HA! Less patients...MORE work!!!

[webbiedebbie]

Right now I'm working postpartum/GYN. Had 6 patients yesterday...4 planning to go home. Got 3 admissions...one postop GYN and 2 vag deliveries. Coworker with 5 patients...2 antepartum, 3 postpartum. Workable...right?

NO CNA OR HUC! Okay...MAR'S on computer...have to check all of my patients and write down my med times. Have to pull all of my discharge papers out and complete them so they can go to discharge class at 0930. Start my assessments by 0800 and finish by 0900. Go to pyxis to get a.m. meds. Go to separate room and get computer on wheels. Wheel "the monster" into patient's room and key in information, scan the meds, then scan the patient. Oh, but now the patient wants pain meds (refused during assessment), so go back to pyxis and pull out pain med, write down on report sheet so I will remember to chart giving it because the MAR program "doesn't count" as charting.

Yea, most are in the discharge class, so now I can sit down and start computer charting. OOps, there's the phone...getting a new admission. Close out charting...go get room set up now because if I don't I may not get the chance to do it later (which often happens). Back to charting...darn, there's the call light for my GYN...close out charting and go in to take care of her needs. Back to charting...yea, it only took me an hour to get charting done on 2 patients. But now my new admission is here...a postop. Darn...PACU hung the wrong IV...get that changed out....ooops I forgot to bring "the monster" into the room to hang the new IV!!!! :angryfire Heart rate in the 40's...hers, not mine! Assessment completed, vitals done. Wow, I've been in there for one half hour!

Now my patients are wanting to go home. Is everything completed? Check for discharge orders. Check to see if birth certificate is completed...are there paternity papers that need to be signed? Has the nursery discharged the baby? Wait for dad to go get the car seat.

Now my fresh post-op has nausea. Check chart for medication to give. Verbal report said Zofran given, but not charted...okay, lets give her phenergan, but only half because she is too drowsy and her heart rate dips to 40's when she sleeps and up to 70's when awake. Gotta keep my eyes on this one! Go to pyxis to get med. Go to closet to get syringe. Go get "the monster" and into patien't room. Key in information, scan med, and scan patient. Then give medication.

My antepartum wants to get up to shower. Disconnect IV and cover site with saran wrap.

Geez, it's 1100 and I missed getting vitals at 1000. No big deal, though, I can get them anytime. We only have one machine working anyway and I had it for one hour for my postop GYN.

Wait...one of my couples is coming down the hall with their baby and cart filled with flowers and bags. I had told them 3 times that they would need to have a staff person walk them out! Find the LPN who only does discharge class and stocking to walk them out. GUESS WHAT! She didn't have a discharge order yet!!!!!!! :rotfl:

I really do love my job!!!! :hatparty: