You can't stop taking care of someone cause you don't like em.

You know, I normally don't mind working with my friend...we went to NS together, we were closer since we've started working together, but tonight just took the cake. We had a patient who arrived at 2PM from chicago as part of a accident on her drive to TN....she had a PCA pump, fluids, she'd been vomiting a little bit, etc....So, throughout the shift my friend had her...no problems.
The sister shows up as the "family" representitive....Now, everything is wrong. "she's vomiting, what's going on?"(maam, she's had everything she can have, if she quit pushing her PCA q 10 minutes, it'd slow down a little.) "her roommate is snoring, we're going to move to another room.." (maam, the hospital is full...there are NO other beds on this floor to move her to, and I'm not going to wake up 2 people to move your roommate, and someone else, for a non-medical reason.)
These were the ONLY 2 times that I had talked to her about anything all night...I didn't even know what was going on with her really. My friend was so frustrated, she asked me to switch rooms for our final rounds of the night so she wouldn't have to go back in there.....fine, I'll help you out.
The thing that gets me is that there is ALWAYS something about some frustrating patient that gets her riled....and she "can't take it." I honestly don't see how working as a pediatric nurse will get her much more than that....She cannot deal with issues and gets frustrated instead of getting a backbone. She does NOT do enough for patients, and then gets mad when the patients call her on it.
We then got a admit that had bilateral ankle fractures....she asked me to go with her to set him up....why, I'm not sure. She's got 2 hands, with only 1 full with a icebag for each ankle....but I'm game. She put ice on him, dialed a telephone number, and walked out. ME? I've got to set up his urinal and kleenex, verify with the wife that "yes, he's here in the hospital, and not faking cause he doesn't want to work", listen to him rattle on about his story(fell at home cause he had a few too many tequilas), and try to shush him for his roommate. AND HE'S NOT EVEN MY PATIENT!
So, I'm done. I will be more than happy to take care of MY folks, and her folks will get my extra service when I answer their lights....but, I'm not helping her anymore than I have to. Facts of life.

Jim crow is dead....

It is time for a change...one that can provide the equality of every man...

When this nation was founded,
over two hundred years ago,
the white-wigged whigs proclaimed equality,
as shallow as it could go.

Freedom for the ones who could afford it,
and work til death for the others.
Without the same thoughts or genes,
no sister, brother, or mother of a different color.

We thought the land of lincoln
had fought for the rights of all.
Brother vs. brother for the sake of country,
how many bloodlines had to fall?

Depression hit hard, and we thought
that a light was coming for all.
why is it, that less than 30 years later,
MLK was STILL fighting Jim Crow laws?

Cut off from the process,
with no end in sight.
Voting for many was
just a shot in the night.

It took us over two hundred years,
for the symbol of equality to not be a sham.
now, when ANY child asks if they can be president,
Boy or girl, Black or white, I as a father, can say
"Yes, YOU CAN!"

did someone get the memo I just graduated?

Seriously...at least here in IL, the money just to take the NCLEX is adding up.
82 bucks for processing, 50 bucks for fingerprints, 200 bucks for computer center testing fees, and that's not even counting the license fee!
Good lord, could someone just do this in installments til I get my Real RN job?
Seriously, that's all I've done lately....Kaplan review, work, and sleep....
Work is work, and I can't wait to give notice....I'd much rather be the nurse for 6-7 patients vs. the total front line for 13/14.....
It's been crazy...we had post-ops all night, including someone arrested for home invasion and tasered(by the cops) in his forehead....little tip folks. Don't bend over when the cop says he's gonna shoot...he's lucky he didn't wind up dead or with some serious seizure activity going on. could've got fried brain syndrome...(like that? it's my new dx)....

why did I spend mega $$$ for this?

Ok, folks.....coming from a newly graduated RN, I believe the Kaplan review is a rip-off......400 bucks for sitting in a room 4 days...and doing nothing but answering questions and taking 2 knowledge tests? wanting to scream at other people when they are trying to use the "decision tree" and just coming out of left field with some answers?
Seriously, I had to hurry through the questions to figure out the answer first to judge my own knowledge...my notes looked like this: Right: 49 Wrong: 7.....figured that was a good indicator of knowledge....

thought this was good...

Ok, so don't judge me too harshly but............
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Hey, I've gotta do something to get rid of all the extra frustration I've got over patients.....Posts coming this weekend, when I'm off. Honest.

Hands that heal.....

Just something I thought of....

Anyone has the capability to heal. A friend, a lover, a family member. Just by being there for a shoulder to cry on, a ear to listen, or a mouth to tell you when things are gonna be ok.

Nurses are people remarkably cut out for the capability to heal. We train to be able to help people help themselves, or take over when they've lost that capability. We give medications to ease pain, we explain what is going to happen when the doctor is not around, we kick a little butt when someone doesn't want to do what they need to do, and we gently ease the transition from life to death.

some lines that I will ALWAYS remember are:
"Hands that heal, hands that love,
They lift you up, when you're not strong enough."

Always remember the simple power of the touch. A squeeze can be all that's needed to bring joy to the person who is locked inside their own head. A warm cloth on the face brings comfort to those who have been sitting in the hospital bed for days. A shave for a old man can bring him from "sick grandpa" to the "dapper dad" his family knows he is.

Never forget what we do. It's so much more than just a job.

had my pinning tonight

Hey, all...while i'm not an emotional person per se....something about the ceremony really made me tear up. We walked in to a crowd of people in the gym, had the introduction of our speaker (the exec director of our state nurses association) who showed up sick and barely able to talk, give our speech. Gave our retiring professor a basket with cool things.....and as we went up to do our candle lighting ceremony....we dropped hand sanitizer(as she failed EVERYONE on our handwashing demo before) into the basket. Our class VP's daughter performed a song she wrote herself...and it was VERY moving...called "hands that heal".....I almost wish that I had a track of it, cause it was really good.
My good friend was our class president...and as she was talking, and tearing up....my other friend and I asked each other if we were standing up for her....I would without a doubt. She got thrust into the position when our president didn't pass 3rd semester.......hence the promotion of the VP.
She did a remarkable job for what she had to work with....and through all the snafus...I wouldn't have traded a moment of the last 2 years for anything...
The joy, the tears, and the anger of last minute changes were all washed away by the smiles and the joy of tonight. I got many pictures of all my friends who are going to be RNs at the same place where I work....can't wait for boards, and to get started!