Summer reading club

Yes, raise your hand, if you're one of those people who makes a New Year's resolution to read more? That's me, too. In my day-to-day work, I'm always reading. Most of the things I read are guidelines, policies, procedures or official-type documents.

As a kid, I was a veteran of the Summer Reading Club here in RehabLand. I have many fond memories of going to my local library, doing the program and getting my name put up on the wall with those of the other kids in my school in the children's section. I loved getting the certificate of completion and the FREE book. Although I loved to read, my free book was always a Peanuts paperback book. It was something they didn't loan out much in the library, and it was my reward for finishing. Snoopy was the subject of my first book.

Thankfully, I don't have to worry anymore about losing my summer reading club book list. Our new library has a reading club online and they give prizes to adults, too! It may not be Snoopy books, but it's fun.

Here's what I've read or am reading right now. Hope you'll enjoy them, or head on over to your local library and find one of your own.

1.Thoughts are things: Turning your ideas into realities by Bob Proctor & Greg S. Reid. I enjoyed this book about ideas and using them in life.Based on the ideas of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

2. Small Batch: Pickles, cheese, chocolate, spirits and the return of artisanal foods, by Suzanne Cope. If you love food and love stories, you'll like this book, which talks about history, food and the new companies that have grown up doing what our ancestors did all the time.

3. Simple Lessons for a Better Life by Charles E. Dodgen. I'm still reading this, and I'm loving it. A couple of stories hit home for me, and really look a lot like what has happened occasionally at the Hotel. If you want a different view of nursing homes and older people from a the perspective of a psychologist., this is it.

Why you need insurance

***SOAPBOX ALERT**** (aka something to consider)

There are lots of insurance products out there: life, homeowners, renters, automobile, motorcycle, health, disability insurance you name it. Some are required by law, like automobile insurance, or homeowners, because they protect a valuable asset (your home or your car). This is mostly required by creditors. Life insurance protects you and your family. We know that nursing is a hard, sometimes dangerous profession. Disability insurance is another thing to consider, since nurses are very likely to be injured on the job vs. to die at work.

However, many nurses practice without insuring something just as valuable. They practice without nursing malpractice insurance. In the few years I've practiced, I've heard a lot of stories about lawsuits and the judgments that often come with them.

Many people rationalize why they don't want insurance. They are not "those people". If they buy insurance, they'll be sued. The hospital will protect me, since I've been a good employee and never disciplined. My state board will protect me.

Unfortunately, those people or nurses who get sued are very nice people just doing their jobs like you are. If you are like me, you live in an "at will" state. You can be fired at any time (and you can leave at any time). This means even with your stellar record, your facility could let you go. Finally, most state boards may discipline you if you are found negligent. If you lose your license, you lose your livelihood.

If you love your job, your family, your house and your car, you need to consider carrying malpractice insurance, too. There are many good firms out there, some specifically for nurses. Seek them out.

Your career may depend on it.

More to come...

To our esteemed readers

Dear readers:

Thank you for stopping by to visit. It's been a crazy week. When you bury a relative as part of a large (we have so many kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews) that we can almost rent the entire hotel family, it gets a little crazy. Unlike most Irish wakes, Auntie Em didn't get to come to the party at the Hibernian hall after the funeral. However, she would have loved it.

Lots of food and drinks and even a little gambling going on at the bar in the other room. Since Auntie Em's state allows gaming in bars, it was fun dragging the kids away from their popcorn machine (aka kid magnet) before the state liquor commissioners passed by. Happily, the bartenders shut the door and the kids found the cookies.

The banquet hall was full. Lots of people came out in the middle of the week to say goodbye at the wake, the funeral and the luncheon at the Hibernians. Auntie Em's boss (a retired allergist who was younger) even showed up, which is something that doesn't always happen for folks who die in their nineties. Dahey and Bubba had a good time. Bubba with the other kids, Dahey with his cousins who he doesn't get to see nearly enough.

Dahey's family may start visiting in between weddings and funerals, but it remains to be seen. Sure would be nice to celebrate while we're all here to do it in the same room.

Again, thanks for understanding. It is deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,

RehabRN

A lazy afternoon

At least it was for a moment. I got most of the errands done, however, I had an additional one after the neighborhood flock of robins decided to attack my car only on the driver's side, right near the door handles.

I'm convinced they read this Far Side cartoon.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday wherever you are.

Let me count...

The possible headlines for this article. (BTW we also had a devious character in the Hotel who was leaving piles in trash cans.)

1. Poo on you, I didn't doo it.

2. If he didn't sh$t, you must acquit.

3. You want me to do WHAT?

4. Am I in the hospital?

5. What rights do you have? Obviously not s...

It seems like this is made up, but it's not. It's a true story about genetics and DNA.

Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should.

Stay tuned!

Another Memorial Day

Many years ago, when we got home from a trip, we got a phone call. My father-in-law passed away. We had just seen him days before.

This year, we didn't go anywhere on Memorial Day, but we got the same news. Dahey's aunt passed away this time. A different date, a different year, but still on Memorial Day.

We will miss you Aunt M. You lived a good, long life with many children, friends and neighbors.

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

Why I have hope

I found out today that the Slug will retire in eight or so years at one of the retirement parties for K. K was my preceptor and definitely one of the best nurses ever.

The Slug was not allowed to be my preceptor.

Three words: Thank you God!

More to come...

Memorial Day

It was one of the most costly wars in terms of lives lost. In our family, my mother's brothers and my father's uncles all went to war.

My maternal uncle went to France as an Army medic. He was stationed near Paris for two years after the Allies captured the city. He missed his chance to be a professional baseball player, but he was a father and a grandfather.

My paternal great uncle was not so lucky. He had survived the Battle of Anzio, moving up through Italy, and then his Army unit went into Eastern France. Before he could get to the Battle of the Bulge, he was killed crossing a bridge, struck down by a mortar.

When I visited France, I visited the town where he died. I will never forget him, or the sacrifices he made; the family he left behind.

Today, I remember all who gave their lives in gratitude. Freedom is not free. It was paid for by those we lost.

Thank you doesn't seem like enough.

I've always wondered myself

This article from the Wall Street Journal made me drudge up thoughts about some of the Hotel patients and other surgeons.

One patient had a common ailment that we see at the Hotel. It is always has the potential to be dangerous, even when it doesn't appear to be. It hides in the body and while we see the disfiguring side in nursing, mostly pressure sores, it's an illness that often requires the participation of multiple disciplines, ranging from plastic surgery (our most common), infectious disease, orthopedics, and sometimes even hematology/oncology.

People want to know what will happen and when one particular doctor gave his take of the situation, they called him "Debbie Downer". I explained to the patient (and the relatives) that this is not to scare them, but to tell them the truth. Informed consent really is a good thing, and sometimes, I spend way more time talking to patients after they hear life-changing news, and they ask the what, where, and why questions. Often, they just don't want to believe that one doctor.

However, our surgeon wasn't the only one. He also consulted with orthopedics. The patient was offered a procedure that was not acceptable. The other option was two different procedures: a hemipelvectomy or a girdlestone, but the patient wouldn't consent to those, either.

Our surgeon took the patient to the OR, since he/she agreed to the odds. The odds were not on their side. There was no miracle. The procedure could not be completed. We are pretty much where we started.

Now we wait to see what happens. Some things are just not what they seem, so being informed is a very good thing.

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.

'Tis the graduation season

To all of you graduates out there, congratulations! Your four (or more) years are done. You have achieved your goal, or you are on your way to a couple of more graduations, with even more costumes and pomp and circumstance.

There are plenty of graduation speakers this year, but, I've always appreciated this sentiment (even though I'm not a Republican).



Remember, C=RN too, in many schools, so be brave and don't give up. There will always be critics. Do your best every day. You and your patients deserve the best.

I found it a grand coincidence that both my commencement speakers were baseball players. One was a chatty guy who said, "Never take a no from someone who can give you a yes." I lived by that one. It changed my life. The other had a whole collection of maxims from years in baseball.

As they say, when you come to a fork in the road, take it. You never know where it may lead.

More to come...

Loud noises at inopportune times

Yes, folks, these are the things that drive me crazy or keep me awake at night. Last night, it was the latter.
Nothing like crazy driver swerving to avoid a mailbox, then hitting the neighbor's car and stopping at the tree.

Just very thankful that the driver didn't continue on and end up in our yard.

The perils of living near a crazy, county road.

Stay tuned for more traffic reports.

From my crystal ball

I like to tell patients I have a crystal ball at home, so that's why I can't always tell the future at work.

However, when I read this story, I surely would not be surprised if there's a lawsuit in the future. Brain injuries in small children are bad enough.

That is all.

Stay tuned...

Every parent's nightmare

One morning, your kid leaves home, never to return. This recently happened to one of my therapy coworkers from Saintarama. We also know Marci and her kids, since Bubba is in school with them.

It was hard. We squeezed each other tight and prayed at the memorial. Bubba and the kids went off to look at the many pictures of their dear, departed brother and look at some of his stuff, which was also on display.

A life just begun as an adult was extinguished early one morning on the road.

Hug your kids today and everyday. I know I will.

More to come...

Things not to do as a nurse, part LVIII

Here's another installment of the popular section on what not to do as a nurse. Listen up, new grads. This is NOT the way to get your 15 minutes of fame.

If you think it is, just remember, NCLEX is getting harder. Here in RehabLand, the pass rate went down, but luckily, the licensing folks are thrilled we are still above the national average pass rate.

Here are a few things that got nurses in RehabLand in trouble lately. Just remember, don't try these at home (or work, either) if you plan on keeping that bright, shiny license.

1. If you're supposed to monitor someone in the ICU, monitor them.

Don't paint your nails, don't go on Facebook, don't blow off the newer nurse you're working with who points out the fact that your patient now has a heart rate of 160 and maybe you should call the doc for orders. Also, when said heart rate goes to 200, don't tell everyone that "I had no idea."

Doesn't work. End of story.

2. If you plead guilty to felony theft, you may lose your license.

Another pretty simple example.

3. Falling in love with a felon could get you in trouble.

No, it's not related to #2, but it could be. Jailhouse Nurse falls for an inmate she's caring for. She goes out and gets him a handcuff key and a gun.  To add to the fun, she smokes some marijuana (a friend brought it in from a legal state) and gets caught doing that while with said inmate/felon. Boundary violations are not a good thing.

4. Oxygen saturation is important for everything.

Remember your ABCs: Airway Breathing Circulation. Yes, those are important. Failing to notice low oxygen sats and to do something about it, can get you into licensure trouble.

5. When you are a private duty nurse, you have to be there (both physically and mentally).

Two examples: one nurse decided to run "personal errands" for almost two hours while caring for her private duty patient, who had hourly vital signs. She also "forgot" to chart that "errand."

Another private duty nurse decided to huff some Dust-Off while her patient's mother fell asleep. The mom found the nurse passed out in the living room on the couch, and when aroused he/she was in no state to work.

6. Why you don't want to become Walgreens/CVS/insert favorite drug store here.

This was pretty interesting. Two nurses were  cited related to "collecting medications to give to poor/uninsured patients" Surprisingly, my license does not say MD or registered pharmacist, either.
Some medications just should not be shared (one RN took unused vials to reuse).

7. Don't bring medical records home.

Ever. No matter how behind you are at work. Can you say HIPAA? This RN took home records that affected a patient's care. Very ugly.

And finally...

8. Don't spank your patients.

Even if they are kids who wriggle around and smack you on the nose while doing their dressing.

That is all. Stay tuned for more in our next installment.

Something we can relate

Yes, I'm sure many of you who come here may have witnessed a scene like this one in this recent Well article from the NY Times.

Lots of drama. Lots of noise. Lots of "hell no" going on in the background,  even if no one explicitly says it.
Reminded me of Head Nurse's recent post of the cheerful ED nurse.

Makes me miss the drama of the clinic I worked in a few years ago with the character who screamed he was in so much pain until he got shipped off via ambulance and got the Dilaudid. Our character hadn't used that in the Washington ED before, so staff got him/her the goods.

Flo's birthday and this important celebration

Yes! Flo's birthday! Jump up and down folks, she's the reason why we have a profession. It's the last day of Nurses' Week to celebrate, and how appropriate it is.

But, did you know, May 12 is also a day to celebrate nursing informatics? Yes, indeed! This specialty was formally recognized in 1992 by the American Nurses' Association.

So thank the nurses who make sure your computers work for nursing work, to give you more time with patients, the nurses who make technology work for nurses (and often every other clinical staffer in your hospital).

Just another Monday

Still Nurses' Week..YES! The psychology staff are celebrating on Florence Nightingale's birthday at the Hotel, but they have to send an e-mail every day so people don't forget.

I celebrated today by having lots of technical difficulties in my clinic. Now I have to find a creative way to get a gift basket of coffee, Mountain Dew, chocolate and other terribly fattening things to my favorite support technicians. Yes, it's been that kind of week and this is only Monday. We have a "special notes" section of our intranet, so I recognized two of the folks today. I had to...those two saved my derriere so much already.

Bubba got out of school early today and is counting the days when school ends here in RehabLand. Since his school had no snow days (we had a school boss from Minnesota who wasn't scared one icy day) this year, they'll actually finish on the day they said. Bubba, however, may notice those last days are different. For the first time ever, he has final exams. Should get him ready for high school!

Now Bubba is at his friend Jorge's house, helping him get some of the music homework done before the big party this week at the last band class. If Jorge gets the magic number, he'll be in. Bubba, his partner in crime, wants to provide moral support so it happens.

Stay tuned...one more day of Nurses' Week left. Enjoy every moment. You deserve it!

Celebrate Military Nurses today

It's still Nurses' Week, so celebrate!

This article talks about many military nurses, some you may not have heard about, who worked behind the scenes in many areas.

Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.
Irish Proverb

So Bubba and Dahey took me to brunch today, they bought me roses, and when we got home (since our brunch location doesn't do liquor) I got my mimosas.

I almost completed my vow to not do any laundry (or other housework) today, but I spilled one mimosa on my favorite tablecloth, so I washed it.

Hope you enjoy your day (and your mom) wherever you are! Not everyone is able to do so. I still miss my mom, who has been gone for many years now.

More to come...

The year of ethics

The American Nurses Association declared 2015 the Year of Ethics. They also updated their Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements this year, too.

Lately, there are lots of ethics issues in the news. This recent article series talks about risks for manicurists calls into question the ethics of nail salons. There are sections of major newspapers discussing everything from genomic issues to the latest celebrity ethical dilemma.

In the Hotel, we deal with issues, too. Is it ethical to share your cell phone number so patients can call you back promptly when the phones in the facility don't always work? Is it ethical to be Facebook friends with patients? Is it ethical to deny certain patients items during care that aren't denied of similar patients, when there is no risk to health and safety? Are prejudices appropriate as health care providers?

So many things to consider this year, and every day.

We are the most trusted profession after all. Shouldn't we be ethical?

More to come...

Happy Nurses' Week

Don't be fooled by the teddy bear in this video by Kronos (aka the time clock people). This is a darned fine little infomercial on nursing if I ever saw one.

And I'm proud to say, I actually know one of the people mentioned. She is a pioneer and relentless. If I am ever half the nurse she is, I'll be able to say I contributed something to this world of nursing.

It's your day and your week. Celebrate the best of nursing, because you give it every day. Cheers!

The keys to the keys

I read this article recently, and realized I do this a lot. I am being a sadomasochist nurse trying to cram a whole bunch of stuff into my brain.

Thank goodness I can't lose the keys in the patient laundry hampers anymore. (Sorry for the mental picture, but it has happened to me inadvertently).

That is all. Happy Hump Day.

Observations at work

Jo described a nurse she works with in this post over at Head Nurse. I had a good time reading the comments because it reminded me of some of the "get in to go somewhere else" folks we keep getting at our Hotel unit at Washington.

Why do the words, "Oh, I'll just go apply somewhere else" rankle me? Because they are often coming out of the mouths of the newly oriented. Really? You couldn't have done your homework which would have told you this is a unit part of a rehab hospital? You just want to whine about it and you just got here?

I digress....

What I really wanted to talk about is this article. I know this phenomena is not contained to men, but they are the main culprits. I see this in a committee I work on. The guy is "so busy" that all he can do is let that lil' ol' multiple thousands of dollars project wait because no one knows how the back end process works.

Really? Hello people! That's what the BUSINESS side folks are for. Bug them! They LOVE it because it's THEIR job. They don't want to be clinical. They want to buff the machinery of the business processes of a hospital and make it work. I need the project management fairy to come and hit him over the head with her magic Project wand.

Occasionally, you have a nurse like me who gets it (that former life helps) but even I don't know everything. That's why I defer to the experts. That's why I keep asking you to ask them to show up at our meetings. It would be nice to solve some problems instead of talk about them the whole time.

That is all. I'm celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a nice, cool beverage, which will help me forget all of this mess. Hope you enjoy your day wherever you are, margarita or not.

More later.

School is ALMOST out

But I think Bubba's mind is turning to mush already. We worked on the health class project this weekend and of course, had to make last minute changes today before school. However, Bubba forgot to have me sign something this week, so he lost some points for this week. I sign whatever is in front of me, but I make him be responsible.

Tonight, for some physical activity, we decided to go to the rec center, shoot hoops and then play some pickleball. We really just practiced while a foursome played, but Bubba got to learn some skills and watch people play. Hopefully,  this summer, he'll get to play with other kids (and not boring old grownups).

Just counting down the days...stay tuned!

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!

As heard on the radio

A few months ago, I heard an advertisement on the radio for a drug study for a compound like this. I never realized the gravity of non 24 syndrome until I took care of a blind patient. Mrs. Z. was always tired in therapy when I worked at Saintarama. This drug came a few years too late for her.

Here at the Hotel, we are fortunate that we have a blind rehabilitation program next door. It's really amazing what they do.

The thing that stunned me when I read this most recent article was this: "...wholesale cost (per capsule) for this drug is $324." 

An enormous amount of money for folks who just want to be able to sleep at the right time.

Stay tuned!

Hope turns to sadness

This patient's journey to us for rehab was long and arduous. One day you're minding your own business and start having these unusual pains. They find out you have this terrible condition.

The doctors save your life, but it was rough. You seem to be getting better when all Hades breaks loose. You go back to the OR, get almost triple digits of PRBCs, and abdominal washout and have all sorts of complications. You lose so many things. But you are here with us, so you are hopeful.

You come to us, are barely here a week, and we have to send you to World Renown, because we aren't staffed (in surgery or anywhere else) to resolve your latest issue. Unfortunately, we have seen this scenario before. You have a problem even World Renown can't fix. They send you back.

They leave us to tell you the bad news. You cry and yell. But to me and the other nurses, you are nice. You're not sure of what's going to happen, but I tell you, that no matter what I'm here with the staff for you to help give you some control in your room; to help you do what you need to do.

It is bittersweet. I have seen this before, and while the characters change, the stories all end the same. I just hope we can make some good memories before the clock runs out.

Stay tuned.

Reeducating the boss

My task this week: bring a boss up to speed when I've sent e-mails.

The ones I sent (meant to be on top) got buried in 400+ when he/she had to take an extra week of sick leave.

More to come...

Sunday funnies

Disclaimer: I am one of those people who enjoys reading obituaries and wedding announcements. (A trait I inherited from both my parents, for whom this was a sport).

Some obits are sober and fact-filled. Others are downright entertaining. We occasionally have a good one here in RehabLand's Old Reliable News, but for regular reading, I always check the New York Times.

So needless to say when I read this lawyer and dentist's wedding announcement, at first, it looked pretty typical. However, when you read it all the way through, you see what is really important in life, even for a dentist.

Enjoy your day wherever you are! Remember, life is short, so make it memorable.

More later...

Here comes the rain again

April showers do bring May flowers, but after those showers get mixed in with tornado watches and warnings, I get a little edgy. It fits the mood, though. I'm still a little melancholy after this week.

Thankfully, the latest tornado watch was called off so Bubba could go to his track meet, hang out and have fun while Dahey and I had a date night. We went to a neighborhood I grew up in (which has since become moderately gentrified) to a restaurant I've wanted to try. It was nostalgia: some things change and some things stay the same. Thankfully, the food was good, the beer was cold, and the various games were on the (baseball, hockey, etc.) TV so Dahey could follow along.

Since we were on a nostalgia trek, Dahey decided to drive to a shopping mall we walked in a lot while we were dating. A lot of stores are gone, but some old reliables got bigger. They even got an Apple Store in this particular mall. Which of course, made Dahey want a new phone. Thankfully, his problems can be resolved by sending his phone in for repair, which will be done this week (thank goodness!)

Now, I'm back to doing my volunteer homework. Sometimes this is a time-consuming activity, but other times, it's a lot of fun.

Enjoy your weekend wherever you are!

Dodging bullets

Dahey dodged one on Monday. He was not selected for layoff (or furlough) at his job. What's the reason? Working without a contract, the firm on his job site finally ran out of money. It closed one location. Federal contracting isn't all it's cracked up to be if the government can't decide.

I didn't dodge a bullet, but I missed one thing. My chance to get out of the Hotel is dashed for now. I just need to look at a few things, then decide when to try again. I told someone if they talked about it too much, it might not come true. (From years of experience, I keep my mouth shut). It was only a transfer opportunity, but after four years of this, I feel like moving on.

I hate it when I'm right.

More to come...

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.

Gone but not forgotten

She got ready and she took the train to glory.

RIP my pharmacist friend (and nursing school seatmate).

I will miss you (and your caring, gentle, hilarious soul) forever. May they find a cure soon.

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!

Monday, Monday (aka back to work)

It was a brief trip to MegaConference and it was fun. I even met some new friends on my whirlwind tour. I tried to meet one nurse blogger, but she wasn't coming in, until I left town. I got lots of looks at my poster and made sure I didn't take a single handout home, by using a couple of marketing gimmicks. (I marked my literature holder--aka a brown envelope--with the words TRADE SECRETS).

All that business experience helped. I also corralled a spot near my poster and carefully set my coat and a notebook there (with a glass) so I could go between sessions and not lose my spot. (We were expected to be by the poster at break times, so...)

Dahey and Bubba drove around the town exploring, watching dogs and sailboats. Bubba also proved that kids needing to go to the bathroom is really a universally understood problem, no matter in what sort of ethnic neighborhood you may find yourself. They also saw a movie, which was a good excuse for Dahey to find a dark place with a comfy chair for a nap. (We got up really early to get me to the conference on time, since our hotel was far away in the suburbs.)

There was a party once the session was over, but I literally had to fly out of there, after I talked to an exec I had tweeted to during the sessions. It was nice to finally meet her after conversing back and forth. It was bedlam--cars, taxis, buses, everywhere. It was a miracle Dahey and Bubba could get to me amidst all the masses escaping the conference hall looking for a ride. I was really happy one of the staffers there was able to get us back to the highway to RehabLand.

It was literally down the street and around one corner. So we drove away into the evening to RehabLand.

Today was a long day with lots of caffeine infusions. My last one is wearing off, so I will say good night.

More fun to come...

I see it every day - Lessons in life

When you work in a rehab center with spinal cord injury patients (SCI), you hear the themes in this opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal a lot.

Remember: just because someone is in a wheelchair and can't move much at all, doesn't mean their brain doesn't work (or their mouth).

Talk to the person in the wheelchair, not their companions. That is all.

Happy weekend wherever you may be.

Random thoughts

It's a stormy day already here in RehabLand, and Bubba's up early wanting donuts. My head is splitting. AND I double booked myself at work today. I can't wait for this day to be over.

Here are a few points to ponder:

There's always some new technology to learn in nursing. It just amazes me, though, that some people figure out how to "game" it as soon as they can. It really gets scary when this gaming potentially interferes with care.
There's an updated version of this code, but somehow, I don't think people like the Slug actually read (or practice) it.

If you get tired of the bullies, check out this advice on bullying or parallel violence from Katie Duke.

And finally, if you want to feel good about what you do, no matter what, check out this post from KevinMD.

Thank you patients. You are the reason why we are all here.

More later...

Happy Easter

And if you don't celebrate Easter, I wish you a blessed Passover. Don't celebrate that either? If you were here in RehabLand today, it was glorious. Enjoy the spring weather wherever you are. It only comes once a year.

I didn't fall off the earth, I got a little busy this week exercising and watching various astronomical phenomena, like a little space station buzzing by and the latest Blood Moon.

Bubba, Dahey and I finally went out for the brunch that was so rudely interrupted by a terrible virus for Dahey's birthday weekend last weekend. It was a good coincidence that it was Easter, since I was fortunate enough to excuse myself from galley slavery with some of my relatives. That felt just as glorious as the weather.  Since we went to one of our favorite pizzerias last night, we had leftovers for dinner so I did no cooking AT ALL. Ah! My idea of a wonderful day.

I did have a temporary lapse when I decided to thoroughly vacuum and mop all the floors upstairs. I corralled Dahey and Bubba in the basement, so I got to enjoy the quiet and drying when the floors were done. For one, brief, shining moment (in a house where everyone must wear shoes with a soon-to-be  teenager who is constantly eating) they were  clean.

Now, we're getting ready for the big chamber music night at Bubba's neighborhood junior high. He's going to play this song with some other brass players. Sounds like it will be a tuneup for the Spring Concert in a few weeks and the auditions for the symphony and jazz band groups. Bubba was so excited to wear a suit to church today, that I will be very surprised if he doesn't go formal for the next concert. He looks very longingly at some of those tuxedos when we are out shopping.

Work is still work. I have to go back for a full week tomorrow. I need a day off every week to motivate me, but I don't think that will ever happen. It would be nice, though. I'd like to know if I'm going to get another job at the Hotel, but with my luck (and our illustrious HR department), I'll be waiting six more weeks to find out. Nothing ever happens fast.

I'm going to stop here. All the cleaning and fun have made me tired today. I bid you all a good night wherever you are.

Stay tuned...

Some luck

One of our doctors is doing a case review for the Hotel peer review group. He/she worked all weekend gathering information, which included printing some records. Since this was done remotely, it doesn't necessarily print in the right spot. Happily, I managed to figure out where they went and get them to him/her. Some luck!

A friend of one of my relatives just had an adorable baby boy with a cleft palate and other issues. The friend did everything right and still had this happen.

The weatherman says we'll have a warm, breezy day as we just start to see tree pollen on the weather reports. I hope Bubba has lots of luck with his allergy medicine. It won't be pretty otherwise.

Stay tuned...

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.

TGIF odds and ends

Oh, you know it's going to be an interesting day when your boss calls and asks "What the hell is going on?" Got that cleared up and it was better than I thought.  He/she isn't mad anymore, just worried that he/she will have staffing issues.

I'm a big picture career person, so that's what I'm thinking. Pleasing the boss is important, but having peace of mind and career growth is important, too. One of these days, the HR reps in the Hotel will learn how to read and use telephones. All I can do now is wait.

I found out today is the birthday of the inventor of the x-ray. Unfortunately, unlike our radiology nursing friends at Washington, no one brought donuts.


Since the lovely folks in the media department are printing my MegaConference poster, F., the designer sent me the mockup this week. As usual, she does amazing work. I can't wait until she gets it done.

I'd like to publish something one of these days, but as this article mentions, some publishers are not what they seem, so beware!

On my way out the door today, I did a little occupational therapy reinforcement (along with my unit tour guide duties). I showed one of our newer patients how to navigate the inpatient wifi on his phone.
He was up and running listening to his favorite radio stations on his phone by the time I left.

A little head bopping and a huge smile was a great way to greet the end of the workday

Hope you have a happy weekend wherever you may be.

Genetic material

It's becoming more and more important nowadays, to know if one is predisposed to something genetically. Genetics and genomics have always fascinated me, especially with the patterns that show up in families.

There are some famous families for gene issues: Queen Victoria, the Walsh family for stomach cancer, etc.

Today I read this article about genetics and Iceland. It was pretty darned good. Hope you enjoy. It will be something to see who is predisposed to certain disorders we see in rehab, like pressure ulcers.

As they say, it really is all in the genes.

Stay tuned!

Welcome spring

As I write this, it thundering very loudly. The daffodils that were up and showy yesterday, are cowed beneath the rains of today.

I woke up this morning to a chorus of sneezes from Bubba. Dahey just snored away as usual.

Every tree in our neighborhood has buds erupting. So we're keeping all the windows shut tight.

In RehabLand, it's another day in early spring.

More to come...

On call oldie but goodie

FYI I have never taken call. It's not a common thing in rehab (especially in our neck of the woods), but I was intrigued by this article because of the some the recent arguments amongst our medical staff.

I discussed this with Dahey, since his dad was a physician a long time ago. He liked to go on rounds with him (in those halcyon days before HIPAA) and he always said Dahey should be the pediatrician.

However, I often wonder what my father-in-law would think of today's environment for physicians. It's a completely different world out there.

Stay tuned!

The joys of spring

Yes, RehabLand is warming up for the moment. The neighbor's daffodils are up and looking bright. I'm going to be trapped inside, since I got invited back to MegaConference nursing section. I'm not going to lie: I was a second string presenter, but since they found a bigger room, they decided to invite me. This year, MegaConference is not far away and Dahey can visit lots of friends and relatives. It was a no-brainer.

Bubba had fun on his spring break. I don't think he'll like going back to school, but it will be over soon enough. Getting a kid to do homework when the weather is nice is challenging.

Dahey finally got a new (used) car. Hallelujah! I'm just hoping this former grandma mobile can handle him driving it all over the place.

So I'm going to stop for now. Thank goodness we have a printing group who works on short notice (and mine is very nice). I'm going to be busy doing my homework this weekend.

More to come...

Exercise, errands and sleep deprivation

Sure, a staycation is fun, if it doesn't involve cramming in as many things as possible.

Recently, Bubba and I finally made it to the eye doctor, after a couple of misses due to doctor being trapped out of town and some scary weather. We were at the office for a while (in the middle of the most beautiful day so far this year) but Bubba was reasonably happy and passed his vision tests. He's getting a new headache med, too, so more fun.

He was, however, not thrilled that he had to get a blood draw, due to some other issues. I had to hug him from behind while two phlebotomists held him still. Just touching his arm made him jump. Finally, we got the job done with a butterfly (which is one of the few things they let us have at the Hotel for our clientele).

Most of my errands got completed. I also got a wonderful deal on some tires for the family truckster after shopping around. This was a good thing since we were 1/32 away from having bald tires (at least that's what the indicator says). Outside of that, the truckster is lubed, adjusted and happy.

Bubba and I have had fun at our local rec center. I finally caved in and joined, so the whole family can get in on the fun. It also helps that membership makes Bubba's summer camp experiences cheaper (and pays for our summer membership months). Now, I've just got to make time to go over and exercise. There are a few classes I like: kickboxing being one of them. I haven't taken one of those in years, so I look forward to it.  It's a great stress reliever, especially from the Manglement shenanigans at the Hotel.

My day is winding down, so we'll be visiting our orthodontist. I'm hoping soon we're to the point of less visits (getting really close). Cross your fingers!

Happy Spring Break

Bubba is thrilled. No more school for a week.

Now it's time to entertain the kid and see how it goes. Since we didn't have any plans, it's just a staycation to do some doctors appointments and other things.

The first day wore me out. Today was better. Here's hoping I actually get to rest and relax just a little.

Stay tuned!

The punny possibilities

I love Medscape. They have some of the best free resources on the planet.

However, when I read this article about RGS, I had to bite my tongue and wonder if this was some early April Fools Day joke.

Yes, it's a different kind of disorder for sure!


Stay tuned...

Daily gratitude

Some days seem worse than others, but when I look around, it really isn't so bad.

1. I can afford to pay for my mistakes --traffic and parking tickets--without fear of going to jail.

2. I can go to work without fear of death while I'm there doing my job.

3. I am reasonably healthy. I woke up today.

These privileges are not afforded to everyone. So I go out happy I am who I am; imperfect as it is. I'll take it!

Enjoy your Wednesday.

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!

Warm, sunny weekend

Yes! The snow is melting and it's a beautiful day in RehabLand.

Now back to the boring land of housework, aka the perils of working Monday through  Friday.

Enjoy your day wherever  you are.

Just say no

When they ask you to forward e-mails that just don't seem right at work, just say no or you could end up in a situation like this one.

That is all...more to come.

Little victories

Sometimes it's the little things that matter most.

• When you see a patient get up in a wheelchair after being in bed for months and he/she has a smile from ear to ear AND his/her blood pressure stays good the whole time.
• When the problem you've been working on for months finally gets resolved and you can give work away to someone else.
• When you see light at the end of the tunnel, because the week is over.

TGIF folks, wherever you are!

The bracing chill

Winter's hanging on here in RehabLand. I took a walk tonight in the brisk air after dinner. Glad I had on many layers and a good hat to cover my ears.

Work is still work, but at least, I'm rousing the troops. Things I've been trying to accomplish are finally falling into place. Even without a lot of executive buy-in, we're getting things done. It's going to change the dynamics of what we do in many ways.

I had a interview recently for a new job. It'll mean leaving the Hotel, but staying in the same hospital system. It really stressed me out (because I was a half hour early), but I was happy when I got it done. I know there were a lot of applicants. I just hope I'll be the one who gets it. I've passed up on a job like this twice before.

I'm hoping third time's the charm. Cross your fingers, light your candles, etc.

Stay tuned...

No planes, no trains, just automobiles

It's snowy in RehabLand and now Dahey's decided to get a new car (used really). The old Swedish monster has too many problems to solve, so we may as well look for something else.  Most of the searching has been given to me. He just likes to veto what I find.

We thought we found an old VW in good shape. On his test drive, one of the indicator sticks broke. The salesman was pressuring us to buy it. It was snowing like mad. My husband wanted more maintenance information from their repair staff. The salesmen wouldn't call them or look it up online.I finally told the salesman the only way we'd buy right that second was if it would be if it would fit on the credit card limit in my purse. ( I had one with a 5k limit).

He and (the ever present) manager were offended and refused (since it was a lowball, but in the ballpark offer). I felt relieved because all I wanted to do was get dinner.

The restaurant was one we've always wanted to try. So did nearly half of the nearby town, too. It was packed. You wouldn't have guessed there was a snow storm raging outside. We finally got in after 45 minutes waiting near the door where the cold air kept blowing in and stupid coeds kept opening it. Lots of food, so plenty of leftovers and good prices.

After our lovely dinner, we got on the road to drive 20 miles home. The roads were snow covered and in some parts, pretty icy. It took nearly an hour to get home and the most harrowing part was within five miles of our house.

Just when you think you've gotten away from the crazy drivers, another would appear. I was thrilled to get home. The local snow plow brigade started on our street just as I was going to bed.

Alas, the scrape of the plow was my lullaby, but that sure beats icy roads any day!

Now for Monday and the crazy specialist I get to deal with.  Time for a prophylactic Tums.

Stay tuned...

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!

The light bulb moment

While I was reading some articles on being productive, I ran into this one and it summed up the Hotel to a T. We have had nothing but management changes for the last four years.

I don't consider myself an older employee, but the Hotel has a wide variety (and more older) people in our area.

This part was very familiar.

When I noticed the age difference between my colleagues and me, I immediately thought, “There’s no way they’re going to respect a young girl who’s fresh out of college.” And what’s worse: I let these thoughts infiltrate my management style—I avoided confrontation with the older employees, figuring that they wouldn’t be receptive to my coaching or feedback because I was so young.

And that was my biggest—and most costly—mistake. I didn’t hold my employees accountable, and let their poor performance slide. Since I wasn’t actually managing my employees, I wasn’t doing my job as a boss: helping them succeed.

The range of topics is endless

No, folks, but it surely seems that way.

How my day went today:

1. Took Bubba to school again today since it's still below freezing. Guess he's just spoiled, even if his walk to school is short.

I don't want Children/Family Services getting my license for frostbite, if you know what I mean!

2. Went to work and Dahey actually called in the AM

It is a miracle. He's forgotten his phone every day but today. Somehow, he never forgets his lunch.

3.  Sat down at my desk to do "paperwork" (aka trees we kill in the name of a "paperless work environment".) Realized it was time to get up almost three hours later.

Wow! I do get a ton of work done when I shut my door. Unfortunately, some paperwork is not as redemptive as others.

4. Heard this argument multiple times from very unhappy people (aka  my travelling NP buddy) who had to create a discharge summary on a patient who was at the Hotel with a long, complex course. The curses at copy/paste  in the medical record went on and on.

5. Found out that one of my favorite internet sites scooped a big story in health care. Whoa!

Makes me wonder if the Hotel operations will be a take over target.

Stay tuned...

My turn: UTI rodeo

First, my sister had it. Now it's my turn for a UTI.

Thankfully, I'm good at diagnosing myself, and my wonderful ob/gyn doc is willing to take me pronto on a slow day to do a culture and write a script.

Now it's hurry up and wait with some Macrobid. Ugh!

She'll end up like Martha

Martha Stewart that is.

Bubba recently went to a fundraiser at his school, Esteemed Educator Junior High. We sat in a group with a seventh grade girl from the Honor Society and her mother, who was very nice. Blondie was one of those highly strung types who was in love with Harry Potter and wants to be a business executive when she grows up.

I expected Blondie (not her real name) to not know Bubba because she  is in a different grade. She kind of looked at him with disdain. Bubba, thankfully, tends to ignore/not notice girls who act silly.

We played a version of Family Feud and Bubba and Blondie guessed most of the answers, since they came from a poll of the seventh grade. Blondie is also a member of the Honor Society who totaled up the poll results and scored them.

Blondie kept telling her mother, "I'm not cheating, I'm using my resources." I really had to bite my tongue. Let's just hope Blondie doesn't get it into her head to join any of the more trusted professions, like nursing.

Because she may have to learn first that what she is doing really IS cheating. As the old adage goes, cheaters never win.

More later...

One step forward, two steps back...

This seems to be the story of the unit I work with. Our upper Manglement wants to beat the Hotel into submission, then not be responsible for the consequences.

Here are a few shining examples:

1. Demanding staff be rushed through orientation because "they are not new nurses." 

Hello folks! Rehab nurses with a clue are not born, they are made by training and learning on the job. Notice: TRAINING comes first.

If we don't train our people properly while they are in orientation, we suffer the consequences.

One of my coworkers told me of a situation that nearly had me in tears. One of our patients with a newer trach went home without supplies for it, without any apparent instruction AND without an obturator!

This was just one complaint regarding this patient's stay. There were others. If I worked there, I'd fear for my license.

2. Don't do care coordination

Somebody should be doing it, everybody knows about it and nobody seems to be doing it in our neck of the woods.

My personal favorite: we now have "RN case managers" who say it's not their job.

3. Have a fit because our patients stay a long time at the Hotel.

Case in point: Guy gets discharged after lengthy hospital stay through no fault of his own (got sick with not one but several nasty bugs). Lived to tell about it, then our department gets yelled at because the patient didn't leave fast enough.

He/she was there  so long that he/she was discharged earlier than should have been expected (needed to do transfers independently).

Lo and behold, we get a call less than two weeks later. Guess what Patient X wants to do? Come back for rehab.

There went that readmission rate. Oh well!

Can you tell I'm glad it's Friday? I knew you could. Happy weekend to all!

What we will do for the ones we love

My Bubba has a cold. I went and got him a treat.

My sister needed a ride home from the hospital recently. I took her  home, and even offered her favorite thing, Starbucks.

Dahey likes sweets, so I made some banana cake for him to take with him to work today.

My widowed aunt asked me to "go along to a presentation" by a company here in RehabLand that sells nutraceuticals. They work with a soy product that will "save your world." where every member of the audience (she and I were the crowd) who used the product (6 different people) had a testimonial about how it cured everything from rheumatoid arthritis to depression and some forms of cancer.

Since it was snowing, not many folks showed up, even though Warren Buffett owns a network marketing company.

Some things are easier to do than others.

Good night!

Things not to do as a nurse, February edition

Yes, the fun never stops in RehabLand. Days ago, the State Board sends out renewal notices and today, they send out their regular newsletter.

Guess it's a reminder to answer those questions correctly.

We have plenty of our regulars: lapsed licenses and drug testing abuses. Here's the ones from this edition that you really need to put on your "DO NOT" list, students (and any other RNs for that matter...).

1. Do not attempt to substitute blue mouthwash.
Yes, we all know that certain forms of morphine smell just like some of the mouthwashes on the market, but stealing pain meds from terminally ill patients, is, was, and ever shall be unforgivable.

It will also cost you your license (there were actually two mouthwash switchers in this edition from RehabLand State Board of Nursing).

2. Don't go to a party, get wasted, then trespass.
This is also a problem, especially when you are convicted.

3. Do not share your Pyxis/Omnicell/drug dispenser password.
One person lost his/her license for this (and diverting narcs), but my question is, what happened to the idiot who shared the password?

Here at the Hotel, you would be fired for violating the information security policy.

Speaking of policies...follow them.

4. Don't assess the patient after a violent incident involving security.
This nurse was reprimanded for leaving that lil' old task to someone else. If your facility states you will assess following any altercations you must.

Besides, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Remember: you're considered in a position of power.

5. Don't just "borrow" a retiring physician's prescription pad.
When you are from a little town, people talk. And those pharmacists are smart. Hence the reason why they didn't fill any of your prescriptions.

And finally, my personal favorite:

6. Don't go offroading in the company car.
This applies to anyone really, not just nurses, unless of course your company car is an off-road vehicle and/or your job demands it.

Home health RN was out on his/her regular route seeing patients when he/she ran off road and damaged the axel of the car, requiring towing. Luckily, no one was hurt, but since this is a recordable incident while on duty, HHRN was required to submit to a drug screen.

As you may have guessed, he/she flunked (positive for marijuana). Remember kids, buzzed driving, driving while high (or getting high during working hours) is really NOT a good thing.

How to tell

If your nurse manager reads the Wall Street Journal. I decided to pay attention to my manager's communications and noticed:

1. He/she follows his/her name with his/her MBA or MPH credential. Master's degrees in other areas besides nursing have a cachet today.

2. Your boss's e-mail signature includes the subtitle of this article.

3.  Finally, your boss is becoming a walking buzzword machine, and once you read a few articles, you'll see all of them.

That is all...TGIF!

Biennial joy

Yes, I've been looking for this for a while: the infamous renewal mail from the RehabLand State Board of Nursing.

The last renewal period, the Manglement at the Hotel thought it would be nice to terrorize anyone who did not renew in advance (meaning the second it was mailed out). One of my coworkers got a nastygram from the CNO stating, "Your employment can be terminated if this is not renewed one month early per the Hotel police."

Oh, really? You want to terminate hardworking nurses because they did not renew their license FAR ahead of time? Thankfully, said CNO has retired and hopefully, is enjoying the sunsets somewhere else, far, far away (and gets sand kicked in his/her face from time to time).

Even with online renewal (which is LOVELY), please folks, take your time filling these out. They  have some serious questions (including some new ones below). If the answer to any is YES, you cannot fill them out online. (So glad I'm a no!)

Since you last renewed, have you ever been convicted, adjudged guilty by a court, pled guilty, pled nolo contendere or entered an alford plea to any traffic offense resulting from or related to the use of drugs or alcohol, whether or not sentence was imposed? (this includes a disposition of a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), suspended execution of sentence (SES), or placement in a post plea alternative or diversion court and includes municipal charges of driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence and/or driving with excessive blood alcohol content.)
Yes No
Moral of the story: Drinking then driving can cause issues with your license for years.

Since you last renewed, have you had a judgment rendered against you based upon fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or malpractice related to your practice as a nurse?
Yes No
Moral of the story: Don't steal, lie, cheat or commit any other fraud. Leave the pyramid schemes to someone else. You don't have time for that.

NEW! Are you listed on any state or federal sexual offender list? (they thought this up after a few issues)
Yes No
Moral of the story: Yes, we have to ask, and yes, it can be a problem. Just another thing not to do as a nurse

By checking the following box, I declare that all statements or representations submitted with this application are made under oath or affirmation and are true and correct to my best knowledge under penalty of section XXX which specifies that anyone who makes a false statement in writing with intent to mislead a public official in the performance of his official duties is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
   
Select this box if you agree to ALL the above statements and have answered all questions that were presented.

Moral of the story: If you don't, you have some explaining to do...on paper via mail.

I'm so glad I'm done. Happy renewing!

Cold again

Yes, the temperature is dropping and I have a virus form holding my sinuses hostage.

After consulting some of my favorite people (the neighborhood pharmacists, since BFF Rx is out of town) I've found a cocktail that is making life manageable.(Dayquil + Zyrtec)

I just hope I can talk today. Yesterday, despite tea and cough drops, was not so good.

Since Bubba  and Dahey will be indulging in a long weekend starting Friday, so will I. I just hope to spend it getting well, not being sick.

Stay tuned...

More on interviewing

Yes, I know I talked about this last year, but since I'm now on my 10th interview panel (I did a bunch last year), I've found a few more things to add:

Things that may cause us not to hire you:

1. If you are a travel nurse and tell me you just want this job until a gig comes up in Florida, you may not get hired.

Yes, spring will be in RehabLand soon. Why should we bother our HR folks to do a whole bunch of work if you won't stay anyway?

2. If you have issues, we may not hire you. As part of a credentialing process, we have to do a background check.

The state of RehabLand will not renew your RN license if you have tax issues.

3. If you may be part of an investigation due to criminal wrongdoing and/or a sentinel event, thanks for letting us know, but we may not select you for hire.

A really unusual job

Yes, in the life of a rehab nurse, it's all about bowel, bladder and skin.

So I was intrigued when I read an article recently about how one company needs stool donors to fight C. difficile.

Sure, some shifts it seems like you have people who want to compete in a "how many times can I stool" competition.

Just be warned, as the article I read mentioned, "It's harder to get into this program than it is to get into M.I.T." You must be local, and you will be paid for your efforts: about $13,000 per year.

Feel free to share with those friends who are in their neighborhood. I'm sure they won't mind at all.

Happy weekend to all!

Bright, shiny, and WARM here in RehabLand. Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you may be.

Let it go

I'm singing that song in my head a lot lately. Since we've had a full moon this week, I think some of our more melodramatic, er, crazy folks have been living up to the hype.

One of my favorite moments: the idiot who said, "We really shouldn't help you. You're not in our department and you're too much work."

"Really?" I said? "We work for the same company and have the same patients." It's a good thing this was a virtual meeting (i.e. he was nowhere near me). It made things really interesting for the new MD who just joined our group. I will remember this when said idiot needs paperwork help soon. 

I love it when 1) someone neglects to tell you when they have a problem, 2) when you find out, you go to all the proper people to resolve it and get a root cause, then finally 3) said melodramatist decides, in her best Scarlett O'Hara routine to tell everyone, "I just can't do it because nothing works right."

I have one potential job on the horizon, I turned down one, and another in the wings.

So very ready to let all of this BS go.

Stay tuned...

For Phil tomorrow...

Yes, folks, it's one of the ONLY days of the year that we watch rodents with pomp and circumstance. It's Groundhog Day eve.

It is Super Bowl Sunday, but you have to admit, Groundhog Day is pretty fun, too, even without multimillion dollar commercials. So lots of sites, like Cake Wrecks, are celebrating Phil and all the other furry characters around the country who will be busy prognosticating early tomorrow morning.

And if it's not on in your area, check out the classic movie Groundhog Day.

I will be thinking of all of you, because I'll be hoping my day (and yours) doesn't keep replaying and that someone predicts an early spring.

Happy Groundhog Day to all...