I've never heard anyone say:
"I want to become a nurse so that I can help people who don't want my help."
"I want to become a nurse so that I can take verbal and physical abuse from people who are angry, confused, insane, drunk, high or just weren't raised better."
"I want to become a nurse so that I can see my tax dollars being spent to save people who don't care how much it cost because someone else will pay for their care."
"I want to become a nurse so that I can wrestle with +400 lbs of flesh so that owner of flesh doesn't get bed sores."
These thoughts were inspired by one patient. I guess this would be the ugly in:
I love this job; the good, the bad, the UGLY, and the stupid.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Who's running that place down there?
So I'm doing the charge thing the other night. It is kind of slow so about 1100 pm I start cruising the ED census looking for potential playmates also known as patients. I see 4 chest pains in the census, 2 been there since 630 not likely canidates and 2 that just rolled in at 1030 pm. Aha, these have potential.
The phone rings while I am looking at the stats on these two guys. Its bed control; Whatcha got for me? I ask. My friend tells me the name and I explain that this is not one of the potentials that I had been looking at. He says no its a Neuro ICU overflow. Okay I say, we can due a neuro case. Change in LOC he says. Okay I'm on it. And off I go to investigate this new case.
WHOA?! WTF, this change in LOC has been sitting in an ED bay since 1:30 in the afternoon. Upon further research I find that she has a history of UTI's that present with change in LOC. I call my friend in bed control and explain that this patient has been in the ED for a while and could we get a fresher patient. He assures me this one will probably be plenty fresh.
Upon further investigation the hospitalist has not ordered any neuro checks for this patient, her VS have remained stable since arrival at 1:30 in the afternoon, there are no IV drips, meds or even fluids ordered for this patient. I am seeing no indications of possible sepsis. Maybe she looks worse in person than she does on paper I think.
Ok so the patient arrives from the ED, she is in late stages of alzhiemer's with bilateral foot drop and upper extremity contractures. Her full time sitter will be staying with her. Skin looks great shes clean warm and dry. Again I ask myself "Why is she in the Cardiac ICU".
That was our only admission for the night. I wonder what ever happened to the CPs,wonder if they ended up on some med-surge floor infarcting.
Oh well, I love this job the good, the bad and the stupid.
The phone rings while I am looking at the stats on these two guys. Its bed control; Whatcha got for me? I ask. My friend tells me the name and I explain that this is not one of the potentials that I had been looking at. He says no its a Neuro ICU overflow. Okay I say, we can due a neuro case. Change in LOC he says. Okay I'm on it. And off I go to investigate this new case.
WHOA?! WTF, this change in LOC has been sitting in an ED bay since 1:30 in the afternoon. Upon further research I find that she has a history of UTI's that present with change in LOC. I call my friend in bed control and explain that this patient has been in the ED for a while and could we get a fresher patient. He assures me this one will probably be plenty fresh.
Upon further investigation the hospitalist has not ordered any neuro checks for this patient, her VS have remained stable since arrival at 1:30 in the afternoon, there are no IV drips, meds or even fluids ordered for this patient. I am seeing no indications of possible sepsis. Maybe she looks worse in person than she does on paper I think.
Ok so the patient arrives from the ED, she is in late stages of alzhiemer's with bilateral foot drop and upper extremity contractures. Her full time sitter will be staying with her. Skin looks great shes clean warm and dry. Again I ask myself "Why is she in the Cardiac ICU".
That was our only admission for the night. I wonder what ever happened to the CPs,wonder if they ended up on some med-surge floor infarcting.
Oh well, I love this job the good, the bad and the stupid.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Who wants a Cert?
Testing straight ahead. October 28, 2009. Oh no what have I done, if I don't pass everyone will know that I am not as smart as I think that I am. I will know that I am not as smart as I think that I am.
I kind of like living in the perceived reality of my own greatness. What it I do pass, will my perceived greatness improve, will my quality of life improve in some way. I certainly know that my paycheck will not reflect this proof of my greatness.
Calm down, this is only a test. If this were a real emergency you would be instructed...
Ahhh, I feel much better now. Well back to the books, Laura, David, and Denise are waiting, these are the CCRN exam gurus who have collected my money and promised that with their help I willl pass the CCRN. I will keep you posted on how that works out.
I kind of like living in the perceived reality of my own greatness. What it I do pass, will my perceived greatness improve, will my quality of life improve in some way. I certainly know that my paycheck will not reflect this proof of my greatness.
Calm down, this is only a test. If this were a real emergency you would be instructed...
Ahhh, I feel much better now. Well back to the books, Laura, David, and Denise are waiting, these are the CCRN exam gurus who have collected my money and promised that with their help I willl pass the CCRN. I will keep you posted on how that works out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
