I'm such a klutz

[SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN]

Yesterday morning, I was headed to the backyard and fell down the stairs off the deck, spraining BOTH my ankles. First the left, then when trying to get my footing again, my right. (I bet I looked like that model who lost her footing on the runway and wobbled and bobbled until she finally fell, minus the great ass and legs and face) I went to the minor emergency clinic, they did X-rays, and thank god no break (though I cannot imagine it could've hurt worse; I was suprised it wasn't broken).

The doctor was telling me the extent of injury (grade 2 sprain left foot, minor grade 1 sprain rt foot), and I explained I simply could NOT be off my feet for longer than 4 days, because I have clinicals Mondays and Tuesdays. I explained I was in nursing school, and I can't take time off, and I can't use crutches in the hospital. I promised I would stay off of my feet these next 4 days (Thursday - Sunday) and "if I wear an aircast and wrap it really tight, can you clear me for clinicals?" He agreed .

I feel so lucky, and stupid. I'm in Med Surg 2 and people are dropping like flies (2 got sick, one dropped without saying why; we started with 10, now there are 7, and it's only been 3 weeks). I know this is the first difficult and intensive level, where it really separates those that can focus from those that can't. I actually had to drop this level last year when my husband got very sick, and I know I made the right decision then because there was no way I could have kept my focus on my studies while worrying about him. Now I am back and everything is running smooth as silk, and my feet try to sabatoge me. The doctor told me to "take ballet". Yeah laugh it up .

And I met with my clinical instructor yesterday evening (so she wouldn't see me on crutches in lecture before I had a chance to tell her) and explained what happened and gave her the medical clearance note. She said she would put me in the OR recovery room Monday and Tuesday so I can sit more than I would be able to on the unit. I told he she didn't have to, but she says I'm doing well with the patients and she's ready for me to move to other areas anyway and "this way you can rest up more."

I'm VERY lucky. I've known 2 school mates who had to drop clinicals because of injuries (outside of clinicals) that made them unable to perform their clinical duties.

I should probably post this in the "stupid nurse tricks" thread, but I'm still in school, so it's more of a "stupid nursing student trick." Share yours!

[SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN]

And to add another "stupid nursing student trick" I've done...

Tuesday I was giving my elderly male patient a bed bath and changing him into his own clothes before he was discharged to go home. I washed his lower area and his son had brought pajama bottoms with a loose waistband to send him home in, no underwear (he was post op abdominal surgery, couldn't have anything tight across his stomach). So I go to pull these pants up to his bottom, and they won't go up. And he starts to laugh. I had managed to pull his pants up and gotten his strotum and member caught in the BACK waistband, sort-of like what transvestites do to hide their "stuff".