Tomorrow is Monday

Dear Boss.

I know what day it is. Again. I really enjoyed having the holiday weekend off.

Can I please do this again soon? It's a habit I'd really like to continue into 2017.

Sincerely,

RehabRN

Here I go again

***Happy National Rehabilitation Week! ***

Life is distracting. Especially when you have lots of things going on at once. Teenage kid getting hormonal. People at work being uncivil. Weather being unusually warm. Such is my life in RehabLand.

I've been finding and cataloging some great articles I've run into about these subjects, so here are a few of them. Hope you enjoy! I am, since it's helping me to stay sane as I get ready for the last week of travel for this year (I hope!) I'm looking forward to more learning, sightseeing and a Philly cheese steak while I'm hanging out with a whole bunch of other rehab nurses from around the country.

It may be from July, but KevinMD never fails to deliver some compelling content from nurses. I have to say if I were going to put something together, I'd be anonymous, too. The truth hurts, but hopefully, more folks will learn from the examples given in this article.

While it's not health related, if you are a foodie, and you love fried chicken, like Dahey (it's a genetic thing) you won't want to miss this article on the best fried chicken in the US. I swear he's still alive because of it. Dahey was a regular many moons ago when he lived down the road from Hattie's first storefront.

Finally, in light of national rehab week, take it from a former rehabber himself (who I just met, along with his parents, on one of my trips recently), ASK. People in wheelchairs, in many cases, can talk and advocate for themselves. Don't be afraid to ask, or you too, might miss a golden opportunity. Thanks Charlie for reminding us.

Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are!

The joys of the weekend

Friday I felt as if I was trapped in a Dilbert cartoon. Dealing with Dahey's issues with the new employer and dealing with our big boss made me want to run, run, run far away.

So far, the weekend has been nice. The rain and steamy heat are quieting down for a little while. I visited my sister and we enjoyed the lack of rain and stuffiness.

Now, I am doing more research. It's almost time to turn in my homework, (slides) for the next presentation.

Better get back to work...stay tuned.

The weekend is here!

I'm not complaining one bit. I've been productive so far today. I had a nice, restful sleep and I woke up to make my breakfast, then to get my coffee and take my car, the family truckster, for an oil change.

After that, I headed to get coffee again (because one really ISN'T enough) and visit my sister. We enjoyed her patio in the gorgeous, only slightly steamy weather.

Now I'm back at home doing laundry and assessing all the tasks I have to do before work Monday.

Again, it's not a bad option, doing chores. I could be stuck doing something completely different.

Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are!

Using that extra day wisely

So far, the holiday weekend is working out well. I've been busy trying to take care of all my usual chores, as well as enjoying the weekend.

I have spent some time volunteering. Thankfully, this can occur at home, as I read over stuff and review it for continuing education credit. It's something new and exciting.

We've taken Bubba on his fried chicken quest. Since he's inherited a genetic proclivity for these crispy birds (from his MD grandpa, no less) and there are all sorts of new (and older) restaurants really advertising. At our latest stop, we found out there's actually a fried chicken festival coming up, so we know where we'll be eating in a couple of weeks.

I've still got my usual chores, but with the pretty weather and fun of the Fourth of July, it's been enjoyable lately. Having another day to celebrate is also a good thing, too.

Stay tuned...

You get what you wish for...

Or at least it seems that way right now. What a week!

For almost five years, I've been asking for help and/or equipment. While I can't get them to give me the help, in terms of personnel I want, I am getting equipment, so it's keeping me busy.

My favorite thing: I'm finally having days where I actually do the job I was hired to do for almost the entire eight hours I'm there (and sometimes then some...). The patient flow is something I have to work on, though. I follow the guidelines, but somehow, I always have a patient who wants to tell me more.

This week, I got to go to training that was cancelled many moons ago. It was interesting, even though I had to attend with my boss, who, with his/her MBA, knows everything. He/she succeeded in driving a lot of people nuts, which got me lots of sympathy from the folks I already know.

Finally, after working on my last patients this afternoon (and one emergency with a speech therapist), I got the e-mail I've been waiting for from the boss. He/she's recommending that the holdouts complete things they need to do to work with me in my clinic.

Five years is a short time where I work but almost a lifetime anywhere else. That e-mail made my week. I can only hope I'll get a few more wishes...

Happy weekend wherever you are. More to come...

In honor of mothers

It's that time of year again. One I never fully understood until I joined the sorority of women over a decade ago.

The things you learn...

1. That those nine months seemingly last forever, but you never realize, the end may be a sprint.

2. After the sprint, you hit the marathon. Only a couple of other times in my life was I ever as physically exhausted as I was by taking care of a newborn. It's almost like a semi-permanent state of jet lag.

3. You'll never forget that first smile, or that first laugh.

4. You'll become the sentinel, the guardian, the protector, because that little cherub really is your heart walking around (or just plain escaped) outside of your body.

5. Everything and little things are milestones you'll want to record. Don't sweat it if you run out of film or space on your device so you have proof. A good story (told over and over) will be a family memory for generations.

6. Be kind and curious. So many folks don't appreciate those things anymore.

7. You'll miss your mother so much when she's no longer with you. I know I do. My mom never got to know Bubba or any of her other grandchildren. Losing her as a teenager meant she missed so much.

If you've never known your mom or the love of a mother figure, you may be sad today, too. But remember, if you are or planning on being a mother, you'll write your own story. Be the mother you want to be. The past is in the past for a reason. The present is a gift for you.

Enjoy your day and weekend! Happy Mothers' Day!

Some you win...

I felt like I was winning today until I got to my patient as arranged today. When I saw him, he was a mess. Bedraggled and anxious. Terrified. Lonely. I worked with him the best I could, but it didn't seem to be enough.

I called one of our other staffers to help.  I did everything I could.

Finally, I wrote my note. I finished my work that needed to be done. Even though, I accomplished much, it didn't feel that way.

I tried. It was all I could do today. I will do the same the next time.

It's the weekend

Now I have enough time after a busy week to make an attempt at getting sick. I feel a cold trying to overtake me.

Happy Orthodox Easter to all who celebrate today.

Joy...stay tuned.

Oh weekend

Dear Weekend:

Thank you for arriving. Waiting for you this week has been interesting. Yes, there were fun things this week but there were things that were decidedly not fun.

The beautiful sunny weather is disappearing this weekend, so I'll make myself productive again inside.

Here's hoping for better weather next week when Bubba is on Spring Break.

We can only hope.

Yours sincerely,

RehabRN

Monday's coming

I had a weekend that flew past too quickly. We had a brief snowstorm, then bone chilling cold.

No chance of a do-over. Monday's coming.

Ugh!

I have to admit

It's really getting better all the time. My friend and her husband are coping, and it seems that the treatment he's on is helping him. Pain is still an issue. Dahey went out and stayed with him for a while in the afternoon and they had a nice chat.

The other reason it's better: it's the weekend. Hooray!

Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are.

Stay tuned.

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's the long weekend

TGIF! We started the weekend off with fun. We went and rode some rides not far from home tonight at one of many picnics. Bubba and I had a funnel cake and I reminisced about how many of the rides are still the same as when I was a kid. It would be nice if the tickets were the same. I couldn't believe the prices.

Bubba even saw some kids from school, including a girl who saw him as we were leaving. She was a tall blonde, and had there not been more traffic, I think Bubba would have run faster to the car. However, Blonde Babe stayed on her side of the picnic and we went home.

Dahey even got into the modern era: he joined his first social networking site. His crazy friend from high school was the first person to find him online, so it was like a mini reunion. I first met Max via e-mail and I'll never forget how he described his time in the military: "After doing my first hitch and finding out there are no permanent marching band jobs in the military, I decided to learn a trade and become an electrician."

Some things change, and yes, some things (and people) stay the same.

Stay tuned.

Head banging or TGIF hurry up

Maybe it's because it's a long weekend. Maybe it's because I've had more than my share of head banging needed recently. If I were a pitcher, my ERA would be terrible. Two patients scheduled no-showed or refused to cooperate. Very frustrating.

Some of the people you work with have amnesia and screw stuff up no matter how many times you tell them something.Asking these same people to think is a dangerous thing. "Oh you mean I was supposed to answer when so-and-so called on the teleconferencing unit to discuss x patient." Yes, Dumbelina, you sure were supposed to answer. Even a master's degree in your discipline is of no use.

I think of the article I read about doctors not wanting to use stethoscopes in the 19th century because, "Why do that when I can just put my ear to someone's chest?" I want to yell the same thing about the technology at the Hotel, with which they do the same thing.

Thank goodness I already bought all the beverages I'll need for this weekend. I will be partaking of some nice cold ones as soon as it's feasible Friday.

Stay tuned and hope you enjoy your Friday.

How to know you are sleep deprived

I had great plans for this Saturday early morning. I didn't make it.

Guess I needed  to sleep in more than I thought!

Happy weekend wherever you are!

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.

The weekend is over

It's been busy. Dahey celebrated his birthday with a horrific cold. Bubba is suffering from allergies, so there is a constant chorus of sneezing and coughing here in our house.

As usual, I made Dahey his favorite cake for this birthday. It's not a birthday if I don't make a scratch cake. We had plans for brunch, but those were cancelled while the patient stayed home and rested. Bubba decided we needed donuts, so we went to Local Donut House for a dozen beauties, which the child promptly decided to start eating as soon as we got them in the car. Fortunately, we live close and there were donuts for the birthday boy.

Now, since Dahey felt well enough to go to his friend's benefit event with an escort (Bubba), I'm staying at home waiting for the duo to return.

Monday should be interesting. Hope your week is healthy and happy!

Stay tuned.

Spring forward

It's that time of year again. So far, I don't feel tired. I'm sure I will tomorrow.

Bubba and Dahey were helping a friend move this weekend, so it really threw off my normal schedule of errands. Thankfully, I was able to finish up most of them today, while they laid around the house. To celebrate the end of the week, I decided to cook a nice dinner. I made it myself since Junior Chef Bubba passed out on the couch when he was watching TV earlier. Of course, the child wakes up AFTER all the prep work is done.

It's been warm and sunny, so I'm enjoying every minute. I sat outside for coffee today and I walked two miles yesterday. So on my breaks (someone has to do all this stuff around here) when I'm not outside, I'm  checking Cake Wrecks, and watching silly dog videos. It makes me miss WildDog.

Stay tuned and hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, wherever you are!

TGIF to all

After my week, I needed a Friday!

So glad I'm not an NP at the Hotel, because there was all sort of debates this week about them and other midlevels. The doctors are restless, and they are starting to irritate our midlevel staff.

Happily, I got all my work done and I escaped. Dahey, Bubba and I went to our local fish fry with friends. It was fun.

Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are!