Off for 2 months to try and finally get my bum knee back to baseline.
I’ll be back!
Competition
So, this is crazy, but when a patient last week came in with what she described as an ’emotional support’ dog, I was a little jealous.
I’m familiar with guide dogs. There is an agency en route home from work that trains dogs for the physically impaired. A neighbor has one.
I am a big proponent of all of us, no matter what our lives hold for us, having emotional support. I also understand the exacerbation of stress and anxiety that occurs when entering a hospital, for any reason, for that matter. I would never underestimate PTSD and all the things that can trigger an event
It was my territory. My house.
I think that’s what it was.
This special family member came with all the necessary papers to be in the hospital.
I didn’t mind too much having to step over the dog to reach the IV dial and set the rate. I didn’t mind that the husband focused more on the dog than his wife in the stretcher.
My ego, my big giant ego minded that my care wasn’t enough to calm my patient’s nerves.
He was a cute dog.
Putting things where they ought to be
Every day, after clocking in, I walk past a three foot high by eight foot long banner that boasts the number of robotic surgeries our department has done in the last twelve months.
Every day when I clock out, I head in the opposite direction toward the side stairs and pass our Patient satisfaction survey scores (posted the same way they are received) on an 8 x 11.5 inch piece of paper. They are under a clear plastic plaque. Next to it are three additional sheets with the questions and coordinating score breakdown for each.
We have a history of high patient satisfaction scores.
The hallway toward the pre-op area, where the patients change, get IV’s, etc…That’s the Robotic surgery banner hallway.
When people get the randomly sent survey, I don’t think they care how many robotic surgeries we have done.
And the surveys, well really, the importance of quality patient care, in my opinion, far exceeds technology.
Maybe I’ll go in some evening, late in the evening, bring a step stool, some big tacks, and switch this up…
But then I like my job, so I’ll find something else to battle about.
Pleasant surprise at the end of a looooong day
So this is cool!
Below are the questions I was asked and my answers:
- Tell us about the last time you listened to what your inner voice has to say and the last time you didn’t?
My inner voice is always telling me to get to the gym. Half the time, I don’t listen.
- What do you care most about, outside of yourself? Tell us how does caring for this help you trust yourself more?
I care about caring. I fear apathy. As long as I am caring, I’m doing something to help me continue to evolve as a person.
- Tell us about the things you want yourself to want?
I’d like myself to want more friends. I’m not sure why, maybe because I have this idea that it would help insulate me from the harsh realities of the world.
- How do you approach non-fiction reading? Do you relate or make disagreements with what the author has to say? Do you try to have a conversation with the thing you are reading?
My nonfiction reading is either memoir or inspirational. I slow my breathing down and read carefully.
- What are your controversial opinions and why do you believe them? If it’s not worth talking about publicly, may you tell us why?
I’m Pro – Choice.
- If a man that is dear to you (dad, husband, boyfriend, brother), help someone that is viciously being attacked. Would you be proud of him for helping or be angry with them for putting himself in harm’s way?
I would be very proud.
- Which men’s style profile would you prefer, a classic gentleman, a lumbersexual or a rockstar?
They have to be lumbersexual. I won’t date anyone who weighs less than me!
- Which male pop icon you think is the epitome of manhood? Tell us the traits that he has that make you say so?
I don’t follow pop icons, so this is tough. I’m diggin’ the reemergence of Lionel Richie. To be able to write and sing ballads as well as he does and still have such a smooth personality, nice that’s very nice.
Who is sexier, a frugal man or a generous man?
Frugal! It means he cares about the future. O.k, wait, frugal unless it’s my birthday.
- As a man, what are your thoughts of me based on my writing and what you know about me?
I need to read more of your stuff. It takes me a long time to have an opinion about someone. It stifles the fun of getting to know them.
- Lastly, the “Mr. A being Mr. A” question – Does size matter? I mean you no disrespect, I won’t feel bad if you choose not to answer.
If I answered, it’d be more like an essay.
And now I get to have the fun of nominating some great bloggers!
http://atyourcervix.blogspot.com/search
Speak Your Truth: Keeping Calm During Upheavals and Chaos
And the questions:
_________________
What was the last fiction piece you read?
Do you prefer stories written in 1st or 3rd person?
What is your response to the sight of blood?
Breakfast – hot or cold stuff?
That show Survivor …if you were invited on, would you go? Seriously.
Do you have a favorite parent or sibling?
What’s your bedtime? Or, do you have one?
I didn’t get called in yesterday ( Saturday ). I’m sitting here smiling in awe that my chances of having a three day weekend are increasing.
We all worked at a feverish pace last week. I put myself down to take call for surgery Saturday, then noticed mid last week that I am also on for Memorial Day. ( Each nurse has to take one major and one minor holiday.)
Yikes ! I’ll be totally fried by Tuesday! Is what I thought.
My precious precious Lord always has my back, always knows when I need rest, even when I am stubbornly denying it.
Now, I’m on again tomorrow, and I’m ready. There might be cases, maybe even all day. And I’m ready.
In the meantime, I’ll write. There is much of that to do.
“No coffee for you!”
So our Starbucks, yes, we have a Starbucks on the first floor of our quaint little 250 bed hospital, every day puts a different name on the chalkboard that sit in the front of the kiosk. Above it is written, If your name is ( name inserted), your drink is free.
I was down there the other day, being supportive of coffee bean growers everywhere, when I heard the guy in front of me,
“Hey, my name is Wilber, so I guess my drink will be free.”
Silly boy’s name tag was dangling right there on his shirt pocket – Miguel.
Miguel smiled wide at the barista.
The barista smiled and squinted his eyes at the nurse . ( I knew he was a nurse from the color of his scrubs)
“Your name tag says different.”
Miguel was feeling confident.
“My middle name is Wilber.”
Not to be outdone, the barista said in a neutral tone, “Show me your drivers license.”
Oh, the ever so confident coffee lover in front of me dropped his head, pulled out his wallet, but then at the last second, flipped it shut again, and paid for his drink.
We nurses do okay…he should have paid for it from the get go and not been so goofy.
Posts that pop with authenticity and heart ( along with a little humor)
Check these out!
https://aspiritualevolution.net/2019/05/19/sober-joy/
https://atribeuntangled.com/2019/05/19/turns-out-i-am-enough/
https://teenmeetgod.wordpress.com/2019/05/18/verse-of-the-week-luke-1238/
https://teenmeetgod.wordpress.com/2019/05/18/verse-of-the-week-luke-1238/
https://dareboldly.com/2019/05/17/ill-think-about-it-tomorrow/
Let the Music Play
I was in the waiting room of a practitioner’s office when the receptionist leaned forward over the counter and said in a loud voice toward the opposing shelf lined wall, “Alexa, play spa music.”
Silence
The girl stood taller now and repeated herself.
” Alexa, play spa music.”
Silence
When checking in, the clerk made little eye contact and seemed more focused on conversing with the coworker sitting next to her. The two were now in whispered discussion about their dire problem of no soft melody in the background.
I was enjoying the defiance of modern technology 🙂
The third try was the winner.
“Alexa, play radio spa music.”
Soft beats filled the room.
I had enjoyed more listening to them give directions to the inanimate object.
Lightened my mood!
Not Batting An Eye
I filled in at P.A.T (Pre- admission testing) last week. It’s a desk type job where surgical patients come in a week or so early, get interviewed by a nurse (in this case, me) and then anesthesiology staff.
A well-dressed petite Asian woman came, escorted by her son, at 9:00 am.
She was 84 years old with an angry gallbladder.
Because of chronic back pain, she entered the P.A.T. office using a walker. She also sat with a slight stoop.
As we went through the list of medications she currently took, she interrupted me near the end.
“Oh, and to help with back pain, I take CBD oil.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her son squirm a little in his seat. He twisted his mouth in that maybe you shouldn’t have said anything manner.
Without missing a beat, I wrote the information down no different than I would any other medication; dose, frequency, how long she’s been using it, who prescribed it.
She took eight other medicines. Of those, five were vitamins, one was a cholesterol pill, and one was a medicated ointment for dry skin.
I saw her expression change. She softened her eyes and let the corners of her lips turn up into a small smile.
Now, what she’s going to say to her son later, I’m not sure, but there’s too much literature out there on the positive effect of CBD oil for me to have anything other than appreciation for advances in non-invasive therapies.
ZIP IT – The 40 Day Challenge by Karen Ehman
Worked way too many hours last week…Nurses Week…Ha!
It’s fitting that I read this earlier today. It’ll be helpful tomorrow – Monday morning – coming too soon.
