Ixchel asked me to guest host WILT for the second time.
I will say-my French is not that great...the best I can do is relegated to ballet terms at best; one of my nieces is heading into the direction of becoming a principal ballerina; she is heading to New York for a Summer intensive in one month, and goes to a world renowned school in my area-she has been dancing for 11 years; her youngest sister is in her same shoes; this week I was able to see them both perform on stage at their dance school's end of year performance-it goes beyond the average recital...and they both know French
So, jete' simply means "thrown", rather a leap in which one leg appears to be thrown in the direction of the movement in ballet. I always felt I have "thrown" myself into nursing; meaning, I never had a specialty I had my heart set on, when I was a LPN, and even as I progressed to an RN; I had goals, yes, but most of those actions meant to transcend specialties, which I think I have accomplished nicely.
I have come come to a point in my career where I found a specialty that is a fit; I have focused on one position, however, I see a per diem position where it's working with adults, in the same specialty as opposed to children; it would give me additional experience; also a few people that I network with and a few recruiters have been asking for my resume.
The jete' in me wants to apply and see if I can juggle both (the per diem is truly per diem) but the practical side of me wants to wait another year before applying.
Ah, decisions, decisions.
So, what I also learned this week:
I have passed my "black cloud" onto one of my coworkers due to my long hiatuses from work, which got longer when I ended up with a cold this week; I helped her out as much as possible because I understood the struggle of constant work ups, bizarre pts and families.
I still need practice with accessing ports; I have an idea how to achieve this, and know who to ask in terms of having more practice during a low season; before I probably would've gotten a no, but now that a new regime is in place, I have renewed hope.
I also started a hand IV on my first chunky baby...one of my other banes of existence to conquer!
I'm a de-facto resource person post orientation and newbies are feeling very comfortable talking to me about their new life in the world of a Level 1 PediED.
After talking about my other two nieces, their sister, the middle one who is 14 and destined to be a veternarian, placed second in her FIRST horse show! I'm hoping she can go for gold someday...
And more importantly, I learned that the breakfast burritos in my new job's cafeteria are reprehensible.
That is all.
This is totally unacceptable and someone needs to have a talk with the management. (Ours are horrific too). Burned roughly 800 calories during my last shift and couldn't even console myself with some tortilla-wrapped goodness for the ride home.
MMJ: I am so, so sorry to read about your Dad. I am thinking of you. My Dad's health has recently taken a turn also... But not to that degree yet. My Dad has always been a party animal. Always. It's catching up with him and there's little anyone can do about it. My stepmother is not wonderful, but she is much younger than he is. So, at least there is someone there who is attempting to get him on track. Not that that has ever worked before... As he has always been fond of saying, life is full of choices. He has made his, and I realize there is not much for me to do in the situation, whether as a nurse or a daughter.
I learned I am starting my new position at the beginning of August! I wish it was sooner but I do understand why my current boss needs me to hang out for a bit... And it made me feel really good that she told me how much I was appreciated on the unit, even though I have only been there a year. I definitely got a warm fuzzy.
I'm currently reading a fabulous memoire and am fighting the temptation to relax in the sun with a fruity drink. I've gotta work tonight and I'm already fighting a sunburn... (Redheads unite!)
This is a short week for me - only 2 shifts and then I'm going out of town for a few days. I need it.
I learned that Target is the only place in my area that sells green tea flavored ice cream.
I'll be in MI, starting this weekend, for 2 weeks, because my friend and his roommate are moving to a new place and their apartment will be unoccupied for a few weeks until the lease ends. They offered their place for me to stay, while I apply for jobs and schedule interviews. If anyone in Detroit area wants to meet, hit me up! I'll be fairly free throughout the week.
I sent my endorsement application in, and I can't help but feel paranoid that I ommitted something. I read through the requirements several times before sending it in, but I still have that unsettling feeling.
Some patients will leave AMA without their surgery. Even if it means they will likely die without it. And when they realize their mistake, they'll decide to be a no show when the surgeon gives them a second chance. Some people just won't learn until it's too late and you can't fix stupid.
Well, I have to disagree with you a bit. I've always believed that ALL surgery is elective. Even if it means the alternative is death. People have a right to decide. It is aggravating to see a case rescheduled and then turn out cancelled due to no-show, but I'll still support that pt's right to not have it.
Now, when we've got a heads-up about an appy or gallbladder, etc., and pt decides not to do it, my response (to coworkers) is usually "they're not in enough pain yet. They'll be back."
I learned this week that I love the lecture audio from Mark Klimek. His content and tips for the Nclex are amazing! Here is what I learned
In congenital heart deformities, if it begins with a T like Tetralogy of Fallot then it means trouble. If it doesn't begin with T, then no trouble and not a priority.
With V fib, you Defib
With atrial arrhythmias you use ABCDs for treatment. Adenosine, Beta blockers, CA channel blockers and Digoxin.
And lots more. I am hooked listening to his audio files.
Between that and Uworld, I am getting set for testing. Hopefully next week, I can schedule my test.
Is that for LVN or RN? My mom's going to challenge the NCLEX-LPN (or whatever it's called) and she was asking me about a good course for that and I had no clue what to tell her, but we looked some up.
I learned that I'll actually miss the assignment I'm on now, even though I'm going back to a place I also loved for the next 13 weeks. This place makes me do minimal real ICU work (which, sometimes, is annoying), but I get paid better than I'd ever get paid on staff! I'll have to do some real work at the other place (but they don't do heart caths, hearts, trauma, etc) and get paid about $10 more an hour lol
Should have done more OT here when I had the chance, but since it's my last night, it's a no go.
I've also learned that the precious little old man I've been caring for all night is precious and made me miss my grandpa (so I got a bit misty for a sec early on). Love 'em while you have 'em, folks!
I'm currently reading a fabulous memoire and am fighting the temptation to relax in the sun with a fruity drink. I've gotta work tonight and I'm already fighting a sunburn... (Redheads unite!)
Oh yes. I've already sunburned once this year. It was Memorial Day, it was mostly cloudy, and I was only in the bright spots for like an hour. And I had SPF 100 on my hands/arms, collarbones, face, and feet, so none of those burned... but I didn't wear a hat and I didn't put any sunscreen in the part in my hair. I really looked like I had some serious dandruff when it started to peel.
Some patients will leave AMA without their surgery. Even if it means they will likely die without it. And when they realize their mistake, they'll decide to be a no show when the surgeon gives them a second chance. Some people just won't learn until it's too late and you can't fix stupid.
You really can't. That reminds me of one of my people this week... not a surgery patient, but a dialysis patient. A rejected kidney transplant dialysis patient. She was lucky enough to get another kidney, trashed it, and regularly refuses to go to dialysis now. She is very much a frequent flyer. This time, she coded four times (once at the smaller hospital she initially presented to, once in the critical care transport ambulance, once in the ED, and once when she got up to us). The thing is she has no deficits. Literally NO deficits. We extubated her right as I got on shift and she was fine.
And, not to be horrible person, but I think about all the people who are compliant with their treatments and do everything right and die of some particularly horrible form of cancer or Alzheimer's or ALS, and then I look at this frequent flyer who is now whining profusely about how her chest hurts and she needs more Dilaudid, and then more Benadryl, and then a sleeping pill, and then more Dilaudid (after more than 80 minutes total of compressions across her four codes from something she did to herself) and I know there is absolutely zero justice in this world. Not going to lie - I gave her all of the meds she could have as often as she could have them just to make the whining stop, and I have no guilt about it.
Oh yes. I've already sunburned once this year. It was Memorial Day, it was mostly cloudy, and I was only in the bright spots for like an hour. And I had SPF 100 on my hands/arms, collarbones, face, and feet, so none of those burned... but I didn't wear a hat and I didn't put any sunscreen in the part in my hair. I really looked like I had some serious dandruff when it started to peel.
You really can't. That reminds me of one of my people this week... not a surgery patient, but a dialysis patient. A rejected kidney transplant dialysis patient. She was lucky enough to get another kidney, trashed it, and regularly refuses to go to dialysis now. She is very much a frequent flyer. This time, she coded four times (once at the smaller hospital she initially presented to, once in the critical care transport ambulance, once in the ED, and once when she got up to us). The thing is she has no deficits. Literally NO deficits. We extubated her right as I got on shift and she was fine.
And, not to be horrible person, but I think about all the people who are compliant with their treatments and do everything right and die of some particularly horrible form of cancer or Alzheimer's or ALS, and then I look at this frequent flyer who is now whining profusely about how her chest hurts and she needs more Dilaudid, and then more Benadryl, and then a sleeping pill, and then more Dilaudid (after more than 80 minutes total of compressions across her four codes from something she did to herself) and I know there is absolutely zero justice in this world. Not going to lie - I gave her all of the meds she could have as often as she could have them just to make the whining stop, and I have no guilt about it.
Haha!! I do the same thing most of the time (I still have to use my nursing brain sometimes, though) cause it's just not worth it!! They're going to get the meds anyways, after they go home, (legally or otherwise) and if it's not gonna hurt them and it's ordered? Not a hill I want to die on most nights.
kalycat, BSN, RN
1 Article; 553 Posts
This is totally unacceptable and someone needs to have a talk with the management. (Ours are horrific too). Burned roughly 800 calories during my last shift and couldn't even console myself with some tortilla-wrapped goodness for the ride home.
MMJ: I am so, so sorry to read about your Dad. I am thinking of you. My Dad's health has recently taken a turn also... But not to that degree yet. My Dad has always been a party animal. Always. It's catching up with him and there's little anyone can do about it. My stepmother is not wonderful, but she is much younger than he is. So, at least there is someone there who is attempting to get him on track. Not that that has ever worked before... As he has always been fond of saying, life is full of choices. He has made his, and I realize there is not much for me to do in the situation, whether as a nurse or a daughter.
I learned I am starting my new position at the beginning of August! I wish it was sooner but I do understand why my current boss needs me to hang out for a bit... And it made me feel really good that she told me how much I was appreciated on the unit, even though I have only been there a year. I definitely got a warm fuzzy.
I'm currently reading a fabulous memoire and am fighting the temptation to relax in the sun with a fruity drink. I've gotta work tonight and I'm already fighting a sunburn... (Redheads unite!)
This is a short week for me - only 2 shifts and then I'm going out of town for a few days. I need it.