I volunteered this week to contribute to another WILTW post-hosting is FUN! :)
The title of my post is indicative of the slang term that was used heavily in the 70s and 80s: "Saturday night special" is a term that would be used for small caliber handguns used in armed robberies. I heard this term in every detective show from the 70s and 80s; gun critics alluded that this term had racial overtones. I don't hear it much anymore, maybe because there are so many other guns that are beyond the .25 automatics of that particular era of revolvers and now rifles and automatics are used in gun violence, the term just isn't suitable anymore.
As trauma season is in place-which is the time when gun violence is high; usually after Independence Day in my area for my Level I PediED, it has been busy on a few nights, leaving me to coin "Monday Night Special", "Tuesday Night Special", etc. to cope with the increase in children arriving in our Trauma Room.
It it was been a busy week with highs and lows; career wise, I continue to be supported in a challenging environment; being given a chance to start precepting and do an educational session with new hires was quite the experience!
Buidling a caucus of unity during a first contract for a newly formed Union and trying to be supportive of a culture of changes could be daunting to many, but not me. I'm stubborn, and committed to rallying against a culture of fear and anger, maintaining my integrity to be a fierce advocate is never easy, but continue to issue the challenge and will continue to until I leave this business.
I also lost a colleague; I worked with this colleague at my longest tenured job that gave me the opportunity to engage in policy making and educating; this person had a plan to enter this business, was a young parent, was missing but was found dead with the suspicion of suicide; I hope for the facts to come out so all of us who love this individual could be able to have questions answered-not that it would change things, but I guess the reason and the rationale for me would give me some closure, as a questioning person at heart.
So I learned:
I can teach again! I participated in a "Trauma Day" educational session to the new hires and enjoyed the process; I precepted the previous day as well; I still teach from a Socratic-ish method-reason and rationale folks.
How powerful my teaching session was able to be experienced by those new hires while able to not be triggered by a kid shot was shot at close range and was stable-he was hanging in there coping, wanting a burger and not to have crutches and all the stuff he needed to do. I kept talking to him and he is doing well. I undertood where he was coming from...I did.
How frustrating it is for a kiddos eyes to remain pinpoint while trying to revive them after a potential ingestion; they unfortunately had to be intubated. Another teachable moment for some of the newbies and for myself; it recalled me to my first resuscitation after getting off orientation and having to document for that initial pt was surreal; but to be able to talk and be a part of that process as a newly experienced nurse had a different vibe to it.
I learned how how unfortunate circumstances can give you a jumpstart to reconnect with members of a good nursing team-my ex-coworkers knew every aspect of my life, from my trauma, everything-we had to cry together and laugh together yesterday. I hope for all of us to get together before the summer or at least the year being through; it has made me more aware to check in with people that I love and keep motivated; I also learned how I can connect with my current co workers and team and foster better outside relationships as well, even if it small groups, which I so need at this period of my life.
Hopefully I will be able to get my feet wet into a non-trauma Adult ED....then go from there for a Level II or Level I; an agency called me and they will try to place me, if this agency can not do it, I will try another one...I will keep my options open!
