12/5: What I've learned this week - No, I don't have "just a second" to help you

[ixchel]

If I make it out of this weekend without losing my mind completely, it will be an absolute miracle. The last few months seem to be trying their best to do me in completely. I could really use a vacation. Just me, the kids, and sunshine. I'd be a happy girl.

So, some lessons from this week:

Someone posted something on Craigslist that was offensive.

It's surprising how surprising hallucinations AREN'T to some people. (Although on the flip side, it's kind of amusing seeing people get confused when I describe my own olfactory hallucinations.)

We have a tech who is a nursing student. He just finished his first semester. Of all of our techs, he's the most bold (abrasively?) in his approach to patient care and has been the only I've worked with who has made decisions "above his pay grade". I hoped with all my heart that some nursing school would add caution to his approach and performance. I've learned tonight that it hasn't. I genuinely like this person, but am afraid for him (and, unfortunately, patients).

Fitbit needs a NOC mode. Or... Is there a way to change its time zone maybe?

It's weird showing up to work with 6k steps already in for the day.

I'm apparently allergic to something I've put on my face in the last 12-18 hours. Love going to work looking like I have two swollen, black eyes.

Insecurity can turn people into monsters. I already knew this. What I didn't know was how much better it feels to ignore it, rather than engage it. (This is not patient-related.)

We have a tech who would rather cause an injury to a patient (pretending she didn't hear what you said), than increase her workload (by taking a BP cuff off, walking around the bed, and reattaching it to the other arm).

If a coworker is charting in a darker, quieter space, YES, they are are hiding. Go away.

If a coworker calls you and says, "I'm in desperate need of uninterrupted time so I can chart. I'll be (insert place here). Please don't tell anyone where I am - I just want to make sure you know where I am if I'm needed", this does NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT mean it would be a good time to go chart and chat WITH them.

"Really quickly": adj., meaning to occupy a very short span of time

Ex., "Because literally every single person and patient has needed me to help them with something 'really quickly', I have literally not even begun to do MY OWN JOB yet, and it's 0200 now." You keep using that phrase, and yet your definition of "really quickly" has become my definition of "I am now going to be here over an hour late while you and everyone else I helped get to leave on time." AND I CAN'T EVEN HIDE!

I am so overfilled with my quota of rude people that I just clocked out knowing I'll have some notes to finish when I go back. I may be royally p'ed off at my job right now, but I like being employed.

The charge nurse who told me I am inconsiderate of others' time (by taking too long to give report - apparently I'm not supposed to answer peoples' questions?) spends over an hour and a half receiving and giving report from the off-going and on-coming CNs. (Even when she and the other CN are both mid-way through a 3-day stretch together - so mostly updates only.)

Regarding report, when you interrupt report that you are receiving to ask questions, you're probably asking something they were going to tell you anyway. This will cause you to get an unorganized report. This will also cause report to take longer. Rather than interrupt, you could be a polite person and wait until the nurse is finished giving you reports. If you still have a question at that time, then by all means ask.

And...

Please...

For the love of God...

Don't do your assessments while you are receiving report! That is so rude that I have no words for it! The person giving you report has been there for over 12 hours and may have to be back in less than 12. This is not what bedside report is for!

What do I need to learn...?

When there is literally no one and nothing in the caregiver's "face to face world" to actually give that caregiver care, help and respite, how does the caregiver go about finding those things?

Sorry, guys. Majorly cranky OP this week!

Did you learn anything good?

[Farawyn]

Gimme a T

Gimme an E

Gimme an A and M!

wooohoo!

/swishespompoms

Oooh. I was so NOT a cheerleader in HS.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Oooh. I was so NOT a cheerleader in HS.

Me, either. But I WAS a band geek-Symphonic Band and Marching Band. Tried out for the dance squad once and my band director got royally pissed lol.

[Farawyn]

Me, either. But I WAS a band geek-Symphonic Band and Marching Band. Tried out for the dance squad once and my band director got royally pissed lol.

Flute! *raises hand*

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

violin, piano, choir.

Not the cheerleader type either. Unless they like their cheerleaders in studded black leather and doc martin's. 🤓

[Farawyn]

kaly: Or studded black leather and heavy metal hair.

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

Oh yeah, Far, that too!

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

I miss Kardexes!

Today is a day that will live in infamy.

It's also my mom's bday! *waves at my stalking mother*

Ok, I just saw this. Today was also *my* mother's bday. Hmm.

A passion for montepulciano d'abruzzo, heavy metal hair, LOTR.... Weirdness.

:stares eerily at Far:

[Farawyn]

Ok, I just saw this. Today was also *my* mother's bday. Hmm.

A passion for montepulciano d'abruzzo, heavy metal hair, LOTR.... Weirdness.

:stares eerily at Far:

Happy Bday kalycat's Mom!

Was she a nurse, too?

[mpier]

I learned....

It's OK to say NO to working overtime, not have a good excuse, and NOT feel bad about it! My excuse: I just don't want to come to work extra tomorrow!

(I have guilt issues and an overactive work ethic...)

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

Happy Bday kalycat's Mom!

Was she a nurse, too?

She was, actually. A PACU nurse. She used to take me in to work to run around the recovery room on occasion. Saw my first BKA at age 7 lol. (This may have spawned my inner trauma hooah) One of the surgeons diagnosed my chronic tonsillitis on such a day and had me under the knife in no time. Ahhhh... Small town hospitals in the early 70s lol

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I learned that my boss isn't going to retire until they carry him out on a slab....and there is no contingency or succession plan. He's mid 70s and not in great health. Gotta dust off that resume.

I went to a conference this past weekend and re-learned how much I like derm. Maybe that would be a good place to look for a new job (see above). I also learned that I can spend 4 days with my 23 year old DS (I took him with me) and not want to kill him. Plus, I can send him to the liquor store.

I still cannot look at slides of parasites (let alone the real thing) without getting the willies. I hated them as a lab tech and I hate them as a NP. They skeeve me out.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I was reminded how much I don't like being in all day cases every day during the week last week. Though it could have been the acuity more than all day cases.

Asystole. And the adrenaline rush *I* experience when dealing with a patient whose rhythm of choice is asystole. Nice little reminder of just how long I continue to shake.

Some really, really, incredibly horrible things happen in this world. I can't imagine. I have no frame of reference. One day last week the only thing I could do was to cry when I got to my car. I gave myself 5 minutes of that then sang (horribly) to music on the drive home.

Also, from this week too, it appears we're in a swing of higher acuity cases with sicker patients. As evidenced by the nearly no notice emergency we got today. Luckily, somehow, no asystole (probably only because we put the defibrillator pads on before prepping and draping - but that's how it goes generally).

I should clarify - I REALLY like my job, most days and in most situations. Some days are harder than others, and sometimes our patients are way sicker. We have cycles where patients are super duper sick and periods where they are less so.