Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry Christmas

Yeah,yeah,yeah so, the title isn't very politically correct...cuz, it's my blog, that's why. Sorry, had to say it. So, how was every one's Christmas? Was the Christmas spirit alive and well in your world? Maybe it was if you weren't working. Boy, people are just plain crabby sometimes. So, you can complain about having to take Mom home on Christmas day and have to look for an open pharmacy or you can be happy that you get to take Mom home on Christmas. Maybe people don't realize they have a choice. So, that was my Christmas, most people were happy to be alive and realized they might not have made it to Christmas if they hadn't had their open heart surgery. But, there were the few who just complained anyway...what can you do?
I am working with a gaggle of brand new nurses. Some have only been off of orientation for a month...it's kinda scary. They seem reluctant to ask pertinent questions, or any questions. I had a nurse talk about having to re start an iv for about 6 hours of our 12 hour shift...I finally asked her if she wanted me to do it. She said no, I want to try, but he has so much hair on his arms. She seemed in awe when I told her she could shave his arm...she finally got the iv but, procrastinated about it all shift.I think she might be a little too nervous to be on PCU, med surg might be better for her. It's still busy but, her patients wouldn't be of such high acuity. Guess we'll just pray and keep our fingers crossed. I'm there to help and guide as much as I can, please remember to ask if you have a question...it could save someone's life not to mention your career.
I heard people complaining about some of the cost saving measures that the company I work for is making. Why are people always complaining? This company had a difficult time filling it's empty shifts a couple of years ago and started paying it's RN's and LPN's double time for overtime, they have decided that this is no longer a cost effective measure, yeah it's sad to see it go, but, now they are just paying us like every other nurse in Arizona. Times are tough all over, it's your attitude that will make or break ya.
Non noc nocere.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Downtown

Well, I had forgotten just how sick some of the folks can be when they come into the hospital. Especially the big level 1 trauma centers, they get it all. Here in Phoenix there are a few, 3 I think, level 1 trauma centers. Since the population of Arizona is largely in 2 main cities (Phoenix and Tucson) and then there are lots of little communities throughout the state, when someone is really sick they send them to Phoenix. This is my first week in my new position, I have had one patient with a chest tube, pca and epidural both of which were set up as pca's...yes, she could control the bupivicaine in her epidural, which was in for the sole purpose of controlling the pain at her chest tube site. Never seen that before. I also had a patient with 2 chest tubes, one was attached to a little accordian looking collection bag (never seen that before) an ng tube, a g tube, a foley and a picc line. The ng was to wall suction plus he was using a yankaur suction for his saliva so, we had to get the old fashioned portable suction. Yeah, more tubes than I have seen in a year, I got them all in a week. They call that initiation by fire. The nurses I worked with, although inexperienced, were very helpful and friendly.
I am getting used to the drive, still not liking it, but, getting used to it. Wish me luck. Non noc nocere.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

New position

Ahh, Christmas in Arizona. Ya gotta love the decorated palm trees and cactus. Oh, and the weather it's getting a little cooler 40 at night but still up well into the 70's during the day.
I had my 2 days of orientation fro the hospital this past week and I actually learned some things. I had 2 days of orientation on the floor this weekend and next week I'm on my own. The unit I am now assigned to has had a huge turn over in the last few months. There are a bunch of newbies...like less than a year under their belts. It's kinda scary because these folks are some of the really sick. They need people to be on top of their game and to be able to spot a problem in the earliest stages, which can only come with experience. Things like an transvenous pacemaker, gun shot wounds and lots of chest tubes are being sent to this unit. So, wish me luck. As always Non noc nocere.