I have very little to share this week. Truth is, it's been the hardest week I've had in a very long time.
This week, I have learned (relearned):
Mental health crises do affect all of us at some time.
It's a good idea to have Life Crisis's phone number and a local phone number for a local group similar to life crisis saved in your phone whether you think you'll need it or not.
Hyper vigilant anxiety/stress will leave you utterly exhausted. It might also rip up your tummy.
We still have so much further to go before the stigma is removed from mental illness and the medications used to help treat those who need them.
Forgive the abbreviated post. I hope your week has treated you well!
I hurt my lower back in a code last week and our employee health department won't let me come back to work until my doctor has cleared me to work without restrictions. I learned that I miss my usual routine, even though the whole hospital has been at ridiculous capacity/acuity for the past few months.
I registered for winter term classes. My younger sister has been incredibly negative/discouraging about me going to school, and I've learned that it just makes me even more motivated to do well and prove her wrong. I'm excited regardless of her approval. I really want to get my textbooks now.
Not much learning this week either; however, the more I anticipate going from 40 hours to 36 hours/wk, the happier I get;
A walk-in that comes into the ER shot five times makes people waiting much more appreciative towards staff and their ailments so much trivial...hey actually have an "a-HA!" moment by learning what's a TRUE emergency.
I relearned that having an orientee is like having two extra patients.
I've gotten out late every night this week.
OBS as it stands at my workplace is not a good environment for a new grad. You kinda have to know what you're observing people for. There is not enough time to ask questions on my unit. Unless you like leaving 2 hours late every shift.
I learned that a little extra communication makes all the difference between wanting to spend the rest of your life with someone and wanting them to leave, quick.
I love teaching new grads, but it wears me out!! Why do we check urine after a hysterectomy? Because we don't want them to bleed out because of a nicked bladder. Yes, it's supposed to be green. No, brown is not good. Here, why don't I go do these fifty-eleven things while your slow butt does this one piece of charting. Yes, you will get faster. No, this unit does not get any better, we've actually had good days so far. Sorry.
... that 62 degrees in mid-December in Indiana is awesome.
I feel the same. I went for a run Saturday but had to wear somewhat warm gear because I'm still recovering from my cold. It's a little ominous. This weather is very peculiar, even for Indiana.
I feel the same. I went for a run Saturday but had to wear somewhat warm gear because I'm still recovering from my cold. It's a little ominous. This weather is very peculiar, even for Indiana.
I live in Iowa and we have had warmer than normal weather this month too. Had a good old fashion thunderstorm around midnight last night.
I learned that telling a patient "y'know, pressing your call light over and over does not speed up the time you have to wait until your fentanyl is available, but it *does* exhaust the nurse that will bring it" is not "therapeutic communication".
Huh. How bout that.
I also learned that taking care of a DOL with short term memory retention of roughly 30 mins is like a real life version of 50 First Dates.
Princess Bubblegum
122 Posts
I hurt my lower back in a code last week and our employee health department won't let me come back to work until my doctor has cleared me to work without restrictions. I learned that I miss my usual routine, even though the whole hospital has been at ridiculous capacity/acuity for the past few months.
I registered for winter term classes. My younger sister has been incredibly negative/discouraging about me going to school, and I've learned that it just makes me even more motivated to do well and prove her wrong. I'm excited regardless of her approval. I really want to get my textbooks now.