5/7 (on 5/9) WILTW: ixchel is a cornflake girl

[ixchel]

Friday was a "don't even get out of bed" day.

Saturday and Sunday were "Girl Child needs ALLTHETHINGSRIGHTNOWOMG" days.

Friday through Sunday, the precious few spare moments I have had have been spent helping a friend on a writing endeavor.

Today has been filled with the joy of a mac/apple gal (me) trying to maintain patience long enough to create this OP on a 10-year old's windows 10 laptop. (I am now working on my iPhone.)

So, I'd like to present this week's "what I learned this week", days late and a bit patho heavier than usual. Enjoy! [emoji4]

After spending a couple of (a few?) years in the pre-hypertensive range, I'm finally back to the baseline where I used to be - draw-droppingly hypotensive.

Because I have had FMLA paperwork submitted by two different providers, my HR benefits coordinator decided that the overlapping days counted twice, once per leave request. I had no idea until I questioned the end date I was approved for.

Massospora fungus is a cicada STI. After becoming infected, the abdomen of the infected cicada literally will fall off.

I have felt just as sad the last two or so weeks, reading "one year later" stories of the Baltimore riots, as I was on the days they occurred. I've read an article stating the ground zero high school was promised many things by celebrities aiming to help them out with improvement to their school, and literally not one single person followed through on their promise.

Treature Collins Syndrome is a genetic disorder that leads to under- or undeveloped facial bones, especially the cheeks and jaw, and sometimes resulting in cleft palate. The typical appearance of a person with TCS includes eyes slanting downward, few eyelashes, eyelid coloboma (notch of eyelid), and ear deformities (absent, small, or shaped unusually). Many people with TCS have vision and hearing difficulties when the eyes or ears are deformed.

The difference between Rapid Sequence Intubation and Delayed Sequence Intubation is, in DSI, rather than simultaneous sedative and paralytic administration followed by immediate ET insertion, a sedative that doesn't affect respirations is given, the patient is preoxygenated, the paralytic is administered, and then the patient is intubated.

Von Hippel–Lindau disease is caused by a defect in chromosome 3 where the von Hippel-Landau tumor suppressor gene is located. Tumors associated with VHL include angiomas, hemangioblastomas, pheochromocytoma, renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cysts/serous cystadenoma, endolymphatic sac tumors, and papillary cystadenomas of epididymis or of the broad ligament of the uterus.

If you google "what the heck is wrong with windows 10?" in elementary school computer class and receive a video result entitled "(F word) windows!", your parents might struggle with hiding the giggles when they read your referral.

Stellate ganglion blocks are being used to treat severe post-deployment PTSD in veterans. Using PCL-M (a standardized questionnaire modified for the military to measure degree of PTSD), severity of PTSD is measured before procedure. An SGB is an injection of anesthetic at C5, C6, or C7 depending on insertion technique. Previously, SGB has been used for reducing UE pain, atypical facial pain, and intractable angina. Research seems promising in vets with severe PTSD. I think this is beautiful!

There are three approaches to a pericardiocentesis: subxiphoid, parasternal, and apical. There is risk of liver injury, but lowered risk of pneumothorax, if the subxiphoid approach is used.

Still, work issues persist. I'm starting to think maybe there was a meeting that went something like this:

On a more serious note, though, I have gone back-and-forth about the idea of obtaining a lawyer. I don't want to be lawsuit nurse. The idea of being that person is horrifying. I'm reaching a point, though, where this has gone so far beyond ridiculous. The idea of being lawsuit nurse is horrible, but I'm not sure that this can really go any other way anymore. One of these days, I really hope that I can tell this story. It really is that bad. I got Tori Amos stuck in my head the other day. I was thinking to myself, "this is not really happening."

You bet your life it is. :\

ixchel is a lawsuit girl...?

What have you learned this week?

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

I learned this week that panic ensues when the WILTW doesn't appear ... there's panic in the streets.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

After pinning and graduation, I was able to spend some much needed quality time with my classmates. Many people in my program are going through divorces, relationship struggles, etc. on top of nursing school, so I commend them for keeping their sanity and graduating!

I'm reminded of the importance of networking. My old boss' wife is a CRNA at a local hospital and offered to be a reference if I stay in the area. She also offered to let me shadow her in the hospital, which I was grateful for.

I have a MI interview scheduled for in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed that everything goes without a hitch.

I learned that hetastarch is a plasma volume expander used for blood loss.

For a pt with pyloric stenosis, put the pt on R side and elevate the HOB to 45° to promote gastric emptying.

Kaplan review is really hard to stay focused in when people won't shut up.

[kiszi, RN]

I learned that GRE practice tests are actually kind of ..fun, especially the math. I'm remembering formulas and methods I haven't used in yeeears. Pythagorean theorem, anyone?

My children are becoming more and more like mini-me's all the time, and I'm feeling more and more sorry for my parents.

I learned that I really need to try harder to enjoy the moment and stop obsessing over what lies ahead.

I learned that surgeons are some of my favorite docs.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I learned that ixchel learned A LOT this last week. My head is spinning . . .

I learned that waiting for lab results and biopsies on my son is driving me crazy and yet, I have to be upbeat and positive when I feel like punching someone.

I learned that Dollar General Store that opened recently has increased my husband and son's addiction to cheap sweets . . . they came home with Snicker's Bar Ice Cream and bags of chocolate candy. I learned, I lose at trying to stop or at least curtail this behavior.

I learned that listening to and looking at a video of the ocean in Santa Cruz is almost as good as being there in real life.

I learned I'm not in a good mood.

Duh.

[Farawyn]

After pinning and graduation, I was able to spend some much needed quality time with my classmates. Many people in my program are going through divorces, relationship struggles, etc. on top of nursing school, so I commend them for keeping their sanity and graduating!

I'm reminded of the importance of networking. My old boss' wife is a CRNA at a local hospital and offered to be a reference if I stay in the area. She also offered to let me shadow her in the hospital, which I was grateful for.

I have a MI interview scheduled for in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed that everything goes without a hitch.

I learned that hetastarch is a plasma volume expander used for blood loss.

For a pt with pyloric stenosis, put the pt on R side and elevate the HOB to 45° to promote gastric emptying.

Kaplan review is really hard to stay focused in when people won't shut up.

((((crackle)))))

I've learned I can get up and walk at 0500 every morning.

I've learned the Nike app is cool except the part that will not let me add more than 1 friend. Darn you, Garrett in Nike IT!

I've learned that when you say "sub conjunctival hemorrhage" to your School Superintendent, she thinks you are hot stuff.

I've learned a leg lock and a prat fall by a 7th grader is scary.

I've learned parents mostly trust me.

I've learned that I'm a pushover for eyes.

I've learned a middle schooler with legit schizophrenia is one of the most interesting people I know.

I've learned my HH boss truly likes me.

[ixchel]

I just learned sirI has >99,000 posts.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

I learned that handing in my ID and keys on my last day at a crazy job is awesome.

I learned that getting a job offer on the way out of said ex-job is even more awesome.

I learned that I will have friends at graduation, which is especially nice when no family will come.

[Dogen]

I learned that in Oregon a nurse practitioner can declare people dead and sign death certificates. My new barb when someone annoys me at work is asking if they want to be the first person I declare dead when I get licensed.

I learned that I know a lot about smoking cessation. Several things lined up recently that led me to learn a lot about it... so now I'm doing it in my practice... which is hard. People really like smoking, you guys.

I learned that, with nothing more than my A&P knowledge, you can be a halfway decent masseuse. Knowing which muscles hurt, and where they start and stop (especially the rectus femoris versus vastus muscles, psoas, etc) helps you relieve pain more quickly.

Skipping class to take care of your partner's sick toddler so she can go make money at work is worth big points.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I learned that they're really needs to be a better coordination when it comes to social issues relating to the parent-child relationships; sometimes the social service agencies are severely lacking and then expect an ED that is severely lacking to pick up the slack-which can't happen

I have become an unofficial mentor to new staff, although I am new;

Also, getting involved with a great team of nurses of all experience levels can reenergize most parts of the unit.

That I have re-established networking skills on my request for a better morale; it's great to reconnect with someone who gave a great example of how to me a nurse and a nurse leader.

That although I can be aggressively assertive, I have some soft-skills to inject calm and my directness can be respected by the families that I take care of.

While I was (responsibly) using social media, I reviewed posts that were nursing school related that were brutally honest in my lack of confidence but with a tenacity to still power through challenging times: I relearned that I have always been able to share that being a nurse isn't always easy, but I have always been willing to do the work somehow.

I also learned today that my trauma therapist has placed me into remission for my PTSD; I am nervous, excited and almost exhausted that I have gone on a journey for 8 years to live a full life after trauma. I've decided to check in during the summer to at least make sure I am still in the right track; I fear I will think I'm fine and then be in another situation where I am NOT fine-I want to keep myself as healthy as possible. The next step is to see what my psychiatrist thinks about keeping me on my mood stabilizer.

I find myself for the second year in the row off for nurses week-or at least for the 1/2 of it; I hope to make this a yearly thing just to be away from a job is the best way to celebrate working hard most days of the year.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I just learned sirI has >99,000 posts.

Yes...sirI is one of our more 'hidden' AN.com frequent flyers. Anyone who keeps such a low profile with nearly 100,000 posts to her name has a certain degree of stealth. :)

[Lauraingalls, BSN, RN]

I got nothing this week. I am done with classes and am focusing on pinning and graduation this week!

I will begin studying for my nclex next Monday.

This not so young lady is finally going to be a nurse!