I just hope...

I don't kill my new office mate. Since I forgot to take some stuff into my office before the holidays, I dropped what I needed off. I noticed my helpful coworker moved stuff on my desk. Not because he/she needed to do something near my desk. I think it was "just because".

I admit I have OCD, but when someone moves around stuff on your desk, when essential equipment (i.e. your computer) hasn't even been moved by the IT staff (since most of them took off Friday, too), I get frustrated.

Needless to say, I moved it all back. I'll call my IT guy myself, since I saw my trouble ticket, i.e. the ticket to officially move, was not touched. My neighbor had no PC, either, and we have no connected phones.

This may take some getting used to at first. Thankfully, this person roams to our other clinics.

I'll be counting the days...

Stay tuned.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, it's been a crazy week. I am however so thankful for so many things.

I have so many things: I have a nice home, a car for each driver, and a good job to pay for it all.

I was able to take a couple of vacations with my family this summer. I also got to travel for work and for a group I belong to. I was able to afford it (or my employer paid my way).

I got a raise. It seemed like it took forever (almost three years), but when I read an article recently about a man who worked in a fast food restaurant (and two other jobs) who had not gotten ANY raise in three years, I count myself fortunate to have been given a substantial raise.

I have my health (even if I have a pesky cold right now). I have good health insurance (that came with my job) so I could afford preventative care.

I followed preventative care guidelines and hopefully (will know soon) will avoid losing one very important sense. I can't say I'm thankful enough for that. I hope to be a voice to advocate to others, to not skip on this important means of detecting life-changing conditions.

When I watch the news, we see so many terrible things. Riots, looting, destruction of small businesses, and death. I am thankful that as a caring member of my community in RehabLand (and as a citizen of the world), I can make a difference. I can donate to the food pantries, homeless shelters, and even to the small business owners of Ferguson, MO.

I am immensely thankful. Thank you for reading this and sharing my blog with others. I appreciate it.

Happy Thanksgiving to all wherever you are. Real nurses celebrate Thanksgiving every day, because they work every day. Thank you police, fire and EMS folks, who are also there with us. We couldn't do it without you.

More to come..

Rehab nursing in a nutshell: the series

Oh, since I'm still thinking about  what I learned at a recent rehab nurses conference, I figure I'll share what I've learned along the way.

If you haven't already read some of the old stuff in this blog, feel free to go back in time. I've tried to keep most of the stuff that captures how I felt as a new nurse.

Frankly, being a new nurse wherever you are is scary. There are nice people out there, and there are the trolls and Nurse Ratcheds who will make your life hell (or at least attempt).

First rule: DO NOT LET THEM.  Sometimes the best thing you can do is to find a mentor (if you are in a residency program, thank your lucky stars...) and learn how to be a good nurse.

You can learn on your own some of the additional stuff you need to know in rehab.

Just remember Rule number 2: you will never stop learning. Don't even try, don't get sedentary, don't get sedate.

I can't tell you how many over 60+ year old nurses I saw at the recent rehab conference. Three of the original 12 nurses who started one group showed up. One had a cane, but let me tell you, she used that cane with confidence, and she went from session to session, several which I attended.

Our closing speaker (a nurse) helped his/her mom complete her CEUs for her license. She's 84.

Not sure if she's a rehab nurse, but she would have fit in fine with all of us (and would have ended up with lots of CEUs).

That's enough of an assignment for today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, wherever you are.

More to come...stay tuned.

For that one patient...

Who claims to have met lots of famous people. This story reminded me of you.

I know you'd deny it, but it would have been fun to share. Nevertheless...I digress.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Temps are dropping...

And they are calling for snow. I guess winter really is around the corner!

Bubba is asleep early. I hope none of his classmates shared any special viruses they got during Thanksgiving.

More to come...

A decent start to the year

Slept in...finally! No fireworks, dogs or snoring husbands woke me today.

Had a nice brunch, a lovely stroll and a good start to a relaxing day at home. So glad my relative who was having a party cancelled, since she's got some intestinal bug of the month.

Some things I just don't want to share this year...