So Rusty... How are you liking it?

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Getting in the groove? What's your take on it so far? Fill us in! :)

What's your daily routine like?

[CraftyLPN]

I have been wondering about ya too!!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I make the third person wondering how your job is going russell?

renerian

[cwazycwissyRN, RN]

me too. Give us the low down Rusty. Hope things are going really good for you.

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

Add me to the crowd . . I was thinking about you yesterday.

How goes it?

[cpgrn]

Me too. How's it going?

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Rusty....yoo hooo, I also want to hear how you LOVE it!!!

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

I'll betcha Rusty is making good on his new intentions to spend time with his family instead of this silly computer. Which sounds like a good idea to me. So . . . later . . . ..

[Rustyhammer]

Ok, A typical day in the Santa Fe HH biz.

I show up at 8 am (I am really NOT used to this!) and check my schedule to see if someone has dumped one on "the guy".

I head over to the phones and over some really good coffee and bagels I start making my appts.

My first stop is a 45 mile drive. A 90 year old M who had a cva 6 years ago and just dx'd with DM. The wife is around the same age and is worried about what food to serve to someone with "sugar diabetes".

I do all the vs etc and talk (excuse me, I INSTRUCT) the spouse about foods that are ok and not. We are speaking to each other in "spanglish", a combo of english and spanish common out here.

I find a small decube on the guys coccyx and talk to her about turning etc. She starts crying and tells me it is all getting to be too much. She feels bad that she can't take care of him like she should.

I call the Social Worker and we have an aide in the next day. She thanks me and gives me cookies to take home to my kids.

Next stop, 34 miles.

70 year old male with a recent hernia repair that has dehised (sp).

I look at his wound and teach the son how to do the dressing change. It's ordered bid but we can't go that often.

They listen intently and ask good questions.

We talk about a mutual friend who has recently died (even though we just met last week). Then he walks me outside and says he used to have a motorcycle and he really likes mine.

Next stop: Lunch by the river (the cookies are really good, sorry kids).

Next stop 60 some year old woman who has had syncope episodes. She has not answered my phone calls so I drop by anyway. There are 2 days of papers by the front door and no answer. This is not like her so I go get the manager and we break in.

She is laying on the couch in just her shirt and panties and has a big shiner on her left eye. The coffee table is broken and there is stuff (papers, broken glass etc...) everywhere.

I rouse her and she is so glad to see me.

She tells me how she fell on Sunday. Tripped on the sunday paper. I sit her up and give her some water and in the kitchen I see 3 grocery bags full of empty bottles.

I sit with her for awhile take vs etc and call her dr. for an appt today. Then I call her friend who comes to stay with her and will drive her to the Dr.

She tells me I'm "a doll" and what would she do without me.

I have a couple of more but I'm sure you get the drift.

I'm really liking the personal aspect of this job and the people are honestly GLAD to see me when I show up.

I am having a bit of a problem getting my paperwork done on time (nothing really new) but that will all fall into place.

Thanks for asking about me.

-Russell

[RN-PA, RN]

Very interesting day, to say the least. Thank goodness you got to the woman with the syncopal episodes!

Sounds like a LOT of driving. Do you mind it? Do you miss working at the LTC facility? I always thought I'd miss the comraderie of being with co-workers if I ever got into HH.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Certainly different form hospital nursing!

[Rustyhammer]

I do miss my friends at the LTC., but they called me the other day and invited me to a bbq they were having outside. Everyone was hugging me and I miss them but can always drop by and keep up on the gossip.

It is a lot of driving but when you have a good motorcycle it's more a pleasure than a pain. There isn't much traffic out here. A lot of rural stops.

-Russell