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.

The agony and the ecstasy, part 31

These are themes I've seen over and over in my life and practice this week.

Agony:

• Breaking very expensive equipment. Fibre optic cables that get stuck, then shatter in your hand and cut you as you're trying to gently extricate them. Ugh! I just hope the boss doesn't have a cow. Reported it already. Still terribly sad.
• Rousing the troops to no avail. Really? Not ONE of you could come to check this out? Yes, I know it was last-minute, but  heaven forbid we do anything on a Friday. No one will show (unless it involves free food or money). Disclaimer: I did manage to grab two RNs from the floor wandering by, though. My remote site loved it.
• Get one thing fixed, break another. Thankfully, I'll be able to resolve this, but it will take a while.
• Dahey will be going on a TDY odyssey soon without Bubba and me. If we're lucky, we may be able to visit him before he leaves.

Ecstasy:

• Dr. EI will get his Christmas present (hopefully) by July. All the planets have aligned.
• I finally got into a pilot program which will get our site new, fancy equipment to take rehab and health care out to patients. YIPPEE! (Have waited a LONG time for this, too.)
• Things in this house are starting to come together. New paint adorns a few of the walls and will continue as Bubba and I get ready to tackle some of the easier rooms Dahey left for us.
• Planning a little vacation. Bubba will have another item on his "dreams come true" list complete this summer.

Stay tuned. It's never dull at the Hotel Rehab!

It figures...

My life has had shades of Murphy's Law the whole day.

1. Painters came back to the Hotel, right outside my office. What does this mean? Paint fumes galore. Thankfully, my friends upstairs let me hide out at the spare desk in their area. The painters stayed away from there.

Still don't know if our office staff chief got the painters a work order to paint my office, which hasn't been painted since the Ford Administration (which was also when the building was built...love those historical cornerstones!)

2. WildDog fell down and strained his front leg. Poor thing! He's a geriatric dog.

3. I feel a cold (or other random virus) coming on, just in time for my presentation tomorrow.

I'll be crossing my fingers (and hoping I have a voice tomorrow). Stay tuned.

The good news and the bad news

The good stuff first (aka Why wait until dessert?)

Big boss was thrilled once he saw my article that was published. Immediately sent it to one of the bigwigs.

WildDog survived his yearly trip to the groomer recently, even if he is becoming eccentric in his old age. He tried to swim in a shallow bathtub, the groomer told me. What he most likely did: tried to escape. He hates water with a passion.

I got my toes painted Tutti Frutti Tonga. I skipped the French manicure, though.

The bad news

Brother was readmitted to the hospital...yet again.

In my haste leaving the meeting with travelling partner and the boss, I ran into a concrete pilon at work. I called security on-site to report it, and they did not want to write a report.

Everyone needs a little paint and new plastic once in a while. More to come...