3/19 What I learned this week: more about employment laws than anything else

Farawyn · Mar 21, 2016

*hugs* Sully. :cry:

elkpark · Mar 21, 2016

I learned how much it sucks to spend more than 30 minutes speaking to a family about a baby's condition and plan of care after the fellow and PA had spent more than an hour doing the same only to have the family turn around and complain to upper management and say that no one had ever spoken to them about anything. I know their situation was rough, but the lying was unnecessary.

I wouldn't be too quick to consider that "lying" (unless, of course, you know for sure that it was intentional). Remember that, in states of significant anxiety, we develop "tunnel vision" and only hear about 1/4 of what we're told, and the memory goes completely sideways. I spent years on inpatient psych units personally escorting individuals to the psychiatrist's office for the daily visit and watching them walk through the door and sit down before the door was closed, only to have some of them complain indignantly later in the evening that Dr. X didn't talk to them today. When I would remind them that I knew for a fact they had seen the psychiatrist, and reminded them that we had walked to the office together and I had handed them off to the psychiatrist myself, they sincerely didn't remember spending 30 or 45 minutes talking with him (although they would eventually remember when I reminded them).

And sometimes "nobody talked to me" is code for "nobody said the thing that would make me feel better and less freaked out."

And sometimes "nobody talked to me" is code for "they talked to me but nobody listened to me and I don't feel my concerns have been addressed." The mind is a funny thing.

StripeyDog · Mar 21, 2016

Things like straight caths and helping with hygiene and aspirating residuals feel routine now, but when a patient says "I love you,"* that's waaay too much intimacy and I spend the next week quietly freaking out.

I'm not good at saying goodbye to people I've come to care about. That makes this rehab gig harder.

*in a totally situationally-appropriate and non-skeevy way.

pixierose, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

I didn't go to orientation. *sigh* This was my last try at a job. Now I am going to apply for disability because it is obvious I can't hold down a job.

Huge (((hugs)))). The biggest (((hugs))). I'm sorry.

You may not be able to hold down a job *now.* That doesn't mean it's forever. This too shall pass (eventually).

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Mar 21, 2016

Huge (((hugs)))). The biggest (((hugs))). I'm sorry.
You may not be able to hold down a job *now.* That doesn't mean it's forever. This too shall pass (eventually).

Thank you so much. I am going to schedule an appointment with my psychiatrist because I am so depressed & anxious. I have been for some time. [emoji17]

Farawyn · Mar 21, 2016

Thank you so much. I am going to schedule an appointment with my psychiatrist because I am so depressed & anxious. I have been for some time. [emoji17]

Hang in there, kiddo. You can't help anyone if you don't start with you.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Mar 21, 2016

Hang in there, kiddo. You can't help anyone if you don't start with you.

That's what my husband said. ðŸ™

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

I've actually started studying for the NCLEX and learned several things (hooray for learning):

Post-op a liver biopsy, place the pt on his or her right side with a pillow under the costal margin. It puts pressure against the liver and decreases risk for bleeding.

Monitor for white, chalky stools after a barium swallow study to indicate that the barium has passed. Otherwise, it can cause a bowel obstruction.

Rapid paracentesis can lead to decreased abdominal pressure, which can progress from vasodilation to shock.

Gastric ulcers cause pain to occur after meals, while duodenal ulcers cause pain to be relieved with eating.

Melena are black, tarry stools. It's not a vey pleasant image.

Pernicious anemia can result from a vitamin B12 deficiency. The beefy, red tongue always gets me. It just sounds off-putting. Beefy.

ETA: I feel really awkward when I'm at Starbucks, and there's only me and one other person and that other person starts taking selfies. Perhaps it's because I never understood selfies. I like taking pictures with other people, not by myself.

mc3, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

I didn't go to orientation. *sigh* This was my last try at a job. Now I am going to apply for disability because it is obvious I can't hold down a job.

OC, I'm so sorry! (((OC))) Am there for you.

canigraduate · Mar 21, 2016

Ixchel - I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time at work! I hope things work out for you.

OC - Lots of love and support for you! You've had a TON of stressors over the last year, and that messes with your head. Go see your psych and find out what they think. You may have some options before you go the disability route. It takes a while for it to happen, too. Make sure you talk to a disability lawyer and find out all you can about it before you decide it's right for you.

If there's one thing I've learned with my own experiences with mental illness, it's that change is constant. Very often what I can't tolerate this week inspires me the next. I hope that you find your inspiration soon.

I learned that the anniversary of Mom's death is much harder than her birthday. I learned that my mental illness exacerbations have been timed around that and around my period, of all things.

I learned that there are some medications that are so expensive that pharmacy will come search your unit if one doesn't get forwarded upon transfer.

I learned that easing someone's pain when they are on Palliative care makes me feel like a million bucks.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Mar 21, 2016

OC, I'm so sorry! (((OC))) Am there for you.

Thank you. *hugs*

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 21, 2016

Add me to the hugs givers, OC.

I've learned that surgeons can actually be decent singers. At the same time as operating. Who knew an OR could be turned into a karaoke bar?