I'm writing for ixchel this week-I enthusiastically volunteered, and I wanted to keep with the continuity; sometimes I become a creature of habit with routine and habits, and I surely didn't want to disappoint members.
I actually am off this week from work, but not without interesting WILTW tidbits, even on my days off; I am currently waiting to send a co-worker, who is a NP off in fashion; she's leaving to go to Texas, where she is going to have a blast-I'm going to miss her, but we will be in touch; she is a great clinician , and a wonderful person who helps my personal procrastination-such as my wedding plans-move forward.
So, without any more introduction:
I learned that negotiating the balance beam between union activities and engaging in management is very interesting to say the least; management has become more transparent since a prior WILTW experience-the sweaty flu-riddled meeting where I enthusiastically volunteered to help with morale to end the meeting and teleport to my bed-and although they are trying to "get things done", the union is making in roads for a process, whether they like it or not.
Soft skills can work...I have learned to talk down very challenging parents, more often because even though volume has been down, the acuity of pts are still there-parents want to be reassured, whether they desire to curse someone out or question what we do at every turn, especially when said parents had a very unpleasant experience with said hospital; at least turning around impressions goes a long way with good holistic psychosocial nursing care-at least this time.
Having three traumas with spinal precautions makes for an interesting night:
L5 injuries can produce back pain and nerve injuries, especially to the sciatic nerve, even if there is no spinal cord damage.
C7 injuries can produce referred shoulder pain, even though there is no spinal cord damage.
Spinal shock can still occur, where it's important for pts to follow-up after discharge.
Miami J collars are my favorite collars-they are more comfortable for the pt-ahh memories working at an acute rehab hospital...
Being a go to person of advocacy for seasoned peers and newbies is a great feeling; I'm never the person who is a "cheerleader" type, but more of an "activist cheerleader" is something I can be comfortable with-being positive, realistic, and being empowered as a nurse can be interesting to say the least.
This week I learned, though I feel like a better title might be "Lately I learned" as I haven't posted in a WILTW thread in a while:
1. I finally got my admissions decision (since my last WILTW post). I got in! :) I'll now be working full-time and going to school part time. This should be interesting. Getting to tell two of the three people who wrote my letters and seeing their *genuine* positive reactions was amazing. The third person had a positive reaction but it can be hard to tell if they're genuinely happy.
2. I got some really good advice. About the same situation, from multiple people.
3. I had a blast at a conference I wasn't relishing the idea of driving to and from in the same day. The drive wasn't so bad, and the conference was great.
4. I have made some amazing friends through my professional organization.
5. I shouldn't underestimate the ability of humans to decide to do stupid things.
6. Sometimes it's just *way* better not to know the story of what happened to some of the patients we take care of.
7. I've become the default human ping pong ball (again).
8. I am doing the best I can - I own what I need to own. If I make a mistake I learn, and if applicable apologize. I have increased my self-awareness about specific things, and that has to be good enough for me.
9. One of my friends from another care area is having a rough time. Unfortunately it looks like s/he may need referral to one of the physician groups I work with. They asked me for help identifying a preference of who to see. They also asked me for advice on staff to choose as part of the team that cares for them should they end up having a procedure. They also insisted I'd be chosen too.
10. Friday the 13th. That crap is real. It'd be worse if I'd been on the inpatient adult or pediatric code teams (we gave up counting the number of codes overhead paged).
I'm sorry to hear about your sons multiple myeloma dx. MD Anderson is very VERY good. We have sent patients there (as a last ditch effort) and they are doing well 2 years later. I wish you all the best of luck
Thanks. This is a first ditch effort fortunately. Advised to go to MD Anderson by a nurse/mentor friend whose daughter is an oncologist and told her mom about it and by my son's oncologist. This journey is only 3 weeks old and I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone and my son is only 33.
I don't mean to rain on anyone's WILTW parade . . .
Thanks. This is a first ditch effort fortunately. Advised to go to MD Anderson by a nurse/mentor friend whose daughter is an oncologist and told her mom about it and by my son's oncologist. This journey is only 3 weeks old and I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone and my son is only 33.
I don't mean to rain on anyone's WILTW parade . . .
Thinking of you!! And you're not raining on anything. I have a family member who was treated there and who received excellent care. Hugs to both of you!
Let's see . . . #1 is I learned that a young man I met here on AN a long time ago is a good friend who talked to me for 2 hours last night and kept me laughing and that was just the medicine I needed.
#2 - Researching MD Anderson in Houston makes me think my son is in very good hands regarding his Multiple Myeloma diagnosis.
#3 - I'm at a loss to think of anything more because my brain is on over-time.
I am so, so sorry for this diagnosis, again. (((Hugs)))
I learned that you absolutely need to listen to that little voice in your head. And if they won't listen to you, yell! Don't stop yelling until they listen.
I also learned that you can have a pretty severe asthma attack and have no wheezing. And that getting a tentative dx of secondary PAH really ramps up the anxiety, which just makes the asthma worse.
I also learned that Ativan is from the devil, and hedgehogs, while cute, are actually scary when they crawl out of the potato you holding or are jumping around in the bag of cracker jack you are trying to eat
Oh and prednisone makes you hungry.
Being a nurse on the other side isn't always easy!
I am so, so sorry for this diagnosis, again. (((Hugs)))
His neurosurgeon, who had absolutely zero bedside manner, but was an excellent surgeon told us right after surgery that if he had to get cancer, he'd choose MM. At the time, my son's dad (my ex) was appalled because he was and is having a very hard time with this.
However, the surgeon is right. We could have our son for a long time and he has a 3 month old son and 2 year old daughter to raise.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I learned that weighted blankets are helpful for insomnia d/t anxiety. I am going to try it out.
Huh. Wonder if that's part of the reason I sleep better with a heavy comforter even if it's hot.
Can't say that I can add too much more to my WILTW post from the previous thread. Looked at my call schedule for this week and very relieved to see that I only have call over the weekend. Free and clear until Friday! Will not be volunteering to stay late either.
Non-nursing/work related, I learned that my cat is an awesome masseuse. My shoulder feels much much better. Now if only I can get her to work on my back...
I learned that you absolutely need to listen to that little voice in your head. And if they won't listen to you, yell! Don't stop yelling until they listen.
I also learned that you can have a pretty severe asthma attack and have no wheezing. And that getting a tentative dx of secondary PAH really ramps up the anxiety, which just makes the asthma worse.
I also learned that Ativan is from the devil, and hedgehogs, while cute, are actually scary when they crawl out of the potato you holding or are jumping around in the bag of cracker jack you are trying to eat
Oh and prednisone makes you hungry.
Being a nurse on the other side isn't always easy!
Veteran asthmatic here. Prednisone makes me eat the house down. Then I turn in to a heinous witch (moreso than normal).
I once lost it because I couldn't get an M & M from the Blizzard I was eating to go up the turbo straw. The scene is still legendary with my kids. Apparently prednisone and dilaudid are a very unattractive combination for me. No hedgehogs, though. [emoji33]
FurBabyMom, MSN, RN
1 Article; 814 Posts
This week I learned, though I feel like a better title might be "Lately I learned" as I haven't posted in a WILTW thread in a while:
1. I finally got my admissions decision (since my last WILTW post). I got in! :) I'll now be working full-time and going to school part time. This should be interesting. Getting to tell two of the three people who wrote my letters and seeing their *genuine* positive reactions was amazing. The third person had a positive reaction but it can be hard to tell if they're genuinely happy.
2. I got some really good advice. About the same situation, from multiple people.
3. I had a blast at a conference I wasn't relishing the idea of driving to and from in the same day. The drive wasn't so bad, and the conference was great.
4. I have made some amazing friends through my professional organization.
5. I shouldn't underestimate the ability of humans to decide to do stupid things.
6. Sometimes it's just *way* better not to know the story of what happened to some of the patients we take care of.
7. I've become the default human ping pong ball (again).
8. I am doing the best I can - I own what I need to own. If I make a mistake I learn, and if applicable apologize. I have increased my self-awareness about specific things, and that has to be good enough for me.
9. One of my friends from another care area is having a rough time. Unfortunately it looks like s/he may need referral to one of the physician groups I work with. They asked me for help identifying a preference of who to see. They also asked me for advice on staff to choose as part of the team that cares for them should they end up having a procedure. They also insisted I'd be chosen too.
10. Friday the 13th. That crap is real. It'd be worse if I'd been on the inpatient adult or pediatric code teams (we gave up counting the number of codes overhead paged).