From loony tunes, to total inadequacies, this week was ... unusual. Certainly plenty to learn. I actually had a much bigger list and realized I was a bit *too* specific with some details. Don't want to anger the HIPAA gods!
That aside, I got my fair share of unstable people and psych consult-worthy (and maybe law enforcement worthy) people. Good times....
Flipping back to days this coming week, and only this week. I hate days. Expect Grumpy ixchel for the next several days. You've been warned! [emoji5]ï¸
This past week, I have learned:
Biopsy was negative! And I'm surprised, because two different providers told me to expect something abnormal. Trust me - it's a happy surprise!
Esme is back!
Being on dayshift this week makes me want to cry. Also, there is no night shift jetlag/hangover when you stay up all night every night. Apparently I do better without all the sunshine.
Using a little creativity to bring a patient a small bit of joy after a week in the hospital from sepsis can really fill the heart. All it took was brewing some fresh iced tea.
"Roadkill", in rural poor slang, means cigarettes in public ashtrays that have enough left you can pull them out and finish smoking the rest.
I have met the creepiest man on the planet. I swear to God he killed his mom the night before he was admitted, and I'm pretty sure every single morning he dosed himself with different meds to have different legit symptoms to keep him in the hospital. By the way, being hospitalized is probably a great alibi.
There is a certain look that a terminally ill total dependent care patient gets on their face when you can tell they're only full code because their family insists. I wish I never noticed that exists. When you get them care that clearly makes them uncomfortable they get that look and all I want to do is apologize and promise I'll never cause them pain or discomfort again.
Expecting short term rehab because your driveway is snowed in is totes legit, yo.
If you are wondering why a medication that you get has increased in price, perhaps it's because their promotional brochure has started to include videos that can be played in English and in Spanish and is in full-color stuck in the middle of an actual pamphlet. God bless the pharmaceutical industry. (As much as I hate to link Vanity Fair, some of this is alarming. Deadly Medicine | Vanity Fair)
Lantus still smells as bad as it did the last time I broke a bottle of it.
If you feel your heart heavy after a shift because a patient situation was handled so horribly wrong, your hospital's patient advocate will enjoy hearing from you. You will also be able to go home and sleep knowing its in the hands of the person who is paid to solely make things better for the patient. If, as an RN, I opt for a 9-5, that's a job I could absolutely love.
I have once again witnessed how hard a body will fight to live. I'm sad for the circumstances with everything that went wrong, but honestly remain enamored by how impressive bodies really are. Newbies, remember this - the body wants to live. Let that truth steady your hand.
I actually found myself incredibly angry at EMTALA. It had good intentions, but now it can justify the non-emergent people pulling vitally needed staff away from the critically ill, leading to malpractice and negligence from severe lack of resources to handle the sudden influx of overflow.
I learned that it is possible for someone to be grateful while being dissatisfied. Grateful + dissatisfied = miserable for them and the people they are around.
I learned that I may benefit from moving away from my family, even though I will miss them terribly.
I learned my last day at this job will be March 6th. Giving my notice on February 15th.
I really love my brother's wife.
Many patients need hospice long before they agree to it. The ones that wait too long don't get the care that hospice is meant to be.
Great news about the biopsy, Ixchel! Welcome back Esme!! Congrats NurseHaley!!
This week I learned that I am getting paid significantly less than most NPs in my area. I let myself get complacent in my comfy job. My boss is cheap, and won't bring me up to market level. I have an interview Friday for a new job, but it would be a horrendous commute. Guess I should go to the interview and see what they have to offer.
I learned that I still am uncomfortable with the idea of change. I'm all agitated and anxious about changing jobs.
I learned that my ex-husband still makes me crazy. I guess that's why he's my ex!!!
1) This week I learnt a lot about the OR nurses at my facility, not good. Ignorance truly is bliss when it comes to people's personal lives or their professional conduct. It seems like a significant number of them are either horn dogs or a**holes with bad attitudes. Boy, I thought surgeons made working in the OR intolerable. It's everyone else too. The weekend crew is not bad, but only in small doses.
2) This week I learnt maybe my dog's bladder stones have come back. One week on antibiotics and his UTI is getting no better.
3) I also learnt I just don't have patience for my poor dog's issues anymore, as they have been ongoing. He's 14 years old, and ages day by day. I don't think he will last a whole year. The time is coming.
4) Potbellys is the best sandwich shop ever!
5) I really hate group work. I would rather have done this set of discussion posts by myself. Group work sucks.
I learned that no matter how many times I tell my mom "you have to go to the ED because this bad problem will become unbearable at 01:00," she will not listen
I learned that yes, that bad problem will in fact become unbearable at 01:00 and we will have to head to the ED...
....and that that apparently I still have to take people to the ER even on my nights off (but hey, at least I knew where the ambulance entrance was because they happened to be using it as the main entrance that night)
I learned that people who are very important to me are refusing to be around me if my "best friend" is there. I it may be time to get this very negative "best friend" out of my life.
and last but not least, I learned that as much as I miss my boyfriend, family, cats and queen bed, I'm very happy to finally be back at school from a way too long winter break!
I learned that I am getting soft in my old(er) age, and I don't like it. I need to recover some of my feistiness.
I learned that I can lose a lot of progress in just 1 month away from the gym.
This week I learned that multiple RNs can have multiple interpretations of the same event, and the way to deal with it.
I learned that although I believe in asking questions of other nurses when I am unsure of a procedure and relying on those with significantly more experience, non-nurses will complain that I am not "managing my own patient".
I learned that I am able to refrain from punching people in the face because I do not want to lose my job/license.
I learned that I am getting soft in my old(er) age, and I don't like it. I need to recover some of my feistiness.
I learned that I can lose a lot of progress in just 1 month away from the gym.
This week I learned that multiple RNs can have multiple interpretations of the same event, and the way to deal with it.
I learned that although I believe in asking questions of other nurses when I am unsure of a procedure and relying on those with significantly more experience, non-nurses will complain that I am not "managing my own patient".
I learned that I am able to refrain from punching people in the face because I do not want to lose my job/license.
I learned about elder neglect and that if you let someone lay in saturated urine long enough they can develop second degree chemical burns before bedsores.
And congrats on the new baby....if I understood #3 right.
I witnessed elder abuse first hand where a so called "professional" (leaving out details due to the high possibility of being realized in my general area) smack the ever living crap out of one of my patients right in front of me and act like it was perfectly acceptable. I intervened, reported, followed all proper channels but I'm currently suspended pending investigation in case My best just wasn't good enough at preventing further injury. So add that to the list- I learned this week why people are so afraid to report elder abuse out of fear of retaliation or being in trouble themselves.
gibsongirl
108 Posts
I learned that it is possible for someone to be grateful while being dissatisfied. Grateful + dissatisfied = miserable for them and the people they are around.
I learned that I may benefit from moving away from my family, even though I will miss them terribly.
I learned my last day at this job will be March 6th. Giving my notice on February 15th.
I really love my brother's wife.
Many patients need hospice long before they agree to it. The ones that wait too long don't get the care that hospice is meant to be.