ixchel is working like the Rockstar that she is, and asked me to fill in for her. I know, I know, it's already well into the new week, so this will be short and sweet. Or will it?
A couple of nights have passed since I've talked to ixchel. We usually go 24/7. Before I realized she was working like she was, I couldn't get in touch with her. I was actually worried. Like, more than a little.
I've learned that my online friends are most definitely my real friends. Lines are blurred. I text my RL friends and I talk to my Online friends. (I actually knew this- but this week's worry popped it up for me.)
I've learned I need my AN School Nurse Co-Workers, but that my RL Co-Worker, in the form of the Social Worker that shares my office, is gold. Like Ponyboy Level Gold.
I've learned that my friends know I worry, and humor me thusly, by checking in with me PRN.
Except ixchel. For days on end...
When ixchel needed help this week, of course I obliged. The problem is, I really haven't learned much. I called on some of my friends to help me out:
From Dogen: "Ummm... I learned that people with schizophrenia were targeted by the tobacco industry, and that they funded research saying the people with psychosis were somehow resistant to cancer and also that it was critical to their recovery to let them smoke. Both of these lack evidence, but are still widely held beliefs, such that psychiatric hospitals were exempted from a federal ban on smoking in hospitals.
But really, people with schizophrenia are 4.5 times more likely to get lung cancer, and have 30% higher mortality rates than smokers without a mental illness."
Hmmm...
From WellThatsOod: "I just learned that vomited strawberries looks like jam!"
From OldDude: "I've learned my fellow nurses don't mind stepping in to defend the perpetuation of reason and support of their peers from those whose statements are unreasonable and inciteful."
(We gotchu.)
Thank you guys for helping out. Love ya.
Sports start this week in my HS. So many kids, coming down in pairs and groups, making sure their friends are appropriately cleared. I've learned that these kids know what teamwork means without setting foot on the field.
Some of our posters have been through a lot lately. DLHWB with her patient that killed himself. Poopycat with her new grandbaby (grandkitten?) Students starting school. Illness. Deaths. Weddings.
We have been helping each other here. We get flack for the snark, but I'm feeling the love.
(Just call me Farawimp.)
The theme is friendship, mental illness and the lack of good treatment those patients receive, vomit and strawberry jam, and sticking up for one another...or anything else you have learned.
I also re-learned ACLS...it took me 15 tries to not kill the last two in the simulation; then I learned that there are tutorials, including YouTube videos to help "save" the pts.
I have re-learn ACLS as well - sometime this Spring. It's been 9 years since I last took it and I know things have changed and everyone says "It is way easier than the old days".
I learned this week that our local ER had a 20 hour wait - yes 20 HRS - to be seen. The flu is making the rounds but come on? I'll wager a bet that at least half were visits for other non-sensical stuff.
Obama care doesn't seemed to have helped less crowded ER's, for sure.
I also learned, and continue to learn, more from my School Nurse friends every day. They are my comfort and always, always can get me to laugh.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Flu seems to be juuuuuuuuust hitting us here.
It's been hitting us recently. ECMO, ECMO, and more ECMO. I do not regret that I only help with the cannulation and then run off and leave the ICU staff in charge of that machine.
I've learned that I may be reaching my breaking point- I need to stop taking so much call from my coworkers. Yeah, the overtime is great, but I am exhausted and not sleeping well at night because I'm afraid of sleeping through a phone call. Maybe next schedule I'll just cover my own and not take anyone else's unless they swap.
It's been hitting us recently. ECMO, ECMO, and more ECMO. I do not regret that I only help with the cannulation and then run off and leave the ICU staff in charge of that machine.
I've learned that I may be reaching my breaking point- I need to stop taking so much call from my coworkers. Yeah, the overtime is great, but I am exhausted and not sleeping well at night because I'm afraid of sleeping through a phone call. Maybe next schedule I'll just cover my own and not take anyone else's unless they swap.
Well, I was on vacation last week. Enjoyed sunny and warm Texas. But, while waiting for my first flight yesterday, I get a text message from my DON saying, "you know you are scheduled to work Wednesday." Uhm, no I didn't know, when I left, I wasn't scheduled to work until Saturday. So, I work tomorrow. Am glad that I made the decision, to reduce my part time schedule to just weekends, work PRN and work per diem through an agency.
I have had too many shifts from hell lately. Going to be interesting to see how it goes tomorrow evening.
An aide I used to work with (& enjoyed working with) graduated in December & started working as a nurse on the same floor. I was sad/irritated to find out she has promptly become someone that runs to tell the manager when a co-worker has a "bad attitude" (3 occasions so far). Seriously? WTH.
-I learned that Allnurses has taught me well... I impressed our school's health center NP with a nugget of knowledge I picked up here!
-I have learned infinitely more about what nurses do/the roles of everyone on the health care team/what it's like to collaborate with different disciplines/how a patient's care is managed in general as a rehab aide in the last 2 months (in a clerical role) than I did as a CNA in 8 months.
As a side note: I sincerely believe there should be an entire course in medical school devoted to identifying the giant, black X's or red "sign here" tabs indicating where a physician's signature is needed. Filling in the line that says "date" would be a pre-requisite.
Well, I was on vacation last week. Enjoyed sunny and warm Texas. But, while waiting for my first flight yesterday, I get a text message from my DON saying, "you know you are scheduled to work Wednesday." Uhm, no I didn't know, when I left, I wasn't scheduled to work until Saturday. So, I work tomorrow. Am glad that I made the decision, to reduce my part time schedule to just weekends, work PRN and work per diem through an agency.
I have had too many shifts from hell lately. Going to be interesting to see how it goes tomorrow evening.
-I learned that Allnurses has taught me well... I impressed our school's health center NP with a nugget of knowledge I picked up here!
-I have learned infinitely more about what nurses do/the roles of everyone on the health care team/what it's like to collaborate with different disciplines/how a patient's care is managed in general as a rehab aide in the last 2 months (in a clerical role) than I did as a CNA in 8 months.
As a side note: I sincerely believe there should be an entire course in medical school devoted to identifying the giant, black X's or red "sign here" tabs indicating where a physician's signature is needed. Filling in the line that says "date" would be a pre-requisite.
xoemmylouox, ASN, RN
3,150 Posts
I know. I am afraid my nursing school is going to give me a hard time about this.