Monday on Tuesday

Yes, the day after a holiday sucks on so many levels. People who can't take it (or imbibed too much) take off.

Otherwise, it seems like any other Tuesday. Except today didn't seem like a day after a holiday or Tuesday. Today, after our regular weekly meeting, (which was blissfully short) had a terrible pall.

One of my favorite interdisciplinary team members, C. is dying. Dying as we had our meeting, and were talking about our current crop of rehab patients. It reminded me of one other time where I went into report and the boss told us, "As we speak Mr. Warhero is dying." He was right: Warhero died that night. To me, how small and insignificant the meeting seemed today.

I finally left the meeting (after our chaplain prayed for him/her) and it got a little better. I buried myself in a project or two. As a result, I had to look at the way things have been going over the past few years. Thankfully, they are getting better.  C. helped us to get where we are. C. helped inspire other folks in his/her discipline to do the same.  We are not where I want us to be for our little group in the Hotel Rehab (I thought we'd be there three years ago...) but we are closer.

I was sad for so many things when C. retired last year, due to health reasons. Sad that I could no longer go down the hall and see him/her. Sad that we'd never get to work together and get your rehab program where it rightly belonged. Sad that I knew this day would eventually come.

'Twas a pity it came so soon. Godspeed you on your journey, C, and may the angels greet you and lead you to paradise. You've earned it.

Great blog post on nursing

I don't regularly follow NPR, but I came upon this blog post because of a therapist I work with at the Hotel. It speaks volumes.

Don't miss it! BTW see the movie if you get the chance. Kids or no kids, it's a good one.

Happy weekend wherever you are. You deserve it.

Spring break diversions

Yes, to keep the vacation atmosphere around here for one little boy: let's go out to eat more than usual. At least that part seemed like a vacation, even when you're staying home, and the parents are working.

I decided if I ever want to be a nursing instructor when I grow up, I ought to take some more education classes before I run out and get a terminal degree. I've been checking out MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from all over the world here. It seems like a better option than handing over my checkbook for every class.

I actually found a nice course by Curtis Bonk (yes, it's his real name) about using technology in teaching on one of the sites. I knew of a few, but the MOOC list has many I had never even heard of at all.

Professor Bonk has some interesting viewpoints.

1. You need critical friends, web buddies, e-mail pals in online classes.

2. Your blog will be there 100 years later. What you post today might be usable tomorrow. Your digital history may be available for centuries. (Wow was my first thought). The professor mentioned a friend who published the Come and see Africa blog. The author's died in 2010 in a car accident. Her blog remains.

This tidbit of that course provided a lot of food for thought today.I can only imagine what rehab nursing will be like in 100 years, and what would they think of this blog?

Today, I read an article that people are still trying to keep rehab hospitals relevant, when the pointy haired policy wonks want to send everyone to a skilled (nursing home) care facility for rehab.

Only time will tell...enjoy your night wherever you are.