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.
What I learned this week: My kindergartener has been leaving notes in the school bathroom. The teacher said they say things like: "Please wipe up your own pee drops. It's gross. Thank you." and "Wipe the seat before you pee. Someone keeps dripping on the seat. Please and thank you." Apparently there is a problem in the kinder bathroom.
there used to be a saying "if you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat "
there used to be a saying "if you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat "
Ahh, the good old days LOL
I love that saying however, just wiping the pee off the seat doesn't do anything for the GERMS!
I keep antibacterial wipes on the back of the toilet as I've always been outnumbered in my home. It was 4 males and 2 females. One of those males was raised to not flush pee because they had a septic tank. "If it is yellow, let it mellow. If it is brown, flush it down." Hey buddy, we aren't on a septic tank anymore and your pee stinks!! Try walking into the bathroom first thing in the morning when the door is shut and the pee has been mellowing for hours. Phew! Plus, mellowing pee makes the bowl get dirty faster.
Rant over.
In public bathrooms, I always use paper covers or I hover.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Don't usually hang out here as nothing I could contribute is really interesting....
But here goes:
I learned from a new nurse that (according to her) I am an excellent teacher. She must have thanked me a hundred times for letting her be "the nurse" while I assumed the tech assistant role and taught her to nurse.....she said I should teach. I have heard this many times but somehow hearing it from her re-kindled my desire to go back and get that MSN/teaching track degree and do it. I was also told by that clinic manager my charting was "the example" to follow by the other nurses? Would you believe, I got teary? I guess I am emotional, and my seasonal depression is lightening up and I am so, so not confident of my skills.....what is my issue?
I actually gave up my preceptor role d/t a really difficult preceptee who disrespected me at every turn and was just a horrible person to work with. When I took my concerns to management I was basically blown off, so I blamed myself and I have not been asked to precept anyone else, so I figured I was lousy. But I guess maybe that's not the case after all.....
Anyhow to hear others believe in me and to have them light a fire under me when I am feeling rather apathetic in my career has brought me to tears, but also motivated me to get on with it.
I have learned it's never too late....
I enjoy reading these threads, I do. I may not say anything, but you guys are pretty dang amazing. I am pretty dang ordinary.
I've learned I MUST stay out of Pre-Nursing and Student Forums.
I've learned my son's friend has no qualms at all about coming to my office, borrowing some Q tips, and cleaning out his VERY waxy ears in front of me whilst holding down a casual conversation about the weather.
I've learned us nurses of a certain age are die hard Seinfeld fans.
Another thing I learnt this week: Seeing a pet die is not as traumatic as I once feared. It's less traumatic than seeing a fellow human being die, especially if said human being is advanced in age, has dementia or a massive CVA, is contractured in multiple limbs, will not eat or drink, and has family members that just won't let go. I just had to put my oldest dog down today, and while it's sad, it was not as bad as I had imagined. He died with dignity, with me petting him, staying by his side the whole time.
I wish human beings were given a dignified death like this.
Plus, mellowing pee makes the bowl get dirty faster. 
martymoose, BSN, RN
1,946 Posts
there used to be a saying "if you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat "
Ahh, the good old days LOL