Firing on all cylinders

Yes, it was a little strange, but it was a decent day. My patients got rolling and I got them out and going.

I had students to work with again today and it was a joy. I sent one on a field trip to the SU after I called my buddy Sue. She had loads of patients for procedures and she was happy to have the student. The doc was very complimentary. I think he just likes the nursing students better than some of the residents.

The end of the semester keeps the students hopping, and thankfully, we have lots to do at the Hotel. I got to instruct one on how to change a suprapubic catheter, then have him/her do it with my instruction and standby to help (this was a large patient and he/she really needed someone to hold the pannus).

Next, I helped to hang blood for another patient and brought another student along so he/she could learn how that's done. It was pretty satisfying.

Finally, I calmed one of the worried rascals who was dropping one too many f-bombs. I calmly asked him to stop, and he complied. The other nurses were pretty happy, too.

And now, it's back to homework as the semester winds down. I can't wait! More later...

Back to the old grind...

It's always an adventure on our unit on Mondays. The booking agents (a/k/a the NPs) try to get our people in on Monday or Tuesday, so hopefully, they can get someone home by the weekend. This is particularly true in the case of folks coming for tests or general stuff.

I only had two patients and no med cart. Hooray! I know this will change when I go back to evenings, so I'm just enjoying it while I can. It is bliss!

I got to do some fun stuff today...get people up into a wheelchair with a head and shoulder control. It's a little dicey, but it works. Why the patient won't use the controls all the time is another story.

My other patient had an undetermined suprapubic catheter. Since I searched the notes and couldn't find one with a date when it was last changed, and it wasn't on our board, I got the pleasure of changing it. I don't think this is a coincidence. I am noticing that I'm one of those people the docs and NPs ask to do stuff when they want it done. It's so nice to feel wanted! This same character just got put on a Clinitron bed last Friday and his wounds are really healing well. They look incredible compared to the last time I took care of him.

I had to report to the next shift, and my head and shoulder guy came back late, so I had to get him in bed and undressed before I left. Thankfully, one of our new nurses helped me get him back to bed. I finally escaped at 1625 after I wrote my last note. I had all my other charting done, since I did it as I went along, or I'd have been there later.

More tomorrow...we'll see how it goes. Stay tuned!