So, I've been taking care of a particular older patient at work....she's had a NG tube, that she pulled out....a G-tube placed...continuous tube feeding, and she had to have wrist restraints so she wouldn't pull anything out....
Most nights, she's been non-verbal...not sleeping, but won't talk and just looks at you....
So, I went in to give her a bath, and per usual, say "How are you tonight?" She looks, waves, and says "ok." Well, I almost dropped the soap! We had a blast for 15 minutes, singing elvis songs and other songs my grandmother taught me while I was washing her up, and then when we got done she says..."ok, I'll see you later!" Throughout the night, she would say "help, help, come on god, help me out here." When I would ask her what she needed, she would only say "Love." I told her, "I love you, you are so agreeable tonight"...."Oh, I love you too, I know you're a good man. Ok, I'm going."
That's why I do what I do....
PS. On a side note, if you have a g/ng tube patient with NPO status...PLEASE make sure they are getting mouthcare, especially if they are getting breathing treatments for mucus...it makes them look and feel much better....
Monday, June 16, 2008
Transitions....
1. Well, my last shift at work is coming up this friday....and I won't be back to nights until September until the earliest...I'm going to miss all my night shift friends, and I think I'm just going to be getting through the days....
2. I'm looking foward to working with my good NS friend, and I believe that she will be a awesome nurse...I'm trying to convince her to come to nights, because she would be a good fit.
3. I'm nervous, scared, dreading, excited...etc...I just can't believe I am going to be a RN!
4. It's gonna be a long 2 months...so apoligies in advance...I'm going to be posting less frequently, but it is what it is....
2. I'm looking foward to working with my good NS friend, and I believe that she will be a awesome nurse...I'm trying to convince her to come to nights, because she would be a good fit.
3. I'm nervous, scared, dreading, excited...etc...I just can't believe I am going to be a RN!
4. It's gonna be a long 2 months...so apoligies in advance...I'm going to be posting less frequently, but it is what it is....
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dday is coming....NCLEX!!!!
Hey, all, just a note....I take boards on June 24th at 2PM....and I'm praying that I pass....I feel relitively confident....just not 100%. I'm quitting my job beforehand and taking 3 days to just hit it hard....I'm hopeful that things work out. Other than that and work, nothing is new here...so I hope all my blogger friends are doing ok!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
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!"
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!"
Friday, May 30, 2008
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)....
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....
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....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)