(8/29) This week, I have learned......

ixchel · Aug 28, 2015

(Request: try to not bring too much of other threads here. I don't want this one to get a sad like the last one, and I like staying in good graces with moderation.)

I apologize for the over-usage of parenthesis. :)

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Aug 28, 2015

(Forgive the early submission this week. Got a busy day tomorrow and last week's thread has just changed its code status to DNR, with a discharge to hospice. Thankfully, most of the family agrees. Unfortunately, one person thinks I'm trying to get more inheritance than Farawyn, but thankfully that's what probate lawyers are for.)
This week, I have learned:
Creatinine can go from 9 to 1.9 in 12 hours. Then 0.65, 24 hours after that, with 13,000 mL out in two shifts.
If you're prepared to ask if your patient group can be split up tomorrow, be prepared to be made out to be an a-hole in front of the rest of the staff just for asking.
My legs are a-holes.
Furry woodland creatures are terrifying.
Metoprolol is a hell of a drug.
Cardiologists should consult nephrologists for beta blocker dosing once a creatinine hits, like, 2.
Some patients would rather walk across the room to pull the code blue button rather then push the nurse call button on their remote they've had glued to their hands for days.
It appears the end of August is "Celebrate Right Before Shift Change Disasters" season.
There are two miserable ladies who post in every thread. But now I'll never know who they are.
There is a person with an STD in their colostomy stoma.
An iPhone can delete all of your contacts in one area code and rename all of your contacts 'Steve'.
The State Highway Administration employs archaeologists.
My baby turns 8 tomorrow. I remember feeling impatience at the end of that pregnancy because I wanted to KNOW her. She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and has grown more so with every passing year. As fulfilled as I am by being a nurse (I was one of those disgusting "called to it" nurses. Wear gloves when you read my posts, friends. That icky stuff might be contagious.), being Mommy is my one true superpower. :)
What have you learned this week?

I'm girl crushing after this post.

I've learned that I have bad road rage issues. After driving back & forth to places the past 2 days, I'm glad I live in an area with no traffic.

ixchel · Aug 28, 2015

I'm girl crushing after this post.
I've learned that I have bad road rage issues. After driving back & forth to places the past 2 days, I'm glad I live in an area with no traffic.

You aren't in the mid Atlantic are you? (.....checks rear view mirror.....)

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Aug 28, 2015

You aren't in the mid Atlantic are you? (.....checks rear view mirror.....)

Lol!. You're safe, I'm in Texas.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Aug 28, 2015

I thought cocaine was a hell of a drug? Adding metoprolol to the list..

This week I have learned:

-Unexpected days off are the best

-My sense of humor can be considered offensive

-I have a dysfunctional family, and we all need a group counseling session

-My eyes are bigger than my stomach. I need a larger stomach.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2015

I learned that if I can't get a hold of a physician for 45 minutes after multiple pages, and I can't get a hold of my team leader because she's busy in another room, and my patient is flipping his crap, threatening us, and taking four of us to hold him down so he doesn't pull out a femoral central line even after we threw wrist restraints on him... calling the rapid response people in desperation to try to get somebody in the room that has the power to order things for me is NOT going to get me rapid response or any orders. It is actually just going to earn me a very derisive lecture from my team leader delivered with a "Were you born this stupid or were you just frequently dropped on your head as a child?" facial expression.

And I have learned that I am okay with being yelled at when I'm doing something that I think is necessary, even if it's not the way we are supposed to do things, so heck yeah for empowerment! Or something.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Aug 28, 2015

I learned that my late mother's insistence that I learn proper grammar and word usage has paid me back... in spades.

...that I am considered one of the 'fun' nurses by the 20-something RTs

...that I am really, really looking forward to leaving my hospital job and entering academia full-time next year. Like, REALLY!

Farawyn · Aug 28, 2015

I've learned my shift was cancelled tomorrow and that I'm starting to fret about being cleared for HH, due to time constraints.

My time availability changes drastically on Monday when I go back to my school nurse position.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Aug 28, 2015

When your husband hits your fresh tattoo it takes every ounce of strength to restrain myself from not punching him in the face. Thankfully he's taking our son to my MILs so I can get work done this weekend. But FAAAAAAAAAH my foot!

ixchel · Aug 28, 2015

I thought cocaine was a hell of a drug? Adding metoprolol to the list..
This week I have learned:
-Unexpected days off are the best
-My sense of humor can be considered offensive
-I have a dysfunctional family, and we all need a group counseling session
-My eyes are bigger than my stomach. I need a larger stomach.

There are a ton of drugs that can be a hell of a drug!

About offensive humor - we have a pain in the ass monitor tech who frankly is more full of herself than I know how to deal with. She called to ask me to check on a person coming up asystole. The patient was being bathed at the time, so I knew she was okay. I said, "she's alright, I just put a pillow over her head." Apparently that was taking it a bit TOO far.

(Apologies to others here who I probably just offended. The humor in this head is very disturbing by my own admission.)

ixchel · Aug 28, 2015

In my defense, I know her job is a frustrating, monotonous one that she dreads. I couldn't imagine having to call busy nurses over and over, all day long. I was hoping to give her a quick giggle. I was really bad at it.