Some people go right away and check on their people on first rounds?
Some people go off in a group and go straight to the internet and shop instead?
What are the consequences?
Some people have everything done when they want and know where their people are located in the room.
Others, go to their rooms, after shopping, or when summoned, when their people are located on the floor, with the wheelchair to the left, the slipper to the right and staring up at the ceiling.
Just another thing I wish our boss would enforce..rules. We are so lucky Mr. X. did not get hurt badly.
Stay tuned...
Showing posts with label rounds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rounds. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Juxtapositions
A wild night on the floor recently at the Hotel:
One of my patients (aka RR for Ring-Ring) rings the light constantly. He "acts" upset that I'm his nurse (not really--just for show). He gets his heart set on delivery food that was turned away once, and finally, when he's totally dejected and swears it'll never show up...in walks the delivery guy. DG gets a huge tip and RR gets the meal he's been dreaming about.
Even with RR, I'm able to work on homework, in between rounds, look up an article, write a review and study for my exam.
And on the way home, while throwing my book bag in the front seat, I pull a muscle in my back (yes, that book really is heavy, even if it's small!). Despite hot shower, massage and an Aleve, it's still sore.
So yours truly takes out the goodies for the open book test which ends on Sunday at midnight. And despite the pain, I get an A. Thank you P., my class partner, for encouraging me to take my time.
It was easy...the back still hurts. I'd be awake anyway tending it. Why not take a test at the same time?
More later....
One of my patients (aka RR for Ring-Ring) rings the light constantly. He "acts" upset that I'm his nurse (not really--just for show). He gets his heart set on delivery food that was turned away once, and finally, when he's totally dejected and swears it'll never show up...in walks the delivery guy. DG gets a huge tip and RR gets the meal he's been dreaming about.
Even with RR, I'm able to work on homework, in between rounds, look up an article, write a review and study for my exam.
And on the way home, while throwing my book bag in the front seat, I pull a muscle in my back (yes, that book really is heavy, even if it's small!). Despite hot shower, massage and an Aleve, it's still sore.
So yours truly takes out the goodies for the open book test which ends on Sunday at midnight. And despite the pain, I get an A. Thank you P., my class partner, for encouraging me to take my time.
It was easy...the back still hurts. I'd be awake anyway tending it. Why not take a test at the same time?
More later....
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wild and wonderful
That's been my story at work lately. The transition from one shift to another sometimes can be wild.
One day, I walk in, get going and the gates of Hades open all at once. Nurse Assistant has a patient who's got shortness of breath and "looks funny". Well, he's not acting funny, but probably is a little shaky from the albuterol he just took. Get him situated, tell docs, do vitals, get more albuterol. In a few minutes, patient looks happy as a clam and is chatting away as the nurse assistant gets him ready.
Another day, the specialists round. They like me. Not only do I get to deal with my patients, I have to help them with paperwork on a couple of others, because I know how to work the computers for that feature, even though, all I do is act as a witness. Gee, I feel so special! Thankfully, boss and company only follow these people around once a week. Other nurses thank their lucky stars that they don't get "picked". I've known the specialist for a while before I came to Madison. He can be loud and obnoxious, but underneath, he's a softie. He just doesn't want any of the nurses to know that.
Doc Specialist is also a running doc. It seems like the specialists drift to one of two categories--they either golf or they run. Our leader is the exception. He's too brainy to do either; although, if I had to guess, he'd probably fall in a lot easier with the runners rather than the golfers.
So after all the wild and crazy antics, I get a phone call. Miraculously, I got a scholarship for grad school. They confirmed I was there to send the fax to me. I looked it over and saw it was for the entire amount of the program. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I'll have some other restrictions and requirements as a result, but my financial burden will be lessened. I was so relieved. I don't have to keep doing number-crunching to figure out how many extra shifts I need to pick up to pay for each semester. Now, I just have to concentrate on getting my work done and my schoolwork done...just like Bubba, who starts school soon. Should be fun getting into school routine after some time away from it.
More to come...stay tuned.
One day, I walk in, get going and the gates of Hades open all at once. Nurse Assistant has a patient who's got shortness of breath and "looks funny". Well, he's not acting funny, but probably is a little shaky from the albuterol he just took. Get him situated, tell docs, do vitals, get more albuterol. In a few minutes, patient looks happy as a clam and is chatting away as the nurse assistant gets him ready.
Another day, the specialists round. They like me. Not only do I get to deal with my patients, I have to help them with paperwork on a couple of others, because I know how to work the computers for that feature, even though, all I do is act as a witness. Gee, I feel so special! Thankfully, boss and company only follow these people around once a week. Other nurses thank their lucky stars that they don't get "picked". I've known the specialist for a while before I came to Madison. He can be loud and obnoxious, but underneath, he's a softie. He just doesn't want any of the nurses to know that.
Doc Specialist is also a running doc. It seems like the specialists drift to one of two categories--they either golf or they run. Our leader is the exception. He's too brainy to do either; although, if I had to guess, he'd probably fall in a lot easier with the runners rather than the golfers.
So after all the wild and crazy antics, I get a phone call. Miraculously, I got a scholarship for grad school. They confirmed I was there to send the fax to me. I looked it over and saw it was for the entire amount of the program. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I'll have some other restrictions and requirements as a result, but my financial burden will be lessened. I was so relieved. I don't have to keep doing number-crunching to figure out how many extra shifts I need to pick up to pay for each semester. Now, I just have to concentrate on getting my work done and my schoolwork done...just like Bubba, who starts school soon. Should be fun getting into school routine after some time away from it.
More to come...stay tuned.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Taming the monsters
Yes, the full moon is coming, so you always know things will get exciting...crabby patients and even the occasional homicidal one. Well, at least the docs will enjoy talking about that this week.
My particular monster is the paperwork monster. Last week, I finally filled out my loan benefit forms, so we'll see if the almighty out-of-state (OOS) office approves of them. I calmed down my own homocidal tendencies re: this, since different person is in charge of submissions for this benefit. New person told me OOS office aware of idiot who caused all the work in the first place, so I will be crossing my fingers.
I'm finishing the rest of the grad paperwork and checking out more financial resources. At least, all my computer time is not in vain if I can get some funding somewhere. One large resource site with a huge chunk of cash will have submissions in August. Hooray!
Besides the paperwork, work has been interesting. The first night we got to send out one of our regulars due to possible MI. My other patients were really pretty easy, even if one or two was slightly demented. You know it will be an interesting evening when your patient rings the call light, then says, "I forgot why I called." Repeat 25 times and you have my shift the other day. Thankfully, I figured a way around that. I made sure I rounded on someone very regularly and got him/her comfy while I was in the room each time. The next shift...hardly any calls.
In my free time, I started looking at the CRRN material again. Happily, this exam is in December, so I have some time to study before it. It's not a requirement for employment at my job, but since I started in rehab nursing, it's been my goal. It also helps that work wants more certified people, particularly to maintain our CARF certification and to eventually get Magnet status for our hospital.
So since I have some free time coming up, I'm going to get some work done around here. More to come...
My particular monster is the paperwork monster. Last week, I finally filled out my loan benefit forms, so we'll see if the almighty out-of-state (OOS) office approves of them. I calmed down my own homocidal tendencies re: this, since different person is in charge of submissions for this benefit. New person told me OOS office aware of idiot who caused all the work in the first place, so I will be crossing my fingers.
I'm finishing the rest of the grad paperwork and checking out more financial resources. At least, all my computer time is not in vain if I can get some funding somewhere. One large resource site with a huge chunk of cash will have submissions in August. Hooray!
Besides the paperwork, work has been interesting. The first night we got to send out one of our regulars due to possible MI. My other patients were really pretty easy, even if one or two was slightly demented. You know it will be an interesting evening when your patient rings the call light, then says, "I forgot why I called." Repeat 25 times and you have my shift the other day. Thankfully, I figured a way around that. I made sure I rounded on someone very regularly and got him/her comfy while I was in the room each time. The next shift...hardly any calls.
In my free time, I started looking at the CRRN material again. Happily, this exam is in December, so I have some time to study before it. It's not a requirement for employment at my job, but since I started in rehab nursing, it's been my goal. It also helps that work wants more certified people, particularly to maintain our CARF certification and to eventually get Magnet status for our hospital.
So since I have some free time coming up, I'm going to get some work done around here. More to come...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Get up and go Monday
I managed to get up and go, even if I felt a little slow. So did a couple of our patients.
Our first admission was on site when I arrived around 0715. This is highly unusual, but this patient came from home and was not picked up, so this added another element of excitement to my day when I went into report and I found out that I'd be the admitting nurse.
Happily, I got my assessment and some paperwork out of the way before I started getting my other two patients ready. One of the volunteers set up one of my patients and he got ready and I didn't have to do too much.
I got him ready and up in his chair, and away I went to the next patient. The next guy was a little perturbed that he had to wait for the docs, but that's what happens sometimes when they're rounding and talking. Better late than never to therapy!
The rest of the day went reasonably well, and I even got to eat my lunch by 1330. I got my patient to therapy for all of the afternoon session. He went back to bed and watched a movie on his laptop, which thoroughly entranced his roommate, who had never seen a DVD before.
It was all good, even if I escaped a couple of minutes late. More fun tomorrow...we'll see how crazy the weather is! Stay tuned!
Our first admission was on site when I arrived around 0715. This is highly unusual, but this patient came from home and was not picked up, so this added another element of excitement to my day when I went into report and I found out that I'd be the admitting nurse.
Happily, I got my assessment and some paperwork out of the way before I started getting my other two patients ready. One of the volunteers set up one of my patients and he got ready and I didn't have to do too much.
I got him ready and up in his chair, and away I went to the next patient. The next guy was a little perturbed that he had to wait for the docs, but that's what happens sometimes when they're rounding and talking. Better late than never to therapy!
The rest of the day went reasonably well, and I even got to eat my lunch by 1330. I got my patient to therapy for all of the afternoon session. He went back to bed and watched a movie on his laptop, which thoroughly entranced his roommate, who had never seen a DVD before.
It was all good, even if I escaped a couple of minutes late. More fun tomorrow...we'll see how crazy the weather is! Stay tuned!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Back to work
Oh, I had to wake up this morning to the alarm clock, which I have not done in days!
I got up early so I could make my breakfast and lunch and get ready to take Bubba to school. Dahey leaves before we do, so he was out and off to work in the dark.
I got Bubba to his latchkey program and away to work I went. I checked my e-mails and boy, there were a lot! The most exciting one was the invite to a special out-of-town conference in November. I have to get all my paperwork done tomorrow so I can go. The admin upstairs, L., has been assigned to help me. (You know it's going to be interesting when she tells you that you have to fill out a 12 page form...in order to book your flight.)
I had two patients I haven't had in a long time and I was the med nurse on one hall. It kept me busy. Today, the docs make group rounds to inspect wounds, so this is also interesting. I try to hang out in the room, undo the dressing, then get everyone cleaned up. They got into my room early, but I was really busy with these two guys...and their roommate had me helping him, too. Mr. R. is very needy, which is not unusual for a COPDer. He's always worried about something--his mask, his bowel program, his turns. He looked a bit ashen today, which is very scary in light of the fact that even with his fragile health, he's a full code. I pray we don't have to do CPR on him while I'm working!
I met some new LPNs visiting us with the recruiter. We're looking for them, so we'll see if they come to work for us!
More tomorrow...getting tired and I need to go to bed!
I got up early so I could make my breakfast and lunch and get ready to take Bubba to school. Dahey leaves before we do, so he was out and off to work in the dark.
I got Bubba to his latchkey program and away to work I went. I checked my e-mails and boy, there were a lot! The most exciting one was the invite to a special out-of-town conference in November. I have to get all my paperwork done tomorrow so I can go. The admin upstairs, L., has been assigned to help me. (You know it's going to be interesting when she tells you that you have to fill out a 12 page form...in order to book your flight.)
I had two patients I haven't had in a long time and I was the med nurse on one hall. It kept me busy. Today, the docs make group rounds to inspect wounds, so this is also interesting. I try to hang out in the room, undo the dressing, then get everyone cleaned up. They got into my room early, but I was really busy with these two guys...and their roommate had me helping him, too. Mr. R. is very needy, which is not unusual for a COPDer. He's always worried about something--his mask, his bowel program, his turns. He looked a bit ashen today, which is very scary in light of the fact that even with his fragile health, he's a full code. I pray we don't have to do CPR on him while I'm working!
I met some new LPNs visiting us with the recruiter. We're looking for them, so we'll see if they come to work for us!
More tomorrow...getting tired and I need to go to bed!
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