Alright, friends. I'm keeping this one short and sweet because my brain is sore and my dog is annoying.
This week, I have learned....
1. There should be a time limit hospitals should have to fix a problem. If things aren't better after, say, 15 days, let someone else try.
2. I'm in the mid Atlantic of the US with spring travel plans to Florida, and I'm actually feeling nervous about Zika. I had a guillian barre syndrome patient in nursing school. On his way driving home from work, his chest felt off, so he course corrected to the ED. When he pulled up and walked to the doors, he struggled with leg weakness. After he was done in triage, he couldn't stand. He was intubated, and completely paralyzed, before he left the ED for ICU.
3. A patient on neuroleptics will still have detectable epileptiform patterns on an EEG.
4. A good neurologist knows no matter how crazy the patient sounds describing symptoms, what they say is legit and will stay the course for diagnosis.
5. My favorite doctors to work with are the ones who will sit and talk patho with a nurse and enjoy that the nurse legitimately loves to learn.
6. Sliding scale coverage alone for inpatient management is not currently supported by research.
7. If working day shift doesn't eventually make me check into a psych ward, nothing will.
8. The GI doc who left me scrambling to save a guy's life (what felt like) single-handedly by doing no intervention before he got dumped on us (actively bleeding out 2 points of hemoglobin over 8 hours and maintaining a BP that won't leave 70s-80s) has suddenly become cautious enough to send a perfectly stable (hemodynamically, symptomatically, and on CBC) rectal bleed to ICU before meeting or scoping her after I've literally done all the work needed on her for the shift. And of course, I was rewarded with an end of the shift admission.
9. The Florida Man Collective has evolved to include its latest - Wrinkles the Clown. He is a scary-looking clown who is for hire to scare anyone you want, for any reason.
10. The more you annoy the doctor about the same thing, over and over and over, the more likely it is they will listen and maybe put in an order.
I have nothing else right now. My broken brain is feeble!
-This week I've noticed I'm standing straighter since I bought a balance ball chair, and started working out with a rowing machine. Definitely engaging my core and back muscles.
-I've lost 6 pounds since October, and with the working out since January, it should increase. But the 6 pounds has just come from cutting back on sugary stuff and high fat foods. I don't buy those foods anymore for home. Now, as for consumption of fatty and sugary foods at work, that's a work in progress.
-The rowing machine is cardio mainly, and cardio is just damn boring. And not necessarily a fast way of losing weight. Maybe I should try weights too.
-I don't like bread and rice anymore. It always seems like I fall asleep after eating toast or anything with rice. Maybe I'm not processing carbs as well, even complex carbs. Diabetes?
I learned #6 on ixchell's list. Now I have to go check what else my sliding scale resident might be getting.
I learned that when I ask someone if they can work for me and they say that they will get back to me, that they won't get back to me and they will let the DON tell me they can't do it. Had to come up with a Plan B.
You're just different- which is an excellent thing. "Normal", if there is such a thing, is boring! (I speak as a 'different' person myself)
I learned a long time ago that as long as the people I care about love & accept me- everyone else can bugger off!
I lost my Father less than two weeks ago. I'm hoping the pain lessens as time goes by, but I expect to miss him every day for the rest of my life. (((((Hugs))))
(((Hugs))) back at you. Losing a parent sucks.
I've learned that 2016 is starting out to be a helluva year.
Five weeks ago today, our lil guy crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
This morning, his sister joined him.
I really think she missed him, and the stress accelerated her decline. She went peacefully.
Propofol is a gift from Heaven.
Life goes on, and we will adjust to the two kitty sized holes in our lives. We still have one, who is now Queen Cat. I think she's a bit overwhelmed.
OC-hope everything works out. Glad I could give you a smile.
I'm so sorry about your furbabies! Science shows we grieve pets as much as we do people.
Is it: grab the ankle, plant one foot in the crotch, and push/pull? Because that was my first thought, and usually my knee jerk reaction is spot on.
My immediate reaction to this is to laugh like a loon and picture you jerking a knee. **snorts Pepsi**
I'm sorry to hear about your father, margin. My dad passed away almost 3 years ago on Good Friday. I'm not sure the pain of the loss actually lessens but you learn how to cope with it better as time goes on. The hardest thing for me was for several months after he died, I 'd see something on the news & think "I have to be sure to tell dad that". Then it would hit me that I can't do that any more. I'm still not able to drive past his house without crying because I know someone else is living in my dad's house. It's kind of a weird feeling.
Thanks poppy-
My Mom is still in their home so I can still see all his things when I go visit. I think it helps.
I've learned that more men than I realized have a "thing" for mermaids.
I've learned that I love having a paper bag around for my hyperventilators. I have a small stash in one of my cabinet drawers at school, and it works every time.
I've learned that boys will more often forget their inhalers than girls.
I've learned I can deal with another snow day.
I've learned that ringworm is hard to get rid of in some kids.
I've learned that the Pediatrician who knows I'm an RN will go out of his way to NOT order what I want, but the NP will (See above: Ringworm is HARD to get rid of, doc.)
I've learned the litter boxes won't clean themselves.
I've learned that more people know my inner "ugh" than I think, and wonder of wonders, they still like me!
I've learned I miss reading.
I've learned that Billy Joel is sold out through September 2016 at MSG, and I'm looking for October now. Or November. Or December...
I've learned I'm going to Florida to see my best friend in May!
I've learned that with the right meds, even *I* can make it through a root canal procedure without 4 point leathers. Better living through chemistry.
I learned that I regret telling the dentist to just replace the filling in the first place. I spent my entire weekend with the worst, and I do mean worst, toothache of my life.
Subsequently I also learned that really good scotch, while pleasant, is not an effective home toothache remedy. Just tacking that consumption on to the already impressive bill. [emoji30]
Also learned that I should go to sleep as soon as I get home. I'm exhausted and can't fall asleep.
Been there, done that - in some respects still am. Your brain is gonna keep processing and reprocessing everything you've been through - trying it's best to make sense of everything you learned, saw, heard, felt, etc. It's hard to get it to shut off so you can sleep. Finding a way to de-brief yourself (*snicker*) after a heck of a day like that is going to be super-important. Mine's talking it out to someone (all HIPAA-sensitive data redacted of course). A friend of mine (ED nurse) goes for a slow run around the neighborhood, and one of my cousins (Oncology nurse) cuddles with her fur-baby. You'll find out what works best for you, but in the meantime I would suggest Benadryl or (my go-to) Valerian/Chammomile tea by Yogi Teas.
whichone'spink, BSN, RN
1,473 Posts
-This week I've noticed I'm standing straighter since I bought a balance ball chair, and started working out with a rowing machine. Definitely engaging my core and back muscles.
-I've lost 6 pounds since October, and with the working out since January, it should increase. But the 6 pounds has just come from cutting back on sugary stuff and high fat foods. I don't buy those foods anymore for home. Now, as for consumption of fatty and sugary foods at work, that's a work in progress.
-The rowing machine is cardio mainly, and cardio is just damn boring. And not necessarily a fast way of losing weight. Maybe I should try weights too.
-I don't like bread and rice anymore. It always seems like I fall asleep after eating toast or anything with rice. Maybe I'm not processing carbs as well, even complex carbs. Diabetes?