WILTW 7/24: Serving up specials

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Good evening!!!

I volunteered this week to contribute to another WILTW post-hosting is FUN! :)

The title of my post is indicative of the slang term that was used heavily in the 70s and 80s: "Saturday night special" is a term that would be used for small caliber handguns used in armed robberies. I heard this term in every detective show from the 70s and 80s; gun critics alluded that this term had racial overtones. I don't hear it much anymore, maybe because there are so many other guns that are beyond the .25 automatics of that particular era of revolvers and now rifles and automatics are used in gun violence, the term just isn't suitable anymore.

As trauma season is in place-which is the time when gun violence is high; usually after Independence Day in my area for my Level I PediED, it has been busy on a few nights, leaving me to coin "Monday Night Special", "Tuesday Night Special", etc. to cope with the increase in children arriving in our Trauma Room.

It it was been a busy week with highs and lows; career wise, I continue to be supported in a challenging environment; being given a chance to start precepting and do an educational session with new hires was quite the experience!

Buidling a caucus of unity during a first contract for a newly formed Union and trying to be supportive of a culture of changes could be daunting to many, but not me. I'm stubborn, and committed to rallying against a culture of fear and anger, maintaining my integrity to be a fierce advocate is never easy, but continue to issue the challenge and will continue to until I leave this business.

I also lost a colleague; I worked with this colleague at my longest tenured job that gave me the opportunity to engage in policy making and educating; this person had a plan to enter this business, was a young parent, was missing but was found dead with the suspicion of suicide; I hope for the facts to come out so all of us who love this individual could be able to have questions answered-not that it would change things, but I guess the reason and the rationale for me would give me some closure, as a questioning person at heart.

So I learned:

I can teach again! I participated in a "Trauma Day" educational session to the new hires and enjoyed the process; I precepted the previous day as well; I still teach from a Socratic-ish method-reason and rationale folks.

How powerful my teaching session was able to be experienced by those new hires while able to not be triggered by a kid shot was shot at close range and was stable-he was hanging in there coping, wanting a burger and not to have crutches and all the stuff he needed to do. I kept talking to him and he is doing well. I undertood where he was coming from...I did.

How frustrating it is for a kiddos eyes to remain pinpoint while trying to revive them after a potential ingestion; they unfortunately had to be intubated. Another teachable moment for some of the newbies and for myself; it recalled me to my first resuscitation after getting off orientation and having to document for that initial pt was surreal; but to be able to talk and be a part of that process as a newly experienced nurse had a different vibe to it.

I learned how how unfortunate circumstances can give you a jumpstart to reconnect with members of a good nursing team-my ex-coworkers knew every aspect of my life, from my trauma, everything-we had to cry together and laugh together yesterday. I hope for all of us to get together before the summer or at least the year being through; it has made me more aware to check in with people that I love and keep motivated; I also learned how I can connect with my current co workers and team and foster better outside relationships as well, even if it small groups, which I so need at this period of my life.

Hopefully I will be able to get my feet wet into a non-trauma Adult ED....then go from there for a Level II or Level I; an agency called me and they will try to place me, if this agency can not do it, I will try another one...I will keep my options open!

So, what have you learned this week?

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I learned that I need to let my husband watch his show without interpreting it for him. All that medical background that is so delicious to me is ... well ... not necessary to him!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I'm sorry for you loss LadyFree28.

Today was my birthday! It was a pretty good day, all things considered. I can't wait to go to my OB/GYN appointment on Thursday to see the sonogram of my little one!

Who wants to start taking bets on if I'm having a boy or girl? [emoji12]

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

I learned a lot about hernia repair. My husband's surgeon even gave us pictures of the mesh in place.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I'm sorry for you loss LadyFree28.

Today was my birthday! It was a pretty good day, all things considered. I can't wait to go to my OB/GYN appointment on Thursday to see the sonogram of my little one!

Who wants to start taking bets on if I'm having a boy or girl? [emoji12]

I think you are having a girl!!

Happy Birthday OC!!!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I think you are having a girl!!

Happy Birthday OC!!!

Thank you! I'm gonna start keeping count on who thinks boy & girl. This will be fun. I'm at 9 weeks so I have some time to go before I find out.

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Specializes in critical care.

Cheerios, you're having a boy. It is known.

I have learned that LadyFree has had a deeply emotional week. Lady, if you have the support system in place still from when you've worked through your own traumas, please turn to it. Reading about your week makes me fear the possibility that you might struggle with it after you put some distance between you and everything you've been part of. I know I would. ((((Hugs)))) Also, congratulations on the successful teaching! Feels amazing when you know you nailed it, doesn't it?!

As for me...

If you CC the COO, HR will actually respond.

My hospital approves extended leave by 30 days at a time. This is regardless of the time period requested. This doesn't at all reflect the 6 weeks that my surgeon has extended me by. I have 9 more days required out beyond my leave approval period. C'MON! Ridiculous.

Partial thickness rub burns take flippin' forever to heal. Every single shower, these effers get wet and the scab comes off, and, YAY DERMIS!!!, the healing has to start over again with a giant, ugly scab growing on my pasty white leg. Thanks, Obama.

There is a theory that Plum Island, NY, is where West Nile and Lyme were developed as tools in bioweapon warfare. I've only read a little about it so far. West Nile doesn't seem at all possible just considering geography.

I have lost too much weight.

Someone opened a retirement account for me and put money in it. I don't know who. I don't know why. It's a lovely surprise, but I'm extremely curious.

I learned spoilers about who Bran Stark might be, and who Negan kills in the comic book.

I learned just how scary it is to be across the pond from a friend who trusts a severely negligent doctor. She might not survive a post op infection.

For my own post op recovery, I miss my chiropractor. I want to stretch my low back. Sitting still sucks. Shaving my legs is horrible. My muscles have been tamed, FINALLY.

When I consider my overall state of health, and my progress post op, I think to myself... In the event of a zombie apocalypse, am I the one the group will save, or sacrifice? Will being a nurse be the only reason to save me? Right now, probably. I need to work on that ess.

I feel like I'm forgetting things. I ended up with way more than I thought I would!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I've learned that caring for a loved one of "one of your own" with a devastating injury is a whole new level of emotionally exhausting. :(

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
I'm sorry for you loss LadyFree28.

Today was my birthday! It was a pretty good day, all things considered. I can't wait to go to my OB/GYN appointment on Thursday to see the sonogram of my little one!

Who wants to start taking bets on if I'm having a boy or girl? [emoji12]

Have you done the baking soda pee test? (Yes I know, not EBP!) :cheeky:

I'm going to guess, boy.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Have you done the baking soda pee test? (Yes I know, not EBP!) :cheeky:

I'm going to guess, boy.

Lol! No but I should. I did some of the other "tests" & they all the answers were boy!

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Specializes in Oncology (OCN).

Ladyfree, I'm sorry for your loss.

Chaos, Happy Birthday. I'm going to guess a girl (just to be different, lol!).

Someone is going to have to explain the baking soda pee test. I've never heard of that one.

This week I've learned:

My granddaughters are absolutely adorable (okay I already knew that!) but taking care of an 11 month old and 21 month old for a week is NOT a vacation. Lol! They are so much fun but oh my, was I happy to drop them back off to their parents! I'm tired. I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

Sometimes I wish I could turn off my nurse brain. My youngest granddaughter has deep blue eyes. We noticed this week while we were out in the sun that her right eye has a hazel ring around the center of her iris. It's unlikely but not unheard of, at 11 mos. that her eyes would change colors. It could be heterochromia. There is some family history of it. But my mind immediately went to retinoblastoma. Does that make me paranoid? There are no other symptoms. I will definitely be watching her closely and encourage her parents to mention it to her pediatrician.

Going 8 weeks between ketamine infusions is way too long. (Usually go every 4-5 weeks.) I'm definitely paying for the mistake of the scheduler at my doctor's office. Again. Next week cannot get here soon enough.

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Cheerios, you're having a boy. It is known.

I have learned that LadyFree has had a deeply emotional week. Lady, if you have the support system in place still from when you've worked through your own traumas, please turn to it. Reading about your week makes me fear the possibility that you might struggle with it after you put some distance between you and everything you've been part of. I know I would. ((((Hugs)))) Also, congratulations on the successful teaching! Feels amazing when you know you nailed it, doesn't it?!

As for me...

If you CC the COO, HR will actually respond.

My hospital approves extended leave by 30 days at a time. This is regardless of the time period requested. This doesn't at all reflect the 6 weeks that my surgeon has extended me by. I have 9 more days required out beyond my leave approval period. C'MON! Ridiculous.

Partial thickness rub burns take flippin' forever to heal. Every single shower, these effers get wet and the scab comes off, and, YAY DERMIS!!!, the healing has to start over again with a giant, ugly scab growing on my pasty white leg. Thanks, Obama.

There is a theory that Plum Island, NY, is where West Nile and Lyme were developed as tools in bioweapon warfare. I've only read a little about it so far. West Nile doesn't seem at all possible just considering geography.

I have lost too much weight.

Someone opened a retirement account for me and put money in it. I don't know who. I don't know why. It's a lovely surprise, but I'm extremely curious.

I learned spoilers about who Bran Stark might be, and who Negan kills in the comic book.

I learned just how scary it is to be across the pond from a friend who trusts a severely negligent doctor. She might not survive a post op infection.

For my own post op recovery, I miss my chiropractor. I want to stretch my low back. Sitting still sucks. Shaving my legs is horrible. My muscles have been tamed, FINALLY.

When I consider my overall state of health, and my progress post op, I think to myself... In the event of a zombie apocalypse, am I the one the group will save, or sacrifice? Will being a nurse be the only reason to save me? Right now, probably. I need to work on that ess.

I feel like I'm forgetting things. I ended up with way more than I thought I would!

Dont worry, ix, we'll carry the small people.

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