Signs of the end of summer

It was too good to last. Yes, summer is trying to escape here in RehabLand. It didn't even get to 90 degrees today, and for August, that's cool. The pools are still open (mostly on the weekends) but many are getting ready for the last weekend: Labor Day.

I escaped today as I usually do. I have to go on rounds at Washington, so if I'm not feeling adventurous, I just hop on a shuttle bus. The trip is short, so I don't see much. Standing outside is the part I like if the weather is nice: seeing the sun and soaking up some rays (even if I'm wearing heavy-duty sunscreen to avoid both cancer and wrinkles). Today was glorious. The potted plants aren't wilted and the flowers are blooming again as if it's spring.

The patients like this weather too. When you can convince your therapist to take you outside for a game, or to go wheeling around campus, you've won. We call it community integration and on days like today, it's a good thing.

Why? Because you learn how to get up and down curbs (and how to gauge where the water will be when it rains) and despite whatever illness or injury put you in a wheelchair, for the moment, you're free to hang out and be a lounge lizard. Don't worry, our patients get sunscreen too. Orders for sunscreen are harbingers of spring around the Hotel, just like the swallows coming back to Capistrano.

However, the shuttle trips never last. I'm always dropped off at the door to reality. And today, someone is waiting. Waiting for me, the resident expert, to help them solve one more problem, before they go off into the summery, yet cool sunshine.

I'll take it any day! Hope you enjoy every minute of gorgeous whenever it comes your way.

More later...

Nuggets for May 19

Yes, it's Tuesday again, and I'm waiting for my car today. So since Starbucks is so lovely, I remembered the ear buds and am listening to intermittent Christmas music, yes, on May 19, thanks to Adore Jazz.

Here are a few goodies I've run into in between reading for my cert exam and writing an essay.

From my ANA SmartBrief (via e-mail)
Hospital secret shoppers looking for handwashing violators (at wcvb.com)
Just use that hand sanitizer or wash please!

Just another reason to get your red dress on...
Gender disparities seen in EMS care for chest pain (from reuters.com) I was thinking about this the other day when I was talking to my grade school friend who just got a new mitral valve (along with a free CABG x 4...yes 4)

On the job hunt
Okay, all you nursing school grads, and general job hunters, here are a couple of great articles on things to do for your interview and things not to do for your job interview (both from nursinglink.com)

'Tis the season
It's getting warm in our neck of the woods and sunny, too. Memorial Day is right around the corner, and you know what that means...the pools open and you spend more time out in the sun.

To keep your skin in shape keep an eye out for the signs of skin cancer. If you're high risk, like yours truly, stock up on your favorite sunscreen and stay out of the sun if you can avoid it. If not, use that sunscreen liberally and cover as you can. You'll avoid scars and wrinkles that way, too.