Nurse Extern

Hi all, I've been really busy with the holidays and working. It's amazing to me how many people come and go at Good Sam. One nurse I worked with yesterday is moving to Texas just before Christmas, too expensive to live in Phoenix plus she is a country girl. She grew up in the midwest and so did her husband, they ended up out here because of college. Arizona State University is one of the largest universities in the country. Also, one of our nurses is fulfilling her National Guard duties this week and next week. That's how I got my extra set of hands. It's really nice to have another person to work with, especially when they want to learn and work. It's funny she's completely amazed that we get out of work on time. I told her it comes with experience. I worked with her all last week, we had a chest tube and a new peg tube, the other nurses on the floor had some patients that got really sick so she got to experience that as well. One of them was going in and out of V-Tach and the other one was in respiratory distress and had to be intubated and they were both taken to ICU. All that before 9 am...I hate mornings like that. But my extern got to see what all happens, the code team and the resource nurses showed up and we were able to focus on the rest of the patients. Giving insulin and pain meds to the other nurses patients and making sure they are all safe. It was a good team work experience. I really enjoy teaching new nurses, I know some people don't. I spoke with another nurse who also has an extern, but all the extern wants to do is talk about her personal life and go on breaks. I have a really hard time with people like that. I am at work to work and take care of people, socializing is low on my list of priorities. Maybe that comes from experience as well, maybe it's just a character flaw. Either way, I'll keep it and I think my patients appreciate it as well.

Other than that I'm trying to get my Christmas shopping done, mostly online, while working 48+ hours a week...not easy but it will be worth it. Because on Christmas day I will be in my favorite place ....Las Vegas. Nothing like the sound of slot machines and Christmas carols...it's amazing. I hope you all have a great holiday...remember first do no harm.