Why does it seem that when the shift starts off slow that the shit hits the fan at the end and you're stuck late on the unit completing charting.
But guess what... T-38 days til I get to start on the surgical/ortho unit!!!
I was talking to a nurse who floats to lots of different units and she said that she enjoys working there and it's MUCH better than my unit.
Can't wait to start!!!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
From neuro to surgical nurse in T - 39 days
I received my transfer letter yesterday, signed it and sent it off today. I suppose that finalized it all.
I begin orientatino on Dec. 7th and I'm absolutely excited!
I'm sure the learning curve will be quite steep, I'm sure there will be times that I will be overwhelmed. Transferring to the surgical unit will put me back to square one (almost) where, although I'll have the basics, I don't know how to handle the adverse events that occur when someone's on the unit after having had surgery. At least not firsthand. I'm sure it's quite different to experience it than to read about it in a book.
I'll be having 4 wks of orientation then reassess whether I'm ready to take on the pt load myself. I think in terms of prioritization and juggling many different balls will be easier because of my experience on the in-pt neuro/gen-med unit.
I doubt that my unit will do anything to commemorate my transfer to the new unit. It bothers me how some are given things but others are not. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I'm ready to leave, that's for sure.
On a side note - little tyke comes home from Pakistan in FOUR days!!!! I miss her so much. We haven't talked as much as I would have liked. My BILs & SIL came home last week so I was able to see a video and some pics of her, bringing the longing for her out to the open. On the flip side, I'm oh so excited that she was able to experience her heritage through this trip. It's important that she knows that side of her history.
I begin orientatino on Dec. 7th and I'm absolutely excited!
I'm sure the learning curve will be quite steep, I'm sure there will be times that I will be overwhelmed. Transferring to the surgical unit will put me back to square one (almost) where, although I'll have the basics, I don't know how to handle the adverse events that occur when someone's on the unit after having had surgery. At least not firsthand. I'm sure it's quite different to experience it than to read about it in a book.
I'll be having 4 wks of orientation then reassess whether I'm ready to take on the pt load myself. I think in terms of prioritization and juggling many different balls will be easier because of my experience on the in-pt neuro/gen-med unit.
I doubt that my unit will do anything to commemorate my transfer to the new unit. It bothers me how some are given things but others are not. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I'm ready to leave, that's for sure.
On a side note - little tyke comes home from Pakistan in FOUR days!!!! I miss her so much. We haven't talked as much as I would have liked. My BILs & SIL came home last week so I was able to see a video and some pics of her, bringing the longing for her out to the open. On the flip side, I'm oh so excited that she was able to experience her heritage through this trip. It's important that she knows that side of her history.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Oh the times they are a changin
So a little back story...
Last week hubby's uncle died and under Islam laws you must bury the dead "as soon as possible" unless there are factors that will delay this (autopsy, dying overseas, etc...). Well I was supposed to work the next day (the day when they were to bury him) so I called in and told the acting charge nurse about the death. I was told that I didn't have to work the shift - so I focused on the family as I should have. Then they call me back not 2 hrs later to tell me that I have to find someone to cover my shift - giving me less than 24hrs notice to do so! I went home after a couple of hours to begin the phone calls.
I called FOURTEEN ppl - and EVERY one (except one - who said that she would trade me shifts) told me no - even though I explained WHY I needed the time off. If it hadn't been for the fact that the prayer part (sort of like the viewing in the caucasian world) of the burial started during the last part of the day shift but the burial part was during the first part of the evening shift - so in essence I needed both shifts off. So ya, I'm pretty damn pissed at the ppl on my unit.
It seems to me that the ppl I work with are becoming less helpful as the time goes on. As such, I have been applying for positions elsewhere.
So when we got back from being with family I came home to a voicemail offering me an interview for a position I hadn't even applied for at another hospital - I had applied for a different position but they were offering me an interview for a position (provided I was interested in it). I called them back and left a voicemail indicating that I was intersted. So the next day they returned said voicemail and asked if I could come for an interview on Saturday. Unfortunately, that was the day that I was to attend clinical. So alas, I had to decline the interview. They said that they would put my name in the pile for the next round of interviews and I was cool with that.
So I ended up having to work my shift afterall and when I got back from my shift I had another voicemail offering me an interview for a position I had applied for at my hospital. I called back and we set the date for this morning.
Hubby was nice enough to ensure that he called me a bunch this am to wake me up so that I could make it there on time. He told me that there was an accident on the highway and it was hugely backed up. So I made sure that I left an hour & 15 min before said interview. Even when I work and have to take local roads, it usually takes me ~45 min... so I figured I was good to go.
Ya, not so much! It took me almost an hour and a half!!!! Nearly double the amount of time that it normally takes me when I have to drive the local ways.
That meant that I was LATE for an INTERVIEW!!!!! Holy shitballs I was so embarrassed. I apologized profusely and they were so easy going, tell me it was alright - that they were just worried.
Otherwise the interview went swimmingly, but I certainly thought that I lost my running in the race for the position because of being late.
When I got home I was talking to my BFF and as I stepped in the door she was telling me to call her when I heard one way or another about the position. My BIL was sitting in the living room overhearing my conversation and when I got off the phone with her, told me that I had a voicemail on the phone. When I played it, it was this...
"This is Alice (not her real name) in HR, we would like to offer you the position at Big Hospital on the in-pt surgical/ortho unit that you interviewed for today, if you're interested please call me back at such and such a number"
O M friggin G I got the position!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Against many odds, they offered ME the position. WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO
Of course I returned that voicemail immediately! I was told that I had to wait to hear when my manager would "release me" (as though I'm a prisoner - HA) before I could start the orientation on the surgical unit. So until then, I'm kinda in a holding pattern.
On a separate note, but equally awesome - clinical has wrapped and I have passed - exceedingly well! My preceptor gave me VERY high praise, which I will absolutely use in the future when it comes to positive references of me and my abilities as a nurse. Now to finish up the theory portion in just as exceedingly positive (if I can). Wish me luck - I need it with this course!
Last week hubby's uncle died and under Islam laws you must bury the dead "as soon as possible" unless there are factors that will delay this (autopsy, dying overseas, etc...). Well I was supposed to work the next day (the day when they were to bury him) so I called in and told the acting charge nurse about the death. I was told that I didn't have to work the shift - so I focused on the family as I should have. Then they call me back not 2 hrs later to tell me that I have to find someone to cover my shift - giving me less than 24hrs notice to do so! I went home after a couple of hours to begin the phone calls.
I called FOURTEEN ppl - and EVERY one (except one - who said that she would trade me shifts) told me no - even though I explained WHY I needed the time off. If it hadn't been for the fact that the prayer part (sort of like the viewing in the caucasian world) of the burial started during the last part of the day shift but the burial part was during the first part of the evening shift - so in essence I needed both shifts off. So ya, I'm pretty damn pissed at the ppl on my unit.
It seems to me that the ppl I work with are becoming less helpful as the time goes on. As such, I have been applying for positions elsewhere.
So when we got back from being with family I came home to a voicemail offering me an interview for a position I hadn't even applied for at another hospital - I had applied for a different position but they were offering me an interview for a position (provided I was interested in it). I called them back and left a voicemail indicating that I was intersted. So the next day they returned said voicemail and asked if I could come for an interview on Saturday. Unfortunately, that was the day that I was to attend clinical. So alas, I had to decline the interview. They said that they would put my name in the pile for the next round of interviews and I was cool with that.
So I ended up having to work my shift afterall and when I got back from my shift I had another voicemail offering me an interview for a position I had applied for at my hospital. I called back and we set the date for this morning.
Hubby was nice enough to ensure that he called me a bunch this am to wake me up so that I could make it there on time. He told me that there was an accident on the highway and it was hugely backed up. So I made sure that I left an hour & 15 min before said interview. Even when I work and have to take local roads, it usually takes me ~45 min... so I figured I was good to go.
Ya, not so much! It took me almost an hour and a half!!!! Nearly double the amount of time that it normally takes me when I have to drive the local ways.
That meant that I was LATE for an INTERVIEW!!!!! Holy shitballs I was so embarrassed. I apologized profusely and they were so easy going, tell me it was alright - that they were just worried.
Otherwise the interview went swimmingly, but I certainly thought that I lost my running in the race for the position because of being late.
When I got home I was talking to my BFF and as I stepped in the door she was telling me to call her when I heard one way or another about the position. My BIL was sitting in the living room overhearing my conversation and when I got off the phone with her, told me that I had a voicemail on the phone. When I played it, it was this...
"This is Alice (not her real name) in HR, we would like to offer you the position at Big Hospital on the in-pt surgical/ortho unit that you interviewed for today, if you're interested please call me back at such and such a number"
O M friggin G I got the position!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Against many odds, they offered ME the position. WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO
Of course I returned that voicemail immediately! I was told that I had to wait to hear when my manager would "release me" (as though I'm a prisoner - HA) before I could start the orientation on the surgical unit. So until then, I'm kinda in a holding pattern.
On a separate note, but equally awesome - clinical has wrapped and I have passed - exceedingly well! My preceptor gave me VERY high praise, which I will absolutely use in the future when it comes to positive references of me and my abilities as a nurse. Now to finish up the theory portion in just as exceedingly positive (if I can). Wish me luck - I need it with this course!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Watching a grown man cry
Last week when I worked I had a pt who had a sinal aneurysm that was leaking and was so large (8.5cm) that the family was told that surgery wasn't an option - but then a new doc came onto the case and told the family that decisions would be held until a MRI was done - but wouldn't be done for 2-3 more days.
Unfortunately the pt was in incredible amounts of pain with shooting pains down & up the left leg - which no nurse was really trying to get a handle on. I took pity and ensured that it was my mission for the day to get the pain under control. Which I managed to do.
The sad part was the conversation that I had with the daughter & son-in-law... about watching the parent die a slow and REALLY painful death... about how the pain wasn't being controlled/managed, and how they just wished she would be snowed into oblivion because it was painful to watch this parent suffer.
The talking was cathartic to them but it was difficult. The daughter started crying which made me choke up a bit but when the son-in-law started crying the tears welled up and I only JUST managed to control them. I was able to get through it just barely though.
I was surprised to see the daughter yesterday when I worked. I asked about her parent and whether the MRI showed anything.... she told me that the aneurysm had grown to twice the size and was definately inoperable. My paultry words "oh, I'm so sorry to hear that" and my follow up "are the nurses at least controlling her pain properly". I was saddened to hear her respond that no they weren't and saw the tears well up again. I apologized on behalf of the nurses of my unit because I know that more could have been done for this pt. Then the palliative care doc took her to a private room to discuss what would now occur from that point on.
When she came out she gave me a brief synopsis of the conversation - that the pt would be moved to the palliative unit later in the shift. When they were transferring her there the son-in-law was there as well and he was looking sooooo sad, on the verge of tears. I went over to the pt and said my good-byes and then gave a hug to the son-in-law, who gave me a solid hug back who let a tear roll down his cheek. Then I gave a hug to the daughter, with whom I connected with,
When we parted ways she thanked me for being so caring and that she would always remember me and when she sent in her letter about the care she & her parent received, that I would be mentioned as her #1 nurse.
It was perhaps the hardest interaction I've had in a long time - seeing grown men cry is hard for me. It causes me to well up every time.
Unfortunately the pt was in incredible amounts of pain with shooting pains down & up the left leg - which no nurse was really trying to get a handle on. I took pity and ensured that it was my mission for the day to get the pain under control. Which I managed to do.
The sad part was the conversation that I had with the daughter & son-in-law... about watching the parent die a slow and REALLY painful death... about how the pain wasn't being controlled/managed, and how they just wished she would be snowed into oblivion because it was painful to watch this parent suffer.
The talking was cathartic to them but it was difficult. The daughter started crying which made me choke up a bit but when the son-in-law started crying the tears welled up and I only JUST managed to control them. I was able to get through it just barely though.
I was surprised to see the daughter yesterday when I worked. I asked about her parent and whether the MRI showed anything.... she told me that the aneurysm had grown to twice the size and was definately inoperable. My paultry words "oh, I'm so sorry to hear that" and my follow up "are the nurses at least controlling her pain properly". I was saddened to hear her respond that no they weren't and saw the tears well up again. I apologized on behalf of the nurses of my unit because I know that more could have been done for this pt. Then the palliative care doc took her to a private room to discuss what would now occur from that point on.
When she came out she gave me a brief synopsis of the conversation - that the pt would be moved to the palliative unit later in the shift. When they were transferring her there the son-in-law was there as well and he was looking sooooo sad, on the verge of tears. I went over to the pt and said my good-byes and then gave a hug to the son-in-law, who gave me a solid hug back who let a tear roll down his cheek. Then I gave a hug to the daughter, with whom I connected with,
When we parted ways she thanked me for being so caring and that she would always remember me and when she sent in her letter about the care she & her parent received, that I would be mentioned as her #1 nurse.
It was perhaps the hardest interaction I've had in a long time - seeing grown men cry is hard for me. It causes me to well up every time.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
You did NOT just say that!
At clinical we had this woman come in with chest pain - history of CHF & MI so hooked her up to tele as soon as she came.
Now the state that I'm doing my clinical in has a narcotics database that u can use to pull up which narcotic was prescribed, how many have been prescribed, which doctor prescribed, which pharmacy was used to fill the prescription and when each prescription was filled
Well this woman had like 250 pills in the last month filled so that set off some bells
The doc comes in and asks what's going on with her - she tells him and he walks out - it's not something that's unusual or out of the blue and her tele wasn't showing anything abnormal so off he went....
Like 2 min after this woman shows up a little boy is brought in by one of his parents because he developed a rash over the trunk, neck & arm that didn't seem to get any better with benedryl. So the doc comes in asking a billion questions - trying to figure out what's going on then he goes away.
Well about a 1/2 hour goes by and this woman asks for pain meds and the doc actually treturns to tell her that he wouldn't be prescribing anything until results were returned.
Well the woman gets all peeved off cuz she expects that to be dealt with... and she essentially pouts then when the doc returns to the little boy to ask more questions she goes BALISTIC
"why is the doctor spending more time with him than me, aren't I important?!"
Oh no, you did NOT just say that!!!
I flat out said "well we're used to ppl like you" - ya not my best moment cuz it set her off more...
her: "well what do you mean by THAT"
me: "just that with chest pain we're used to but little boys having reactions we aren't"
That seemed to placate her for a moment til the doc went back to the little boy and then she was complaining about her chest and asking for pain meds - the doc came over and said that results weren't back and that she wouldn't be getting any pain meds
So she went crazy and signed AMA
Sayonara then!
When the results came back after she was already gone.... turned out she had fractured ribs - oh well, she was gone already
Now the state that I'm doing my clinical in has a narcotics database that u can use to pull up which narcotic was prescribed, how many have been prescribed, which doctor prescribed, which pharmacy was used to fill the prescription and when each prescription was filled
Well this woman had like 250 pills in the last month filled so that set off some bells
The doc comes in and asks what's going on with her - she tells him and he walks out - it's not something that's unusual or out of the blue and her tele wasn't showing anything abnormal so off he went....
Like 2 min after this woman shows up a little boy is brought in by one of his parents because he developed a rash over the trunk, neck & arm that didn't seem to get any better with benedryl. So the doc comes in asking a billion questions - trying to figure out what's going on then he goes away.
Well about a 1/2 hour goes by and this woman asks for pain meds and the doc actually treturns to tell her that he wouldn't be prescribing anything until results were returned.
Well the woman gets all peeved off cuz she expects that to be dealt with... and she essentially pouts then when the doc returns to the little boy to ask more questions she goes BALISTIC
"why is the doctor spending more time with him than me, aren't I important?!"
Oh no, you did NOT just say that!!!
I flat out said "well we're used to ppl like you" - ya not my best moment cuz it set her off more...
her: "well what do you mean by THAT"
me: "just that with chest pain we're used to but little boys having reactions we aren't"
That seemed to placate her for a moment til the doc went back to the little boy and then she was complaining about her chest and asking for pain meds - the doc came over and said that results weren't back and that she wouldn't be getting any pain meds
So she went crazy and signed AMA
Sayonara then!
When the results came back after she was already gone.... turned out she had fractured ribs - oh well, she was gone already
Monday, October 19, 2015
I always miss the good things & seatbelts save lives!
Clinical rocked, but as the title says, I missed the good stuff (mostly)
There was a pt that came in with septic shock who fell down on the floor and was there for 12+ hrs til found and was in such bad shape that the paramedics just wrapped the pt in the rug that was under the pt and transported them into the hospital...
The pt was in such bad shape that it necessitated intubation and being life flighted out
The pt was in such bad shape that while in mid-flight the pt coded!
Don't know if the pt made it or not but WOW!
Onto seatbelts saving lives (as docbastard always says on his blog)......
There were two men who got into MVAs that were thankfully wearing seatbelts - one walked away with nothing more than a forehead abrasion and the other suffered a L1 compression fracture.
One of the vehicles rolled and another ditched (literally) the vehicle - so their injuries would have been WAAAAAAY worse had they not had their seat belts on.
There was a pt that came in with septic shock who fell down on the floor and was there for 12+ hrs til found and was in such bad shape that the paramedics just wrapped the pt in the rug that was under the pt and transported them into the hospital...
The pt was in such bad shape that it necessitated intubation and being life flighted out
The pt was in such bad shape that while in mid-flight the pt coded!
Don't know if the pt made it or not but WOW!
Onto seatbelts saving lives (as docbastard always says on his blog)......
There were two men who got into MVAs that were thankfully wearing seatbelts - one walked away with nothing more than a forehead abrasion and the other suffered a L1 compression fracture.
One of the vehicles rolled and another ditched (literally) the vehicle - so their injuries would have been WAAAAAAY worse had they not had their seat belts on.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Another first for me
I worked yesterday...
20 of 24 hours! A day shift, stayed an extra 4 hrs then had 4 hrs off then worked another 8 hrs over nite
SOOOOoooo I was basically awake 26hrs cuz I woke up early to have breakfast and drive to work
Needless to say, it was a busy, busy day!!!
Wraked up some good OT in the midst of it tho
Nothing interesting to report for work - clinical was interesting tho - I'll write about that next time
20 of 24 hours! A day shift, stayed an extra 4 hrs then had 4 hrs off then worked another 8 hrs over nite
SOOOOoooo I was basically awake 26hrs cuz I woke up early to have breakfast and drive to work
Needless to say, it was a busy, busy day!!!
Wraked up some good OT in the midst of it tho
Nothing interesting to report for work - clinical was interesting tho - I'll write about that next time
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