Yellow Submarine

[Davey Do]

There are a couple of threads that are currently rather popular probably because of their universal negativeness. We can all identify with negativity because we all have to deal with it, and for some of us, it's a constant thing.

I was going through my journals from 15-20 years ago, looking for a specific drawing for a project I'm working on. While flipping through the pages, a flood of memories came back, the vast majority positive ones. Even though our work at Wrongway Regional Medical Center was very stressful at times, we could always find some humor in having fun with situations, our peers & patients, and ourselves. 

I found one drawing of a tech I worked with who could be sweet as pie or mean as a snake. I made a cartoon with something she said that I have no memory of the reference.

 

 

I got to thinking about the song and Paul McCartney describing the Yellow Submarine as "just a happy place".

So, even though Wrongway could be a workplace "of wrath and tears", it could also be a Yellow Submarine.

 

Have you found any Yellow Submarines in your workplace of wrath and tears?

 

 

 

[Davey Do]

We often discuss another's behavior when we don't understand the rationale behind their actions. Even if we can find no rational reason for the behavior, if we can another who has a consensual perspective, it can give us a feeling of comfort knowing that our view is not skewed.

One night Maria LPN and I were discussing another LPN, Sara Lee's, outlandish behavior. Maria told me she said this to Sara Lee:

 

 

[Davey Do]

Some of the memories my drawings brought up were rather bittersweet. The other night, I tossed some bones out on the back deck for the dogs. A memory involving a patient came back to me at that instant. I found a drawing of him as I was looking through my journals.

As a patient on the geriatric psych unit, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and was also blind. On the midnight shift, we'd allow him to wander around in the hall outside of the nurses station where he could be directly monitored.

One time, he took out his dentures and tossed them on the floor. My work wife Eleanor asked him, "What are you doing?"

[Daisy4RN]

2 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Have you found any Yellow Submarines in your workplace of wrath and tears?

Every place I have ever worked was full of wrath and tears. This reminded me of an instructor I had in clinicals. I think she must have been on meds because she was always, and I mean always, nice as pie, overly nice. She never had any answers to any questions but always was nice about it. 

[Davey Do]

7 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:

She never had any answers to any questions but always was nice about it. 

Well, if ya can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, kill 'em with kindness, right Daisy?!

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I think similarly to product reviews online, rarely do people share positive outcomes and experiences, it's much more satisfying to complain. And it generates much more traffic and commiseration. We can almost always find something to complain about, especially after the past nine months in our profession. 

I was in a debate recently when a friend posted a meme that essential workers got f'd this year and tons of people agreed. I voiced my opinion that those of us not experiencing job loss, food insecurity, evictions, and the like were actually quite fortunate. But sometimes people want to feel like victims. 

I have a great job. I get to help really sick people, and hopefully they get better. Certainly this has been a challenging and sad year. We could focus on the negative, and sometimes it's easy to do, but I  think it's important to remain, at least partially focused, on the many benefits we have because of our jobs and profession as a whole. 

 

[Davey Do]

5 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

I have a great job. I get to help really sick people... 

Well, at least what you've got isn't contagious!

I'm talking about your positive attitude, JBMom.

Seriously, it was a pleasure to read your post.

[Daisy4RN]

3 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Well, if ya can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, kill 'em with kindness, right Daisy?!

I worked as a waitress many moons ago and this is exactly what my boss told me, just the kill'em with kindness part. Not an easy task at times LOL.

[Davey Do]

36 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:

I worked as a waitress many moons ago and this is exactly what my boss told me, just the kill'em with kindness part. Not an easy task at times LOL.

I've repeated the words of the supervisor of the CD treatment unit I worked at in the late '80's many times here on allnurses. He gave me and the other nurses a task none of us really cared to do, which was to call back potential patients seeking inpatient treatment.

He said, "My job is no more important than yours. We just have different responsibilities and one of mine is to tell you what to do. And, hey- you don't have to like it, you only have to do it!"

I could get behind that.

He also said something to our team which I could get behind:

 

 

I thought, yeah, just like an actor in a play. I don't have to feel the part, I only have to act the part.

So, like your boss said, Daisy- kill them with kindness!

 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

I've repeated the words of the supervisor of the CD treatment unit I worked at in the late '80's many times here on allnurses. He gave me and the other nurses a task none of us really cared to do, which was to call back potential patients seeking inpatient treatment.

He said, "My job is no more important than yours. We just have different responsibilities and one of mine is to tell you what to do. And, hey- you don't have to like it, you only have to do it!"

I could get behind that.

He also said something to our team which I could get behind:

 

 

I thought, yeah, just like an actor in a play. I don't have to feel the part, I only have to act the part.

So, like your boss said, Daisy- kill them with kindness!

 

Absolutely! I always figure anyone that has to interact with me at work is probably experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, since they or their loved one is in critical care. It's my job to leave whatever else might be bothering me, outside of work. Whether I'm tired, cranky or the like, the patient or family I'm dealing with doesn't deserve to have to deal with anything extra because of their nurse. I better put on a smile and bring my A game. One phrase I always remember is "people won't always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel", I could have all the medical knowledge in the world but if I can't share in such a way that patients and families feel supported, it does practically no good. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

3 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:

I worked as a waitress many moons ago and this is exactly what my boss told me, just the kill'em with kindness part. Not an easy task at times LOL.

Nope, sometimes just killing them would be easier (this is sarcasm, before anyone contacts authorities and reports me as a murderer)

 

I'm currently in my yellow submarine job. Do I have crappy days? Sure, every job presents them. But I have so many fewer that they really seem nonexistent 

[Davey Do]

13 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Nope, sometimes just killing them would be easier (this is sarcasm, before anyone contacts authorities and reports me as a murderer)

I disagree on two points: Killing them is much more work and I see the humor not as sarcasm, but absurdity.

Your humor hits in the ballpark of sarcasm, Hoosier, the use of irony to mock or convey contempt, but your humor is more of the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.

Sarcastic humor usually has a target, whereas absurdity needs no target.

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