I'm still alive

Hello, it has been a while, but I would really like to start posting again. Maybe it will help with all the frustration of the new job. Which, by the way, I really enjoy.

I'm working at a psychiatric hospital. Something I never really thought I would go into. I liked psych in college, but it just didn't seem like it was something I could ever do... I'm just glad God lead me to the right place. It took long enough, but now I think I'm content. I work with the greatest group of staff, its unbelievable. Unlike my old job, these people are caring, and they will do everything they can to help out. And the greatest thing- there's organization!

It's fantastic. Everyone knows exactly what they are doing, and when, and we are just one big dysfunctional family.

I have learned so much. Not just about psych and mental health, but about myself. And I really think that it is helping me grow as a better person. I am learning about what really triggers my nerves and how to stay calm and collected during a crisis situation. And I'm learning about some types of people and personalities that I do not get along with. I'm also starting to become a much more assertive person. Which can be a good or bad thing.

And now that I am starting to settle into a schedule that fits me, hopefully I will be able to post some interesting things more often!

Im baaaaack!

So I haven't been around lately. Actually, I have been battling with some family issues, and dealing with some serious depression that has had me not feeling like doing anything. But, I did manage to get a new job.

Yesh, that's right, starting Monday I will start orientation as a psych nurse.

And I'm excited. It's gonna be completely different than anything I have ever done. Well, I guess you could say that I have had some crazy patients and co-workers as Shitty Hospital. But most of them didn't have a diagnosis.

So starting Monday, I promise to be back to posting more frequently, for anyone who cares. 

So, yeah...

So, there isn't much going on here. Just setting around on my ass checking online ads for nurses. One major problem I am coming across is the need for experience. Lots of places are looking to hire RNs. However, most want an experienced RN who knows what is going on, and they aren't willing to look for someone new who is willing to learn and stay with a company for years to come.

But I do have a couple prospective jobs. I interviewed for a state job, and after my background check clears and they contact my references, I *should* be getting a call back. At least that's what they told me. But they really wanted someone who had more experience. And they let me know that at multiple times in my interview.

My second possible job is a part time every other weekend shift at the local nursing home. Ugh. Not completely what I wanted, but something is better than nothing. And it could always lead to something full time if I like it. So... Yeah... That's where I'm at right now.

Day late

Hopefully you all had a wonderful Christmas, or whatever you celebrate. Since this is the first holiday I haven't had to work in forever, it was a great chance to spend with family and loved ones. Even though not working is killing me, I enjoy all the things I never had time to di while in school- like setting around hanging out with friends, and cleaning.

Merry Christmas to me

How can Shitty Hospital get any worse? They fire me. And they do it over nothing. Seriously. I was fired over a situation that was out of my hands, and when I asked for help, I couldn't get it, so I handled things to the best of my ability until I could get help from another floor. And the nurse that came to help me didn't tell me what to do correctly. So they fired me.

They also said there was a list of other things I have done wrong in my few short months of being a nurse, but nobody would tell me what there were so I could improve from my mistakes.

They tell me they are letting me go after telling me that I had patients write wonderful things about me on our Press-Ganey reviews. And for once in the history of the hospital, our Med/Surg scores didn't suck.

I'm still in shock from all this. I mean seriously, have fun replacing me. I worked every shift, and I was trained in 3 departments. I worked about 60 hours a week. Have fun suckahs! I know I'm not the greatest nurse that ever walked those halls- hell I learn alot every day I go into work. But I would care to say I was the most compassionate nurse, and one of the best patient advocators. I was also the only one who would bother to help the aides when they were busy.

So now it's off to the unemployment office first thing tomorrow. Ugh.

But at least now I can spend Christmas with my family. And that is a huge blessing. Because between the different departments, I was going to work Christmas Eve and Day both. And I have some elderly family member that I wanted to see before it is too late.

Now I'm off to bigger and brighter places! There isn't much to chose from where I live, but I'm thinking no matter what my next adventure involves, it can't be worse than where I was.

Favorite things

This kinda stems from my last post, but it seriously made my day.

Little ol' grandma was admitted for a hip fracture after falling from a chair trying to get something off the top cabinet to cook for the family dinner. Luckily the family was on their way over, because grandma lives alone, and laid on the floor for a few minutes before everyone get there.

The entire family was present while I was doing the admission. Usually I try to do admissions with no one else in the room, but I decided to be nice today- especially when grandma wasn't sure about her meds, and her health history. The granddaughter works as a receptionist in an MDs office, so she did think to grab the pill bottles while the EMTs were bringing her in.

The admission took a little longer than most do, thanks to thousands of questions about what would happen- am I really old enough to take care of grandma, how long have I been working, what are we going to do to grandma, why is the sky blue, etc.....



After I got everyone calmed down, and grandma settled in, it was about the end of my shift. I was doing final rounds on everyone, when a few family members cornered me outside the room. They thanked me for being so nice and calm, allowing them to all be with grandma, answering all their questions, and doing everything I could to make everyone comfortable. The one family member that seemed to be the most against me taking care of his sweet mother gave me a hug, and stated "I was scared to bring my mother to Shitty Hospital, and I was really scared when they brought her back here and I saw you. You looked so young, and I figured you didn't know what you were doing. But you are amazing at what you do, and I hope that all your patient's realize how lucky they are to have you around. Thank you, and God bless".

No shit people. That completely made my day, and it is what will get me out of bed and back again tomorrow.

My mission

I know there are tons of things I don't know yet about nursing. And no matter how much I continue to learn, there will always be things I don't know.

Nothing makes my day more than hearing someone say "I was worried about the care I would get here at Shitty Hospital, especially because you're so young, but you did a great job. Thanks for being my nurse".

It seriously can make the worst nights great when people tell me this before I leave. And hearing stuff like that is what makes me get up the next day and do it all over again. It's not about what makes me happy, it's about knowing that I made a difference in someone else's life- that's why I became a nurse