Good lord I'm worn out. It's weird because I honest don't do as much as I did while working, but here I am. It's not as much body tired, but brain tired.
Recent weeks have been eventful, though. Appointments, benefits crap, recovery crap, bakers cysts (OMG), and family crap. It's all that and arguing kids. I can't figure out who decided I have to adult, but that person needs a good throat-punch.
So, as a patient, I have learned...
1. Recovery from spinal fusion is excruciatingly slow. Yes, I mean "excruciatingly". I don't know how to do slow.
2. A doctor is as strong as his staff. I am so thankful for a great team.
3. My time off was extended. This is terribly bittersweet. It feels like I failed missing a landmark, but I'm glad it was obvious I needed to.
4. It is possible to develop bilateral baker's cysts. It is possible to have bilateral cyst rupture. It is possible to have synovial fluid in your feet bilaterally. This will hurt. HORRIBLY. For days.
As a nurse, I have learned:
1. People who have inpatient stays with histories of receiving meds late might bring their own. They might also bring meds from home if they decide staff doesn't administer enough. (Disclaimer: yes, I knew this might happen, but I had a person admit and defend it. They said the staff would never know. I asked what she would do when staff brought meds she already has taken. NO RESPONSE.)
2. I'm now terrified of patients being like that person. When an autopsy shows an overdose of med reaction, the family will blame us.
As a human, I have learned:
1. Even if you think you don't care about a person's opinion, she might still see you for all your faults and weaknesses and tear you limb from limb, destroying your heart in her wake.
2. If you leave your dog home for a week with brief visits from a sitter, when you get home, the dog might not let you beyond paws' reach for days. (Meaning, expect an extremely persistent animal laying on you constantly, and smacking you hard with a paw if you decide to do something with your hands other than hug or pet.)
3. This is a delayed thing, but we got a spacecraft into Jupiter's orbit and watching mission control live as it happened was the most awesome thing!
4. YOU GUYS. You need to watch Stranger Things on Netflix.
I am going to keep this short this week. I was thinking about going longer, but honestly, you aren't the complaint department! Onward and upward, my friends... :)
(I have veered a little from the nursing path, so I'm adding this quick reminder that these threads turn blue when they remain too far off the nursing path.)
Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.
OrganizedChaos LVN... I am so happy a new life is being brought into the world. I admire you. I cannot imagine having at least one little one still knee-high how you can do it. Mine were 4 and a half years apart and I thought I must have lost my mind! LOL
Absolutely the VERY BEST guide for a first day nurse that I have read in over 30 years of nursing! Where were you when I hit the floors running back in the early 80s??????? Please share that in the article section or on the student nurse boards or somewhere. It is too good and well balanced and honest to be just in the one thread.
:yes::yes:
p.s. Hitting the LIKE button once does not do this justice.
You just turned my face 9 different shades of red! Thank you! :) Perhaps I will share it in an article. I like keeping stuff like this low key usually because the snowflakes become party poopers sometimes. :)
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
OrganizedChaos LVN... I am so happy a new life is being brought into the world. I admire you. I cannot imagine having at least one little one still knee-high how you can do it. Mine were 4 and a half years apart and I thought I must have lost my mind! LOL
Thank you! [emoji5]ï¸[emoji5]ï¸ I'm so excited, well when I don't feel like throwing up my guts. I do have to say I'm really nervous because my son just turned two & he is starting to really show those terrible twos. I know I can do it & thankfully I have my husband. He can help me get threw anything.
I learned that sometimes GoFundMe is necessary. It's the only way I'll be able to pay for my husband's funeral expenses. I never knew arrangements were so costly! We both are on Social Security so no resources to speak of, and of course the funeral home wants all their money upfront. Ouch.
I learned that hospice facilities are a Godsend when a patient's pain is out of control and nothing you give them even touches it. I'm so glad we got him there in time for him to get some pain and agitation relief. His nurse and CNA were top-notch and I'm so grateful that he was able to die peacefully. God bless hospice nurses!
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to get hospice on board in time. They are miracle workers sometimes. Please take care of yourself.
I have learned that being an LPN has given me a leg up in my transition program. I have also learned so much about meds that I cannot believe how I felt educated about them before.
That's just crazy to me. I would never talk to my coworkers about my mental health diagnosis or share meds & for the same reason you explained. You might be friend(ly) now, but what happens if you piss a coworker off? I'll pass!
I have a hard enough time dealing when people at work find out I'm diabetic, I can't imagine divulging a psych diagnosis and being under that particular microscope.
So orientation began this week, and my first shift on the floor is Friday. I have to admit that I'm feeling intimidated and unprepared as that first day approaches. I've met several of the new nurses/externs I'll be working with, and I feel like my program didn't prepare me as well. I know that I'm intelligent and retained a lot from nursing school, but the nursing skills that many people obtain through their program is something that I know I'm lacking. I guess I'll just have to learn a little more than the other new hires. Please pray that I have a patient, understanding preceptor.
I learned that there are Power ports, where dye can also be injected.
While technology is helpful and convenient for many things, it can also make the staff too dependent and careless.
Pressure ulcers are now called pressure injuries because not all of them are ulcers.
Yeast can look like a pressure injury but blanch when you put pressure on it.
Good luck! I begin my orientation next Monday and I am scared too!
So orientation began this week, and my first shift on the floor is Friday. I have to admit that I'm feeling intimidated and unprepared as that first day approaches. I've met several of the new nurses/externs I'll be working with, and I feel like my program didn't prepare me as well. I know that I'm intelligent and retained a lot from nursing school, but the nursing skills that many people obtain through their program is something that I know I'm lacking. I guess I'll just have to learn a little more than the other new hires. Please pray that I have a patient, understanding preceptor.
I learned that there are Power ports, where dye can also be injected.
While technology is helpful and convenient for many things, it can also make the staff too dependent and careless.
Pressure ulcers are now called pressure injuries because not all of them are ulcers.
Yeast can look like a pressure injury but blanch when you put pressure on it.
Kraken, whenever you think your program didn't prepare you for the big world of nursing, just remember this:
[ATTACH]22715[/ATTACH]
The knowledge will come. Keep your eyes and ears open, ask questions, take notes...and breathe!!
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I have a hard enough time dealing when people at work find out I'm diabetic, I can't imagine divulging a psych diagnosis and being under that particular microscope.
I know. I can only imagine what would happen if I disclosed to a "friend" at work about my psych diagnosis. Yikes!
Just learned that by being forced to choose a new cell service carrier (ours was bought out), I will probably have to buy a new phone 😈. This means no more AN app for me. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Just learned that by being forced to choose a new cell service carrier (ours was bought out), I will probably have to buy a new phone [emoji48]. This means no more AN app for me. [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24]
I still have it. If it ever disappears I probably won't be on much. I hate the website! It's like a kid in school put it together in their web development class. [emoji107]ðŸ¼
:yes:
Cheyenne RN,BSHS
285 Posts
OrganizedChaos LVN... I am so happy a new life is being brought into the world. I admire you. I cannot imagine having at least one little one still knee-high how you can do it. Mine were 4 and a half years apart and I thought I must have lost my mind! LOL