Nobody cares

This is slightly a pity post

My birthday came and went - with NO one calling to wish me a happy birthday - sad face

My own kid didn't call me :(  - he "forgot" about  my birthday

My own mom didn't call me - her excuse - well it costs me 50 cents! OH GOSH that will break the bank!!!

My own BFF didn't call me - she says she tried - I saw a text message saying happy birthday but that's as close as it comes :(

I hate giving out the love but not getting it back

My birthday

Two hours ago I turned 33! Wow, where has the time flown to?!

My husband took me out for dinner yesterday - yummy Mandarin - a day early because it was crab leg day (yummo!) and today he made an appt for me to have a "hair spa day" - I get it shampoo'd, cut, highlighted and styled. I'm looking forward to this. It's been a while since that has been done so I'm excited! Especially considering my eldest graduates from elementary school at the end of this month (now I'm just showing my age!)!!!

When my littlest heard that hubby was taking JUST me out for dinner she threw an epic fit! She was aboslutely distraught that we were going to leave her behind. Her words "but you NEVER take me anywhere" - you could FEEL her desperation! Oh the woes of a 6 yr old!!! Funny thing was was that I took her for a special day - just her and I - just YESTERDAY (saturday) and we went shopping and had lunch together. We spent a bunch of special time just us together. We really enjoyed ourselves - so of course I had to point this out and you could tell that she got it even though she was still mightily upset - when I explained to her that she got special time with mommy that it was only fair that daddy also get special time with mommy to celebrate!

When I reach my birthday every year it makes me look at what I've accomplished. I feel like I'm behind the eight ball - it's taken me sooooo long trying to reach my goals. I live with my in-laws, I don't have my degree.... I started this whole road almost 13 years ago and I have fallen and faltered on it. When I look at my best friend I see where my road was supposed to go and where I "should" be right now. I'm seriously green with envy - I want what she has! I want her possessions and position. I hate that I'm in this position because of the road I've had to travel. Then again, without this road I wouldn't be the person I am. I know that my road brought me my loving husband who has given me the strength and support I've needed to pursue my nursing. We've BOTH made sacrifices to try to make our goals work.

This past year I was able to make it through a course that I have struggled to get past and I feel like I've made it around the bend - the one that's plagued me. I only have 5 more nursing courses before I finish this degree and boy can I not wait!

I'm hoping that in this next year I can make it successfully through these courses. I'm hoping that I can make these goals that I have set. I fear failure (who doesn't?!) but I also know that anything's possible.

To the possible!

Planning a mommy and daughter day

About 6 months ago I took it upon myself to take my little girl for a mommy and daughter date

We went shopping then I took her for lunch

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!

Then the other day I saw that my favorite consignment store was having a sale this coming weekend.

So yesterday after my Dr's appt I took a swing by and sure enough in the front window they had a sign about their upcoming sale.

So that cinched the deal and told hubby what I was going to do. He wasn't so psyched but gave the go ahead.

Then I told little girl about it and her response was "sure, and then we can go to Popeye's!"

HILARIOUS! It's the one place that Daddy doesn't like to go to so it's perfect.

Now I can't wait to go shopping with my little girl and get it for good prices!

Blood explosion

How does this happen to me????!!!!!

Now while the blood in the above picture is all on the floor - the explosion I was privy to was all over the floor, side rails, bedding, patient's hands, legs, hospital gown, even in their HAIR!!!

So here's how it all happened....

Settled my confused, ancient, patient who understands NO english to bed.... and went to complete charting as it was 2300hrs and I had a 1/2 hr before my shift was done so off I went.

However, my pt had been restless all evening long and was throwing their legs over the side rails. So since I was nervous that they would fall out of bed, I finished a couple of people's charting and then went to check on this patient. I guess it was intuition that something was going on.

I wish I had a picture that would illistrate the disaster I found. It was SHOCKING! What had happened was that the patient had managed to disconnect this part:

Which was still in the vein - from this part:

because there was this on: a statlock

And while I LOVE statlocks - the confused pt's always make life difficult because the things that are supposed to keep these patient's safe - such as pulling out an IV - they manage to do so anyways. As was the case with my patient.

So because the pt managed to disconnect the extension set from the IV cannula which meant that there was a direct access to the blood supply and away went this pt bleeding EVERYWHERE!!! I was so shocked when I went in there that the first this I did was grab the wrist because there was so much blood everywhere I didn't know WHAT had happened and I just wanted the bleeding to stop! But then I was perplexed because I needed help but I knew that all my colleagues were back at the nurses's station and NO where close enough to call for. It took me about 2 minutes of brainstorming before realizing that I could use the pt's bedside phone and call the nurses station.

But then it just rang and rang! Oh My Goodness!!! At last someone picked up and came to my rescue. I was able to figure out what had happened and reattached a new extension set to stop the bleeding. Then went about cleaning up the blood explosion - which took another 1/2 hr because of the amount of blood. Goodness it was a mess!

Happy ending to me for nurses' week!

Another one down

I officially got my marks for my courses -

Food history = A

Nursing for adults III = B-

Hubby isn't too thrilled about the B- but I have indicated that I was feeling burnt out this semster so it's pretty good in my book. I would have preferred a B or even a B+ but it is what it is. I'm just excited that I made it through the course that has been the bane of my nursing education journey. So I'm hoping that now that I have that under my boots that the rest will be smooth sailing.

Now that I have that over and done with I set my sights on the next researchish course for my program. Unfortunately we have to have groups - something I'm not impressed about. Something I'm certainly NOT looking forward to. However, one thing I learned from the last round is that I will stand up and be leader of this group - because at least I get some say in how the group is managed.

Then this fall I start in on Nursing for adults IV - AKA critical care - doing placement in the ER. And while that course will be UBER busy, I have to do an english course on top of it. Wish me luck!!!

Almost 2 yrs in

So I've been on the injured list for almost 2 yrs...

I went to my surgeon several weeks ago and had him sign off on my paperwork (which is what Oc Health told me I HAD to do) so that I only work Thurs-Sun - which is what I've been doing for more than a year (off and on)....

Then to be told by them that they REFUSED what my surgeon indicated - pretty much word for word for the last 2 yrs -- how in the world do they do from being ok with me working up to 4 days to saying that there isn't sufficient compelling object medical information to support my accomodation

Dude, the information hasn't changed!!!! So how the hell is that possible?! honestly!!!

First thing I did was call my union rep cuz there's NO way that this will fly! He thought it was ridiculous and said that he would get on it pronto. So tomorrow I will follow-up with him about this because it's stupid and insane. How can they refuse medical that they've accepted throughout this time period?! We shall see who reigns as victor!

On my unit critical thinking isn't all it's cracked up to be

One has to wonder whether my colleagues have any critical thinking abilities.

When a patient falls and hits their head/neck/back (in any which manner) off the wall or the front of the counter in the bathroom and loses consciousness.... #1 move would be to NOT MOVE THE PT!!! Yet the ONLY voice of reason was I. WTH is that shit?!

Thankfully I'm a pretty bold person and I point blank told the other several nurses that were there that we weren't moving the pt but that I needed assistance to keep his neck and head in proper alignment while straightening him out from his slumped position. Once that was accomplished we set about to put the pt on a back board then transport the pt to the bed so they weren't on the cold floor anymore.

I put forth that we should call a code but no one would listen to me - including the charge nurse - she said that since the pt was awake (any by NO means alert!) that it wasn't warrented... ya right! The pt wasn't answering questions and had lost consciousness. We had no idea whether the pt had had a stroke or seizure or anything else.... I thought it was foolish.

So I stayed with the pt ensuring that he did not move his head until the physician came. About 10 minutes later the physcian showed up and the pt was coming around. Neurologically not all there, not answering questions very well. Pupils were not equal and one was sluggish - now I have NO idea if this is a change but it certainly isn't normal!

The physician thankfully sided with me so a C-collar was applied and a head CT was obtained as well as x-rays to clear the spine and check whether any ribs were fractured. Wonderfully, all was cleared and believe that the loss of consciousness was infact a seizure.

I seriously question the critical thinking skills of the people with whom I was working with - and some of them are seasoned nurses. Such a shame!