One day you get a terminal diagnosis, like Mr. X. Madge, our NP, briefs the staff by saying, "Mr. X. may complain of a sudden pain and that will be it." Lots of people are worried, about you, but we do a pretty good job of bluffing sometimes.
You finally realize that maybe you should go to hospice, because, even though your siblings love you, they just don't know if they can take losing you by themselves at home. As usual, for some people, the Hotel becomes their home for many reasons, as it did for Mr. X.
Our docs get ready to send you to the hospice unit. You say you're okay with that and wheel around in your chair. Your relatives come and even bring your little dog, Fido, who's missed you ever since you've been gone on this odyssey of one life-threatening event after another.
That day, your sister comes for lunch and brings you the biggest burger from Burgers-R-Us nearby, which you tell us are the best ever (just like the sign out front says) and you eat your lunch out on the patio.You go to bed, telling staff you're happy, after a wonderful, sunny day.
Early the next morning, Sasha, the night nurse, finds you. Unresponsive. Gone. She wept and wept. It was her first death on the unit.
She wept for all of us.
We'll miss you, Mr. X., your family and your little dog, too. Godspeed...
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Too darned hot, part 77
First part: get an e-mail from the gal in HR processing an incentive program for you. Have to escape the office to drive to her office on company time (yippee!) Hot, hot, hot. Had fun, though. Susie, always has the darnedest stories about the idiocies of trying to recruit for the Hotel and Washington and our system.
"Hey, if they need you, you get the incentive period. Don't know why Idiot X in that department cares. Needs to get her panties out of a bunch."
I love Susie. Wish she could order more executives around!
Later, sitting in the drive-thru of the chicken place Bubba chose as his "eat out nite" place was brutal today. As Murphy would have it, we had to line up behind a van load of people with special orders.
Technically, it's was only 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but the temp gauge on my old car said 120 degrees.
Glad that twenty minutes of my day is over and done.
More to come...
"Hey, if they need you, you get the incentive period. Don't know why Idiot X in that department cares. Needs to get her panties out of a bunch."
I love Susie. Wish she could order more executives around!
Later, sitting in the drive-thru of the chicken place Bubba chose as his "eat out nite" place was brutal today. As Murphy would have it, we had to line up behind a van load of people with special orders.
Technically, it's was only 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but the temp gauge on my old car said 120 degrees.
Glad that twenty minutes of my day is over and done.
More to come...
Monday, July 30, 2012
A rainy postscript
Dear Spirits of the Water:
Yes, I did wash my windows to get it to rain recently.
However, I did not return back to work recently so it could "rain" inside when the idiots from maintenance found out why that shower clogged in the restroom above the office next door.
It's really better for equipment that costs way more than a nice BMW to stay clean and dry at all times, not just on some days.
Thank you maintenance for fixing the problem quickly. I love working in an old building.
Truly dry now, I am,
Sincerely yours,
RehabRN
Yes, I did wash my windows to get it to rain recently.
However, I did not return back to work recently so it could "rain" inside when the idiots from maintenance found out why that shower clogged in the restroom above the office next door.
It's really better for equipment that costs way more than a nice BMW to stay clean and dry at all times, not just on some days.
Thank you maintenance for fixing the problem quickly. I love working in an old building.
Truly dry now, I am,
Sincerely yours,
RehabRN
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Hallelujah, it's raining!
Keep it up and maybe my flowers will stop wilting!
No silly, just rain, not men. Hearing that phrase did make me think of this song though...blast from the past.
Happy weekend everyone wherever you are...
No silly, just rain, not men. Hearing that phrase did make me think of this song though...blast from the past.
Happy weekend everyone wherever you are...
Saturday, July 28, 2012
It's official!
Only one more semester of grad school left...and hopefully, not one more group project, since I won't have my partner, Q. on my team anymore (we won't have any more classes together but will graduate together).
I made darned sure I celebrated...woo hoo! Happy weekend to me.
Off for three or so weeks, then the countdown begins!
Stay tuned.
I made darned sure I celebrated...woo hoo! Happy weekend to me.
Off for three or so weeks, then the countdown begins!
Stay tuned.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Working vacation
Around the house. Since I've been a busy grad school student in addition to work, I have been neglectful of my duties as chief housekeeper so it was time for an intervention. Yes, I finally buckled down, and decluttered my son's entire room (I left some stuff for him to do, though).
After that, I vacuumed, dusted and cleaned the floors. I also washed all the linens and curtains in the room. I will wash the windows before I go back to work if it doesn't rain (or I'll cure the drought with my window washing!)
Another fun task: bagging up, washing and distributing old stuff (clothes, toys, books) to one of the local charity thrift shops. Bubba doesn't want it--it's going to them. They are more than happy to sell off his stuff he no longer plays with for me. No craigslist, no weirdos coming to my house or meeting me in a nearby mall parking lot. So much simpler!
Today, I finished up some more cleaning and decluttering in my room. It's not completely done, but the start is better than what we had! So, so happy.
If only every vacation could be as productive as this one!
Stay tuned!
After that, I vacuumed, dusted and cleaned the floors. I also washed all the linens and curtains in the room. I will wash the windows before I go back to work if it doesn't rain (or I'll cure the drought with my window washing!)
Another fun task: bagging up, washing and distributing old stuff (clothes, toys, books) to one of the local charity thrift shops. Bubba doesn't want it--it's going to them. They are more than happy to sell off his stuff he no longer plays with for me. No craigslist, no weirdos coming to my house or meeting me in a nearby mall parking lot. So much simpler!
Today, I finished up some more cleaning and decluttering in my room. It's not completely done, but the start is better than what we had! So, so happy.
If only every vacation could be as productive as this one!
Stay tuned!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
My kind of gal
Yes, I'll admit it. I really enjoy reading some obituaries. I particularly liked reading this one in the New York Times recently about a children's author.
Her mother told her to never get a tattoo or she'd regret it. She got one anyway, and it was a great story.
Makes me think about the patient who had a four leaf clover on his hip. He got it just because he always wanted to have one...
Her mother told her to never get a tattoo or she'd regret it. She got one anyway, and it was a great story.
Makes me think about the patient who had a four leaf clover on his hip. He got it just because he always wanted to have one...
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Spot on
I do have to say, despite not considering myself a politico of any sort, I do enjoy political debates. Some of the personalities, however, drive me nuts.
As a student in the 1980s, like a lot of people my age, I thought Bill Bennett was the crazy schoolmaster intent on robbing us of having a good time and simply thinking up more rules we didn't need.
He even has his own conservative radio show. I don't listen to Rush or Bill or any of the other characters either. But while perusing my nightly off-topic reading (my escape from work life and school), I ran into this article William Bennett wrote about the "Aurora Three", posted today.
It made me realize that this is not a conservative value he's talking about...it's a human one.Those young guys really were heroes, especially to their girlfriends. They are also a reminder of the potential hero in everyone of us.
As a student in the 1980s, like a lot of people my age, I thought Bill Bennett was the crazy schoolmaster intent on robbing us of having a good time and simply thinking up more rules we didn't need.
He even has his own conservative radio show. I don't listen to Rush or Bill or any of the other characters either. But while perusing my nightly off-topic reading (my escape from work life and school), I ran into this article William Bennett wrote about the "Aurora Three", posted today.
It made me realize that this is not a conservative value he's talking about...it's a human one.Those young guys really were heroes, especially to their girlfriends. They are also a reminder of the potential hero in everyone of us.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
An old saying
The complete phrase is "my word is my bond" meaning that just by giving your word, one can be assured that the promise will be kept.
Too bad no one really means it any more when they tell you they'll do something.
More later....
Too bad no one really means it any more when they tell you they'll do something.
More later....
Call me a cynic...
But I found this quote highly ironic in one of the "winners" press releases for the award:
"The annual U.S.News rehabilitation hospitals list is based on independent surveys of randomly selected board-certified physicians specializing in rehabilitation medicine who were asked to name the hospitals that provide the best care to patients with serious conditions, regardless of location or expense."
Why on earth would outcomes actually count for anything? (scratches head)
Just my $0.02...
"The annual U.S.News rehabilitation hospitals list is based on independent surveys of randomly selected board-certified physicians specializing in rehabilitation medicine who were asked to name the hospitals that provide the best care to patients with serious conditions, regardless of location or expense."
Why on earth would outcomes actually count for anything? (scratches head)
Just my $0.02...
Monday, July 23, 2012
Ever have a Monday? I did.
My Monday:
1. Get up, drive Bubba to camp, have gas light come on.
2. Drop Bubba off at camp, go to gas station.
3. Get blocked in by monster truck (luckily monster left before I was ready to go.)
4. Get behind every slow idiot who does not understand the difference between a yield sign and a merge sign. For some reason this is a HUGE problem here in RehabLand.
Remember kids, yield is red (may need to stop), merge is yellow (go slow, don't stop dead)...
5. Go to work and find out you need to sign more useless papers. (Don't sign them because they are as useless as the last ones.)
6. Find out that the scheduled opening of the patient unit really isn't as scheduled. This means your programs have to find a new home until it is open.
7. Spend a good chunk of the morning doing admin work on room arrangements, etc. Secretaries don't do that...that would be WORK (a 4 letter word)!
8. Finally get all the details done, e-mails sent, arranged, rearranged and technical details scheduled. How much of this really required an RN?
If you guessed absolute zero, you are correct.
9. Meanwhile, secretary is still attached to desk phone whispering each time I pass the printer. Would love to audit her phone log! (Which would require an Act of Congress). If I had a dollar for every minute she wastes, every copier she leaves run out of paper, ink, toner, etc. (and every single one is no more than 20 feet from her desk)...
10. Eat lunch, attend a conference call.
11. Get a call that Bubba is sick. Dahey to do pickup duty.
12. Get on conference call that starts, stops and sputters. Give up when I can't hear a thing.
13. Finally get everything done and go home.
14. Start to wind down and relax...and another telemarketer calls.
15. Thank goodness for online complaint submissions!
1. Get up, drive Bubba to camp, have gas light come on.
2. Drop Bubba off at camp, go to gas station.
3. Get blocked in by monster truck (luckily monster left before I was ready to go.)
4. Get behind every slow idiot who does not understand the difference between a yield sign and a merge sign. For some reason this is a HUGE problem here in RehabLand.
Remember kids, yield is red (may need to stop), merge is yellow (go slow, don't stop dead)...
5. Go to work and find out you need to sign more useless papers. (Don't sign them because they are as useless as the last ones.)
6. Find out that the scheduled opening of the patient unit really isn't as scheduled. This means your programs have to find a new home until it is open.
7. Spend a good chunk of the morning doing admin work on room arrangements, etc. Secretaries don't do that...that would be WORK (a 4 letter word)!
8. Finally get all the details done, e-mails sent, arranged, rearranged and technical details scheduled. How much of this really required an RN?
If you guessed absolute zero, you are correct.
9. Meanwhile, secretary is still attached to desk phone whispering each time I pass the printer. Would love to audit her phone log! (Which would require an Act of Congress). If I had a dollar for every minute she wastes, every copier she leaves run out of paper, ink, toner, etc. (and every single one is no more than 20 feet from her desk)...
10. Eat lunch, attend a conference call.
11. Get a call that Bubba is sick. Dahey to do pickup duty.
12. Get on conference call that starts, stops and sputters. Give up when I can't hear a thing.
13. Finally get everything done and go home.
14. Start to wind down and relax...and another telemarketer calls.
15. Thank goodness for online complaint submissions!
Interesting services on the street
They've got lots of different entrepreneurs in India. I don't think our NP is going to hit the streets doing this...yet.
If we can do drive-thru flu shots, who know what's next?
If we can do drive-thru flu shots, who know what's next?
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Summer...according to Nat
Roll out those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer...
Enjoying my Sunday. Hope you all are too, wherever you may be! Back next week...grad school Hell will indeed end! Stay tuned.
Enjoying my Sunday. Hope you all are too, wherever you may be! Back next week...grad school Hell will indeed end! Stay tuned.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
A political message
(WARNING: political message)
I noticed a lot of themes in President Obama's and Mitt Romney's messages for the Colorado shooting victims:
love, help, cooperation, compassion, coming together, reaching out.
Now can we keep up the sentiment for the rest of the year? Would be nice!
(end of political message)
I noticed a lot of themes in President Obama's and Mitt Romney's messages for the Colorado shooting victims:
love, help, cooperation, compassion, coming together, reaching out.
Now can we keep up the sentiment for the rest of the year? Would be nice!
(end of political message)
Friday, July 20, 2012
Sadness in Colorado
To my friends in Aurora, I'm praying for all of you after all the craziness today.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Some people...
Just get my dander up being veritable 'holes, if you know what I mean. They are the "holier than thous" who really are downright mean to patients and don't even notice.
Unless, of course, you do something really damaging to a patient, like move the internet router from his/her room so it can be shared across the hall for others.
This particular hole is very irritating. So glad tomorrow is Friday...and I'm sneaking out early.
Unless, of course, you do something really damaging to a patient, like move the internet router from his/her room so it can be shared across the hall for others.
This particular hole is very irritating. So glad tomorrow is Friday...and I'm sneaking out early.
Rejected
You know it's a bad day when....
Mr. X, our guy from yesterday, is told he needs to get emergency surgery. Washington takes him via ambulance, then, the surgeon there says, "Nope. It's too complicated. We can't do anything."
Said surgeon gets on the phone to World Renown, the major medical center (ranked way up there in all those polls/surveys/popularity contests) which performs ground-breaking medical procedures.
Patient goes to World Renown to Uber Surgeon. We get a call at the desk from Dr. F. Mr.X. has been declined for surgery. Uber Surgeon says he is not a candidate. Report is called to the floor and Mr. X. rolls back in with a red baseball cap on looking tired and squirmy on the stretcher.
"Nice cap," I tell him, and give him a pat on the arm, as the drivers brought him back to the unit and I passed him in the hall.
I wish there was more I could do. What do you say to a man who got his terminal diagnosis today?
Very, very sad...
Mr. X, our guy from yesterday, is told he needs to get emergency surgery. Washington takes him via ambulance, then, the surgeon there says, "Nope. It's too complicated. We can't do anything."
Said surgeon gets on the phone to World Renown, the major medical center (ranked way up there in all those polls/surveys/popularity contests) which performs ground-breaking medical procedures.
Patient goes to World Renown to Uber Surgeon. We get a call at the desk from Dr. F. Mr.X. has been declined for surgery. Uber Surgeon says he is not a candidate. Report is called to the floor and Mr. X. rolls back in with a red baseball cap on looking tired and squirmy on the stretcher.
"Nice cap," I tell him, and give him a pat on the arm, as the drivers brought him back to the unit and I passed him in the hall.
I wish there was more I could do. What do you say to a man who got his terminal diagnosis today?
Very, very sad...
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I know I'm not having a bad day
I knew I was not having a bad day when I heard/observed the following:
1. One of my friends announced on Facebook that she got fired from a firm that she had worked for a very long time. Reason: she took too many sick days? Why? She has a medical condition exacerbated by stress.
Oh, you lawyers, karma's a b*&ch as they say...
2. One of my patients, who was up rolling around while waiting for his sister to come with his little dog to visit before it's too hot said, "Bob, I can't play cards at lunch today. I'm going to have to leave by then. The docs told me I have to have emergency surgery. I hope I make it back for another time."
One of the docs wrote in his notes: "Patient has been made aware that the surgery may be fatal."
We can only pray...and that made me say, "No, I am not having a bad day at all."
1. One of my friends announced on Facebook that she got fired from a firm that she had worked for a very long time. Reason: she took too many sick days? Why? She has a medical condition exacerbated by stress.
Oh, you lawyers, karma's a b*&ch as they say...
2. One of my patients, who was up rolling around while waiting for his sister to come with his little dog to visit before it's too hot said, "Bob, I can't play cards at lunch today. I'm going to have to leave by then. The docs told me I have to have emergency surgery. I hope I make it back for another time."
One of the docs wrote in his notes: "Patient has been made aware that the surgery may be fatal."
We can only pray...and that made me say, "No, I am not having a bad day at all."
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Got a couple of customers for this one
Thanks Grumpy for this ass-tonishing story. (Yes, stop groaning...bad pun, I know).
There are a couple of our Hotel customers who surely could use one set of these with all the complaints we get from them.
There are a couple of our Hotel customers who surely could use one set of these with all the complaints we get from them.
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