You guys watch ST:TNG? Man, I loved that show. Jean Luc was gonna save the galaxy. I'd totally vote Picard/Riker every single election. (This might actually happen this year.)
But Deanna.... She was my girl. Strong, sensitive, empathic. I was going to BE her when I grew up. I actively sought to connect with people, to know what their feelings were, what motivated them. To be honest, I already knew how to read people pretty well. My pre-teen self just enjoyed the imaginative fantasy.
As a Nurse, we tend to channel our inner Deanna Troi a little. Well, I do, at least. Especially around discharge, when thinking is adjusted to what's next for this person and their loved ones. What do they want? What are they burdened with?
What a crap week for this way of thinking to come back.
This week, I have learned....
1. Grandma is in LTC now and her Alzheimers has been declining rapidly. We all know how those first nights will be.
2. Grandpa is home alone, albeit busy right now, and he is refusing help.
3. My surgeon has me out until August 22.
4. My short-term disability company is currently refusing to extend my claim beyond Wednesday.
5. My employer has decided to terminate my benefits as of Wednesday.
6. Have you ever heard that rumor that short-term disability company long term disability companies will send out private investigators to monitor and photograph the movements of those people they think abuse claims? They do. This is actually a thing.
7. This ad inspires NO DESIRE WHATSOEVER to be a nurse. The intern/resident is treating someone like crap while the nurse next to him gives the "I want you now" eyes.
8. After participating in facebook live chats and PMs with Zdogg since his 7 Years release, being berated by my mother in law for admitting patient suffering and tragedy destroys me a little, and THEN turning to a loved hospitalist that I am thankful to have in my life... It's painfully obvious that those of us, ALL of us, on the front lines of healthcare feel our hearts break time and time again, and yet, we can't admit it to our colleague. Our hands are not meant to be held. We go home to the hands and arms that hold us, knowing that some shifts really do isolate us. We are forced to be alone. I watch my colleagues take their SSRIs, benzos, norcos, whatever it takes to bring them back to a shift. No one hides it. And why should they? We all understand WHY. So why don't we talk about it?
9. Today I decided paying a babysitter is cheaper than paying bail. I mean, c'mon parents, AMIRITE?!
10. morte would rather ditch the spacebar than be decisive about a computer.
If anyone is interested in hosting next week, get in touch via PM.
What have you learned this week?
Remember, cheers, jeers and camaraderie are always loved and appreciated in the WILTW threads. Just try hard to stay close or on the nursing path so this thread stays here.
