White on white

I got called into the bosses office this morning, because someone complained you could see the line of my underwear through my pants. My underwear were white, my pants were white. There was nothing wrong with my pants, someone just complained that I was wearing underwear.

My boss asked me to go home and change. Problem was, we were short on staff, and I would be gone for an hour and a half. My boss lives right down the street from the hospital, and couldn't imagine why I would be gone for so long. She didn't realize that because this is the only hospital in 4 counties, I am limited on how far I have to drive to get a job.

Since she couldn't risk having me go home and being even more short on staff, I had to go to surgery and borrow pants. The crazy thing is, even with their pants, you could still see that I was wearing underwear. But by then the boss went home for the evening.

Stupid, stupid people.

Funny shit

Someone was referred to my blog by Google searching "nursing pisses me off". Whoever you are, I completely feel your pain.

And I hope that reading my struggles has made you feel better.

Trust me, you are not alone. I'm just humbled to know that my page is what comes up when that is searched. Hopefully, whoever you are out there, you don't give up.

And if you liked what you read enough to come back a second time, then send me a comment, I would love to talk to you, and hear why nursing pisses you off. :)

My life lately

Sorry folks, I haven't had much time to post.

Basically, I am a float nurse, working in our small hospital wherever they need me. And so far things have been going really good. I had a few days of training on one floor, and was then called in to work my first shift by myself. I must say, that keeping about 10 people alive for 12 hours without help (except for the CNAs), was an amazing experience, and it made my confidence in myself grow a huge amount. I thought before that  I could do it, but now I know I can. The feeling that I had at 0700 when I walked out of that hospital was completely indescribable.

The best part of it was knowing that I completed a shift in which I had no training. It was night shift. Nurse manager just told me that she had faith in me to do it, because I worked night shift for 4 years as an aide.

And I have been on my own ever since, for the most part. So my 6 week orientation was actually 2.5 until I was on my own. They are short on help, but not enough that they can hire me for a full time position. So until then, I'm scheduled for 2 days a week, and I get called in constantly to cover for everyone else. Which I can't say I   mind much, because I get a bonus every time I come in to cover. And I still end up with 40 hours a week.

The only downfall to working as a floater is that I have a lot of things to remember. Each floor has different policies about charting- how many times to chart a shift, different things that have to be charted, etc. And there are also different assessments and things that have to be done depending on where I'm working. Luckily since I am still new people don't mind helping me out. But I'm afraid the help is going to stop.

Drug seeker

I had the joys of working with my first drug seeking patient. He was admitted for kidney stones that he started getting from his chemo.

Seemed like this patient had some legitimate pain. For a little while I felt sorry for the man. And at first when he hollered for his pain medicine, I would get it for him.




About the third time he was on the light for his Morphine, I caught on to him. I mentioned my suspicion to my preceptor, who still had some doubts. I fucked around a bit getting his meds, and upon walking into the mans room, he was asleep. He told the aides he had 10/10 pain. I talked it over with my preceptor, who told me to give the meds anyways. This went on all day. He would be in excruciating pain, but asleep before we could get the meds out of the system. The night shift nurse that followed me supported me 110% that the man was a seeker.

When the doctor made rounds that afternoon, the patient was still complaining of 8/10 pain that was unrelieved by any intervention that anyone did. More medication was ordered. I stood my ground and said the man didn't need it, but again I was kinda tossed to the side.

I went and sat down with this man for a bit and talked to him. He told me where he was from, and I was shocked that he lives 5 counties away, and passed by 3 larger hospitals on his way to us. When I asked him why he said "he doesn't get the kind of care he wants at the other places". I passed this info on, and made note of it.

For 3 days he was laying in our hospital. Since yesterday was a holiday, the pharmacy wasn't open its normal hours, and they also didn't get any drug shipments.

I helped another nurse with his discharge today. I went with the doctor into his room when the morning rounds were being done. When his doctor told him he would be going home later, the man asked for a morphine prescription because "the last time I bought it, it was cheaper than the percocets, and, it's what I really like to take".

Needless to say, he was quickly thrown out on the streets without a prescription, and our ER is now aware that if he ever comes back he is not to be admitted. Sadly, this had to occur after he used every bit of morphine available in the hospital. We got real lucky that nobody came in with an MI.

And the preceptor and Doc apologized and applauded me for figuring him out quicker than anyone else did. Although to cover his own ass, the Doc did show me that the man did have multiple kidney stones- which were moving, and a few were passed by the time he was discharged. The rest will be passed without any meds, or with whatever he buys on the street.

Coolest Grandma Ever

I was admitting an 86 year old lady today.She came in with pneumonia, and was miserable.

Her biggest complaint was that she went with her granddaughter last week to get her nose pierced, and it hurt when she was constantly blowing her nose.

She took her granddaughter out for her 18th birthday to get matching piercings. Then they went out to a club. I wish I had awesome family like that. The closest thing I could get would be a matching wool sweater for Christmas.

Decisions

I got a call today that the nursing home has a full time opening. It's evening shift, 3-11, all 8 hour shifts. It also pays an extra $2.50 an hour.

I haven't actually worked on the floor, so I'm not sure if I will like it. But it sounds kinda nice.

Nursing assistants

I know you have a shitty job (literally!). And I know that some days are miserable and you want to quit and never come back into the hospital again. But you guys are horrible excuses for aides.

I was an aide for 4 years. The job sucks, and the pay sucks even more. But seriously, when I tell you that my patient just left for surgery, and ask you to please change the bed linens, don't roll your eyes at me and tell me you have other things to do and tell me to do it myself. Making beds IS in your job description. And I would do it myself if I didn't have 2 people hollering for their discharge instructions and the desk clerk telling me I will have an admission in 20 minutes. I'm not superwoman I can't do everything myself, and if I could, you wouldn't have a job.

When I am caught up on my work and have a few free minutes to help you out, don't get all bent out of shape. I realize there are 4 people that need fed and 3 of you. That's why I am passing out meal trays. But hey, if you want me to set at the desk like the others and then yell because you don't have your work done on time I can probably manage that as well. My feet really hurt. I'm not trying to show off for the boss, I'm trying to be a team worker, an I'm trying to make some things easier...

I actually stand in the hall by my patients rooms. When I do my hourly rounding, I check the patient myself and ask questions instead of just charting that everything is alright with them. If they need something, or help to the bathroom, I take them. Maybe it's because I'm still new at everything, but because I am learning everything and I'm kinda slow I'm afraid to leave them. If they are gonna crash I want to be close by. I want them to know that I care, and I want them to get better.

I didn't think I was going to like floor nursing. I was actually worried that I was going to hate it and be miserable. But so far I have enjoyed it, and I do think I could stick around for a bit. I am learning a ton of new information daily, and although it is overwhelming, I wouldn't change it. I have the best preceptor in the world. She was my favorite nurse to work with when I was an aide. She is patient and kind, and very helpful when I have questions. She is really old-school, which I like because she does things differently but she takes awesome care of her patients. I'm hoping that it rubs off on me. So far, at the end of the day when she checks everything, she hasn't found many things that I have done wrong, and she says my patients all have wonderful things to say about me. I think that really helps my confidence. And I like that she gives me independence to care for patients, instead of hovering over me constantly and watching my every move like a hawk. It's pretty cool that I do my own thing and ask for help when I don't know how to do something.