Once Upon A Time

There was a woman that was super excited about starting nursing clinicals. Her children were all grown up and didn't depend on her much any more, which would make school so much easier on her. She started clinicals but for some reason had no energy and felt sick all of the time. Everytime she tried to read an assigned chapter, she would either fall asleep or vomit, or vomit then fall asleep. One day she got the bright idea to take a pregnancy test, (actually it was her husbands bright idea) and she failed the test.

I'm freaking pregnant.

It's Here! It's Finally Here!

Finally! I am starting nursing school! It seems like I have been waiting forever for this time to come. I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be. I have concerns about working and going to ns, but not nervous.

Now to get physically prepared for school. I paid for my classes and my books but I still have to buy my uniforms yet. I am afraid to buy the uniforms yet because my weight is so unpredictable. I did buy my stethoscope. It's pink! The coolest thing is buying a stethoscope in one of my favorite colors helped support the fight against breast cancer, so I got two good deals in one! How cool is that? My husband bought me a super cool nursing bag. I love it! All I have left to get (excluding uniforms) is a pair of white shoes. I do already have a pair for work, but I need a separate pair for school.

So things are going pretty good so far. I am planning on working while I am going to school. I love my job and just can't give it up. But I am cutting way back on hours so as to not lose out on study time. I think it will all work out okay. I'll try to post more and offer updates, that is, if I still have any readers out there! Any advice for school is warmly welcomed!

The Time Has Finally Come!!

That's right, I will finally be starting clinicals in January! I went to an orientation type of meeting last week and they said I was all set and ready to go, go go!!! Seems like I have been waiting forever. Now I'm scared. Now I'm questioning whether or not I can do this. I have heard many horror stories about various instructors, how they want to weed people out so badly that it doesn't take much to the one dismissed from the program. I've heard how the program can be the end all of marriages and how friends are lost......gulp.

I have to be ready for this. I have worked too hard and waited too long to start this program. I have just over 2 months to mentally prepare myself for this. I'm stubborn, smart and strong, I can do this.

Breathe..................................................................

Let's Talk About Evil Nurses

I know it has been a long time since I have posted, but I would like to talk about an evil nurse.

To start, I work in a large hospital. The other night I worked in the ED as a float aide. I was transferring a patient from the ED to the cardiac floor. She was in her 90's, confused and in a lot of pain. The nurse that I was handing the patient off to apparently doesn't like her job or she wouldn't be such a biotch. The patient was trying to explain to the evil nurse why she was apprehensive about transferring from the ED gurney to the bed. See, she broke her hip, twice. Both times from falling. The evil nurse wouldn't listen, the more the patient tried to explain, the nastier the nurse got. Finally the nurse told her "keep complaining, see what kind of care it will get you". HOLY SHIT BATMAN! I was MAD. I wanted to say many, MANY things to this evil beast that shouldn't be caring for fragile people in their time of need. Saying something to the evil nurse would have just made matters worse for the patient, as well as for myself being that I am very new to this hospital. So I had to clench my jaw (as well as my fists) and walk away. But one day, there will come a time when nasty nurses like the aformentioned will get theirs. Once I am better established and have my feet firmly planted, the nasty evil nurses will have to deal with me, and it wont be pleasant. I will not tolerate patient abuse, in any form.

Oh, and by the way, I am back!

Quick Update

Well hello! Are you looking for me? Sorry I haven't been around, man, life has been crazy! Here is what has been going on.

1. Semester is finally over! I have nothing left until clinicals. Feels good to be almost there!

2. I got another job. I am still working at my old one, for now. I am trying to decide if I should keep them both or just my new one. Decisions, decisions.

3. It's almost time for baby. He is due to get here any minute now! Hello! I am going to be a grandma ANYTIME NOW! Me.....a grandma! How do you become a grandma? Is there a class for that? Does it require a degree?? *sigh....*

4. I am still not smoking. BUT, yes, there is a downfall to that. I have eating issues now. I have put on 15 lbs since I stopped smoking. I know, I know, I can lose weight but I can't replace my lungs...yada yada yada...but it doesn't take the suckiness out of gaining weight. Everytime I think about dieting, I take a huge dose of chocolate.....sigh....

So that is what has been up with me. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but I have been busy, busy, busy. I'll try to post more regular updates. Now that school is temporarily done, I *should* have more time.

Wow, It's Been A While!

Sorry about that. Life has been uber busy. I am mid-way through my nutrition class (boring), been working and getting ready for grandbaby.

There have been a lot of changes at work. The boss got fired (WoOt!) No kidding, they gave her until the end of the day to clear her office. Um, I think things weren't working out or something. In fact, a lot of people got the boot, and I wasn't one of them, thank God. Did I mention that we were purchased by a larger company? Oh, my bad, forgot to mention that. The take over began at the first of the year and let me tell you, they cleaned house. I like the new company. I like knowing that as long as I keep them happy, I will be able to move to almost any state and still have a job with them. They will also pay for my clinicals, if I were to work for them full time. I am contemplating it. We will have to see what happens.

I love my new boss. She is the bomb! She listens to us, she also cares deeply about the same things I do. I think she is a keeper! She does have a few bad points, but who doesn't, and well, her good points weigh out the bad. Like I said, she is a keeper.

So anyways, that is what I have been up to for anyone that was wondering.

Dear Boss,

Dear Boss,

When you hired me, you hired me to provide top notch patient care. I do that. I love that. I love every aspect of my job. There is nothing more fulfilling to me than taking care of those in their last days. With that said, I challenge you to interfere with my patient care. Patient care is ALL that I am about.

Here are some things for you to consider:

1. My patients come before laundry, cleaning toilets and any other house keeping chores, period. DO NOT expect me to drop the hand of a dying patient and walk away to wash or fold a load of laundry. That laundry can wait, my patient wont.

2. Don't expect me to stop feeding a helpless patient just because they are taking a bit longer and the trays haven't been returned in sufficient time. I will return the trays at MY PATIENTS CONVENIENCE, not that of the kitchens. The only reason that we have a kitchen staff is because we have patients and the patients come FIRST.

3. Do not threaten to write me up for not taking my breaks on time. I will not leave the side of a fall risk patient until I am satisfied that they are safe. I will take my breaks at MY PATIENTS convenience. Thank you very much.

4. Don't preach to me about patient safety when I have come to you several times about alarms not working and you have done nothing to ensure that they get fixed. And don't ask me why the patient is lying on the floor with half of the alarm still attached and why it never went off. I told you why, fix the problem. I am within inches of inviting a state safety investigation.

When I hired in, you were impressed by my will to advocate for my patients. You expect me to keep up my end of the bargain and I expect for you to keep up with yours.

Thank you,
The Patients Advocate