ixchel's What I Learned This Week, 12/26: Not a Creature was Stirring

[Farawyn]

Not even a Louse.

Lice.

Nits.

Oh deers!

These words have been known to strike fear into the hearts of every School Nurse. For one reason, and one reason, only. The Teachers.

There are about 5 threads on the SN Board right now talking about lice. For those that don't veer shockingly off topic, the theme that comes up ad nauseum is the teachers' lack of understanding about lice. What is it about lice that strikes fear into the hearts of teachers?

A few fun facts about lice:

They are bugs

They are attracted to clean hair. If you have lice, it does not mean you are dirty.

They lay eggs called "nits"

Nits are tiny white and sesame seed sized. They cling to hair shafts and are difficult to remove. They tend to cluster close to the scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck.

Yes, if you are scratching, the mere mention of lice does that to all of us SN's as well. We are not immune to the psychosomatic itch.

Lice do NOT jump from person to person. In order to catch lice, you must share grooming utensils, headwear and beds- in other words, a slumber party for 5th grade girls can result in a HUGE lice outbreak.

If your child has lice, we will send her/him home to get treated with the shampoo. I'm not an ad exec, nor am I getting paid as an endorser, so I'm not mentioning brands. "Ask your doctor." I'm also old school, so I like the fine tooth comb.

Most schools now do NOT have a "no nit" policy.

And finally, and this is significant, The whole surrounding world/ classroom/ relatives from Jersey, do NOT have to be checked for lice just because Little Cliffy may have it.

(Now, that other lice? That's a tale for another day. Talk of it can be found on the SN board.

I will say that thanks to all things "retro" there will be a upswing in that other kind of lice.)

Are you itchy now? Me too.

I've also re-learned IV Tylenol is a hell of a drug. I am impressed with how quickly and efficiently I have seen it work not only on pain, but to bring down a fever.

I've re-learned that crazy old people are often crazier when they have a UTI. So, if Ed starts hopping the side rails, check his urine.

I've learned that Risperdal is a hell of a drug and needs to be tapered.

I've learned I can sleep HARD when I'm off, and that my cat sleeps with me because he thinks my snoring is purring.

I've learned Coquito is strong and must be tapered. (Kidding)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coquito

I've learned that smells are one of the biggest triggers to memories, and have been reminded of it several times this week. Some good, some not so good.

I've learned that I am excited for my friends who are students who have time off right now. My Big Kid, too!

I've learned that even when things are changing all around me, if I have my kids and people I love I can get through the holidays. I am glad Christmas is over, though.

Bring on 2016!

Thanks to my girl, ixchel, for trusting me with her thread this week.

For all of you working over the holidays, THANK YOU!!! A close family member of mine is hospitalized and nurses like you all have made all the difference in her care.

What have YOU learned this week?

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

I've learned that I have no patience to wait for my last grade of my BSN. I need to see it, even though I know that it is an A

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I'm with LadyFree, I didn't learn a darn nursing related thing this week as I have been on the last vacation for the year!

I did however see my doctor so I in keeping the medical theme of these threads I guess I learned that I need a mammogram [which is already scheduled] and I am now of an age that a screening colonoscopy is suggested. I got my referral letter from gastro today to call and schedule this. I am NOT looking forward to this. I don't expect the actual exam to be too bad, but the bowel prep frankly terrifies me.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I've learned no matter how they're cooked my insides will never be happy to meet a brussel sprout....

Then you've never had them at the restaurant where my daughter is a cook. Honestly, my dh HATES them but tried them due to some coercion by his family and he actually liked them!

I love Brussels Sprouts! Slow roasted in the oven with other veggies. Stir-fried with other veggies.

As to what I've learned this week - even when I'm not on call, when the landline phone rings, I jump!

I've learned my patience is wearing thin regarding meth and heroin addicts.

I've learned how to fill a gaping abdominal wound with a large sponge.

[Debilpn23]

Thank goodness for the SN forum-I need some smiles, as Christmas was a bit melancholy this year.

On Christmas Eve, after consulting with the vet, we essentially placed one of our cats in Kitty Hospice (and yes, I totally played the "I'm a Hospice nurse" card so the vet could go over labs and options without having to explain every. single. thing. Sue me).

Probable terminal diagnosis of gastric lymphoma. He's almost 18, and that's what kitties tend to get at that age. So, definitely no surgery, chemo, or further testing. He's also been hyperthyroid for almost 10 years, with very few problems.

We're treating the vomiting with an oral anti-emetic, letting him eat and drink whatever he wants and giving him plenty of snuggle time. So far, he's comfortable. As soon as he isn't, it will be time for "that talk" with the vet.

I'll miss my little buddy. He's been a part of our family for 18 years. I know some of you won't understand how completely "just a cat" can wrap himself around your heart. That's ok.

[ATTACH]20466[/ATTACH]

I understand. Our animals are like family. Sending hugs

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I have learned that people will do anything to get high. Wish we knew who did it so they can be fired. Strange story that one is. That has made extra work for us. I also leaned that 2 different nurses making a narc error each in a 24 hour period also makes for extra work for all the nurses. I guess you can say that I have learned too much about narcs in the last couple of weeks.

I learned that I didn't mind working Christmas. While I thought it would take longer for the residents to settle in for the night, they actually settled in faster. Lots of company, long visits home as well as activity in general sure wore them all out. Except for, maybe, the last resident to return. She returned about 2145 and was in a super happy mood. Now, I wonder how long it took for her to settle in.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Understanding hugs to you J.

Hoo boy do I understand that pet bond stuff. Worse than Gorilla glue. Dog blew out his ACL. Over $4000 for knee surgery. Who would spend than kind of money on a dang dog? Well, I guess I would because he had his surgery Christmas Eve eve. (My buddy said I could get 4 or 5 new ones for the price of fixing the old one.)

The vet staff commented what a good dog he is. The house sure seemed empty for the two days he was gone. He looks like a goofy poodle now with all the shaving but his little stub tail is wildly wagging. Tramadol is a hell of a drug, for dogs anyway.

My Lucy the Beagle blew out both ACLs at different times and yes, that's $4000 a pop. Then there were the ear flap hematomas due to allergies, the wad of undigested grass stuck in her gut, various allergy and arthritis meds, special food, etc. She was $55 to adopt from the Humane Society. The meter finally stopped running a year ago with the inoperable spleen tumour. Most of the stuff seemed to happen at Christmas time. We have a beagle tree ornament and several years ago I made a paper Elizabethan collar for it. It still goes on the tree every year. I miss my Lucy.

[OldDude]

Nice job Far, this has been therapeutic for the posters and those who are silently reading.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind replies to my cat story. It does make it a little easier knowing that I have a place to come and talk if necessary.

I'm not going to post a blow by blow description of how he's doing, as it really isn't "nursey", but he's hanging in, and he's comfortable.

Again, thank you all.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I learned that ...... well, I apparently learned nothing this week.

[ixchel]

Thank goodness for the SN forum-I need some smiles, as Christmas was a bit melancholy this year.

On Christmas Eve, after consulting with the vet, we essentially placed one of our cats in Kitty Hospice (and yes, I totally played the "I'm a Hospice nurse" card so the vet could go over labs and options without having to explain every. single. thing. Sue me).

Probable terminal diagnosis of gastric lymphoma. He's almost 18, and that's what kitties tend to get at that age. So, definitely no surgery, chemo, or further testing. He's also been hyperthyroid for almost 10 years, with very few problems.

We're treating the vomiting with an oral anti-emetic, letting him eat and drink whatever he wants and giving him plenty of snuggle time. So far, he's comfortable. As soon as he isn't, it will be time for "that talk" with the vet.

I'll miss my little buddy. He's been a part of our family for 18 years. I know some of you won't understand how completely "just a cat" can wrap himself around your heart. That's ok.

[ATTACH]20466[/ATTACH]

Ohhhhhh J's mom, I'm so, so sorry for your loss. Please tell Jenn to hug you for me, and be sure to hug her back. [emoji22]

[ixchel]

(((hugs))) Jensmom.

So sorry you are dealing with this. I am glad you are able to help your sweet kitty through this.

Pets are such an important part of our lives.

I agree completely. Pets give their humans constant, ongoing, and unconditional love for their entire lives. They will always have a special, unique bond with their humans and that bond runs deeply. "Important" is just the start of it. [emoji173]️[emoji252]

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thank goodness for the SN forum-I need some smiles, as Christmas was a bit melancholy this year.

On Christmas Eve, after consulting with the vet, we essentially placed one of our cats in Kitty Hospice (and yes, I totally played the "I'm a Hospice nurse" card so the vet could go over labs and options without having to explain every. single. thing. Sue me).

Probable terminal diagnosis of gastric lymphoma. He's almost 18, and that's what kitties tend to get at that age. So, definitely no surgery, chemo, or further testing. He's also been hyperthyroid for almost 10 years, with very few problems.

We're treating the vomiting with an oral anti-emetic, letting him eat and drink whatever he wants and giving him plenty of snuggle time. So far, he's comfortable. As soon as he isn't, it will be time for "that talk" with the vet.

I'll miss my little buddy. He's been a part of our family for 18 years. I know some of you won't understand how completely "just a cat" can wrap himself around your heart. That's ok.

[ATTACH]20466[/ATTACH]

I get it. I'm one of those pet moms. Sorry for what you're going through.