

If he accuses me of taking all the caffeinated coffee this time, I will wreak havoc.

Stay tuned.

Field trip!

Bubba had the time of his life with the kids from school. They went to the tallest skyscraper in Major Metro City, had lunch at a restaurant (arranged by the PTO) and rode the bus a LONG way.

It's all he talked about for an hour when he got home. You'd have thought he met a bunch of celebrities in the elevator.

My day was busy troubleshooting. So glad the weekend is coming!

Stay tuned.

The first day of Spring

Yes, it's spring on the calendar, but you can't tell in RehabLand. It's freezing!

I went to the allergist for the first time in a LONG time. (my personal rite of spring). Discovered that I really do need to change up my meds so I can be less stuffy, or at least have a less stuffy nose.

Even though it was cold, I stood outside waiting by PrivateU to get lunch from a food truck. Not just any food truck but an exceptional Asian fusion one. To top it off, a pink cupcake truck was parked nearby.

Life really is sweet...and lunch was surely wonderful today.

Stay tuned...more to come.

On your last day

Of summer vacation, you could just veg out and play your video games all day.

Nope. Bubba hung out with Dahey and had a grand old time. First, the daring duo headed to Ye Old Pancake House, where Bubba did a number on a Two of Everything platter (2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes) and helped Dahey eat about 1/2 of his waffles.

Next, after that big meal, Bubba and Dahey headed to the links at the driving range/golf course. Nothing like hitting a bucket of balls with Dad, then using him as your caddy on nine holes. Dahey says at least Bubba's not putting with his shoe like Granddad who often cheated, I mean "shoe putted". This was one of the first things I learned about my father-in-law when I got married from his brother.

Then Bubba and Dahey went to lunch. (yes, after all of that!) I called at actual lunch time (about 1130ish) and told them I was ready to leave the Hotel after my training in the morning. I came home, took them to one of my favorite lunch places where Bubba decided he needed to eat half of my bag of potato chips and part of Dahey's brownie.

I took them home after lunch and went back to work. The boys vegged the rest of the afternoon and played baseball after Bubba had dinner.

"I had a lot of fun with Dad, Mom." Bubba said. And both of them looked content.

So it really was a great way to spend the last day of summer vacation: dad bonding with lad.

Monday madness, part 107

Oh, I love Mondays, when they go quickly without incident. When does that happen, you ask? Maybe once or twice a month, if I'm lucky.

Today just was classic.

1. You're waiting for two patients to show up. One shows up for clinic. One doesn't show.  The four calls you made to his/her nursing home to get him/her to the appointment were a waste. I really love transportation companies when they screw up!

2. The crazy specialist you have to work with forgets how to code his encounters. The coding staff are off today. He/she decides to do something crazy and puts his notes in incorrectly. Nice...

3. You forget your lunch at home...in the fridge. All the while, as you wait for Dr. Crazy, you're dreaming about lunch.

Despite the weirdness that appeared, disappeared and reappeared, things did get better.

1. I escaped! Out of the building! For my ENTIRE lunch time. Hallelujah!

2. Since all the patients were done for the day, I drove down the road to my favorite coffee place and got a pound to take home and a drink. I was running late so a lady waiting for another store gave me her place in line. I thanked her profusely and gave her my coupon for a super cheap drink while she waited.

3. I finished the day, slowly, surely and very nicely. And away I went...

Stay tuned...

Misspent vacation day #23

1. Go rounding up your own medical records for a specialty appointment later this summer. Now do you understand why I like linked, interactive electronic health records? Time spent: 1 hour and 30 minutes. I had to fill out one hospital authorization, wait for one CD of images, and go to two physician offices which were, of course, each on the different sides of the campus.

Thankfully, one doc was near where I parked the car.

2. Dig through garage to find bike that husband has lovingly piled the dining room baseboard on top of in the pile. Get bike to gas station and only one tire inflates. Other tire zero.

Time to take old reliable bicycle to the shop.

Outside of the fun administrative details, I did get to see Giacomo again. Haven't been around his parts since Spring Break with Bubba. He's heading for the hills for two weeks soon but has to come back on weekends since he can't get anyone to work for him. Such is the life of those spiritual leaders, except this one.

I also got to have lunch with my old right side seat mate from nursing school. Yes, we sat way up in the front row and had a grand old time with all the instructors. I miss being around her. She is so darned funny. Reminds me of one of my very best friends. One of these days, the two of them will have to meet.

Now I'm off to my regularly scheduled rendezvous with Bubba. Joy! Any day away from work is fun!

Stay tuned...