Patient Families and Cheese Fries

Nursing is not near as glamorous as those Johnson & Johnson commercials may lead you to believe. Warm meaningful hallmark moments don't happen one right after the other; your lucky if they happen at all.

Working 4 of the past 5 nights has had its advantages. I've had relatively the same group of patients, with the occasional discharge and admission. The patients routines and even family members become familiar so by the 4th night its typically smooth sailing. One patient that I've been taking care of is a post-op patient. He's s very nice man in 60's with a very supportive family. His wife, son, daughter and son-in-law spend every evening with him, and quiet frankly, make my job quite easy. As it turns out, the man is from PA ( I discovered that on the first night while I was changing his dressing) and has visited Lancaster on several occasions.

I've begun looking forward to taking care of him and spending time in his room with his family, because they remind me of mine; always laughing. His wife Sarah celebrated her 61st birthday yesterday and had to celebrate at Denny's with her son and daughter (Matt and Julie- both in their early to mid 30s) after visiting hours were over. Julie comes and see me at the nurses station just to see how my day was going. Matt helps me turn his dad, unplug all the iv's and get his dad up and also stops to see me on his way to his dads room. And tonight they took me out to dinner- well sorta. I was getting report when I saw Matt looking at me through the glass, I waved and he walked over to the door. He said he was going to get food for his family and asked if I wanted anything. I said thank you but no, that I was alright to which he replied "Are you sure? I'm going to Outback." I haven't been to Outback in forever and had no idea what to order. Sorta feeling dumb that I was shouting across the nurses station full of people to a very well dressed guy that's not at all hard the eyes (if you know what I mean:-) with everyone around and not wanting to say no thanks again, I asked for french fries.

What I got in return was a large order of the cheese fries with bacon. (I don't know how he knew... no comments please! ) When I opened the container I thought it was a mistake, and asked if he meant to give me the cheese fries. He just smile and said, "Yeah, they're the best!." Needless to say, all evening I was the envy of the nurses station. Now, happy, with a belly full of potatoes, cheese and bacon (can there be a better combination) I'm left to wonder two things. 1) Why can't all patients families be as fun this one? 2) Is Matt in the market for a girlfriend?


Unfortunately, I know the answer to the first, and won't find out the answer the second. Tonight is my last night for a week so I had to say goodbye to my new friends when they left this evening. Surprisingly, I'm a little sad that I won't get to see them tomorrow..........


ps- if anyone can think of a way to "professionally" slip my number to my patient to give to Matt- I'm all ears:-)

Walking up Euclid

A look up Euclid

California is a crazy state. On one hand you have the beach- miles and miles of it. But what people don't think about or don't know, is that California has just as many mountains. Now when I say mountains I don't mean large hills, I mean huge, snow capped in April, looming mountain ranges. (this is actually the best case that people make when arguing the supremacy of California- that it's always an hour to the mountains and an hour to the beach no matter where you are. Also funny- people say "I'm going to the snow this weekend." sounds weird to me!) I live closer to the mountains then the beach. In fact, when you walk out my front door and look to the left they all but smack you. When I first got here I was often taking aback by them, especially in the morning after a rain (snow in the mountains). One of the main streets in the town of Upland is called Euclid (is that a tree?). The street leads straight up into the mountains with a crazy incline, and up to all the ridiculously large homes. In the center of the street is a walking trail that is lined with trees that remind me of weeping willows without all the "weep" (maybe they're Euclid trees). The trail is at least five miles. I say at least five miles because I've never actually walked to the top. When Laura and I got out here a year and a half ago, I remember driving up it to look at the houses and saying to her, "by the time I leave I want to be able to run up this street." It's not running, but the dogs and I (and Sheli on occasion) have been walking it, or a five mile chunk of it (Sid has put on a little winter weight and by a little I mean a lot!). The further you go, the prettier it is, the quieter it gets and the less likely you are to run into others walking on it. I'm not sure if it's the trees or something planted at the houses on either side of the street, but there is something in bloom right now that has a scent that is almost intoxicating. Some of my best times with the Lord have happened when I was mindlessly pulling the dogs up the trail. We haven't been able to walk in the last few days and I'm a little sad. I really enjoy the solitude and being outside. Before long my Euclid walking days will have to come to an end. Soon it will be too hot to make Bear walk that far, even now he feels the need to plop down on the grass without warning to take a little break (which is okay because I'm usually beat by that point too).

I worked this weekend and it was crazy. I have tonight off and go back Monday for two more nights. I was supposed to have this entire week off for a family vacation that didn't happen. It ended up being to my favor because I came to the realization just recently that I'll have to go entire month between paychecks since I'm switching pay schedules.... YIKES!!!! So I signed up to work the beginning of the week. I'm trying to stay up late tonight so I can sleep in. Trying to switch back to a day shift schedule for one day is pointless. So far its working. Sheli is on spring break. We just go home from the gym- they call it 24Hour Fitness for a reason!

Mel and Jamie come Wed. night! Our schedule is going to be PACKED when they're here. They want to see and do as much as possible. We'll be bike riding at the beach, going to LA, Hollywood, Olivera St (ask Laura), Hearst Castle (4 hours up the coast) Griffith park/observatory, visiting a friend of Jamie's. I would love to throw some Spanish food, salsa dancing, wine tasting, Laguna, Pasadena, San Diego action in there too but know that there is only 24 hours in a day! Regardless what we end up doing, it will a blast (and exhausting)!

I'm off to pay bills- Yippee! I don't think I've ever stayed up late to pay bills.... I'm old!

Happy belated St. Patricks Day

Ok- I know St Patricks day was three days ago, but I hope you had a happy one! In celebration of old St Pat, I went with a group of friends (and their spouses) from work to Pasadena. People outside of Southern Cali don't often hear about Pasadena, but it's a really cool little town with TONS to do. I highly recommend taking a day to wander around "old Town." We chose to go dancing. There was a little bit of salsa, a little bit of hip hop and a whole lot of fun! For anyone who has ever seen the show "My wife and kids" (Laura, I think you're the only one who will appreciate this) the guy that plays the son "junior" was there. Just like they make fun of in the show, he does have a BIG head but isn't quite as goofy in real life.

Sheli and I have been having secret midnight rendevous since I've been here and I have come to enjoy them. Sheli is type I diabetic. Her pancreas doesn't produce any insulin, so her her body can't absorb the sugar she's eaten from her blood. Doctors discovered it when her little sister found her unconscious on the bathroom floor when she was six, with a blood sugar of >800 (normal is 70-100). She checks her blood sugar at least 6 times a day (before each meal, at bedtime, and before two snacks) she gives herself insulin at least as many times, plus an extra different insulin at bedtime. At least once a week around midnight I hear her stumble down the hallway into the kitchen to check her blood sugar because she feels like she's her blood sugar is dropping. Its amazing evidence of Gods perfect timing, because it seems on these nights I'll be having a hard time sleeping, or wake up easily. (Sometimes it's amazing she can even make it to the kitchen like the night her blood sugar was 18. Medically speaking, she should have been in a coma!!!! or the time I found her sitting on the kitchen floor because she didn't have energy to stand). Most nights are nothing that a little snack can't fix. So the two of us, (no need to wake anyone else up) sit in the living room, me on the couch and her sprawled out on the floor, eating nachos (what, its a carb and a protein) or milk and graham crackers, or carrots and juice, or sometimes even a breakfast burrito and talk until her blood sugar is normal (usually about a half hour). This midnight meeting has produced some of the most meaningful times for the two of us.... even if all we did last night was try to figure out all the lyrics to the new Gym Class Heroes song and then laugh when we tried to sing it.

Work has been crazy lately. The floor that I work on recently went from 24 beds to 42 beds. Anyone who has worked in a hospital knows that a bed increase of that size can be stressful. The combination of more patients, sicker patients, new inexperienced nurses, major personalities conflicts, and everyone wanting easy patients and no admissions can drive someone crazy. Not to mention that anytime a group of strong willed women work together, it can get ugly. And it has on more then one occasion! In the mix of it all, I'm thrown into a weird position. I'm not permanent staff, but most think of me as just that. So I find myself having to walk a narrow line. On one hand I am a "guest in their house" so to speak and need to graciously accept what is handed to me when I walk in the door. On the other, because most see me as experienced permanent staff that leaves every once in a while ( I oriented most of the new nurses when I was here last summer) I am often called on to figure out staffing, "make" someone take an admission or fix the assignment..... no one is ever a fan of that person when you're on the losing end of the assignment lottery. Thankfully, I get along well with most of the people I work with, and even though most don't throw a fit when they get a patient (although this past sunday was quite a different story!) I can tell that the tension and drama are wearng on me. My fuse seems to be much shorter then it usually is, and my understanding for co-workers who always say their assignment is "unfair" is in short supply.
I have several days off next week and am really looking forward to them because it is just what I need! Melanie and Jamie Sensnig are coming out for a long weekend to celebrate Jamies 30th birthday! It will a blast Im sure. Hopefully by then I'll have some picutres to post!

I'm off to shower and get redy to go out to dinner! My aunt is here from Tennessee so the whole family is going out; and I am not getting a salad!!!

Oh, the weather outside......

First let me say- Adam thanks for the 7 comments you left on the last post- you're a geek:-)

It has been forever since I updated. Sorry! I wish I could say it's because things have been so hectic that I haven't had time, but the truth is that the weather here has been AMAZING (70-80 degrees most days) and I have been spending as much time as I can basking in the sun! (yeah I know it snowed in PA yesterday. Jamie you're my snow shoveling, side walk salting hero. Thanks for commanding "operation snow removal" at my house!).

I do have some new news though. First, I took a contract at LGH for the summer and am scheduled to start May 7th. Lori- hold that baby in until I get there! I'll be working on a tele floor not the OR. I don't remember enough in the OR to just jump back into it. It will be night shift of course but which I think will be do-able (not that I have a choice:-) esp. since I can walk to work instead of drive to York(yuck!).

Lots of you have heard me talk about school. I have been wanting to go back to school for what seems like forever. I have always wanted to be a nurse practitioner, even before ever going to nursing school. Over the past year and a half God has been giving me more and more faith for it. I would have just started years ago but have been waiting until I was financially able to do it. Praise the Lord there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!! I could start school this fall but want to save money for a semester to avoid taking out loans as long as possible. My goal is to start the 4+/- year journey in January! I need to do a year of online work before I can start the masters program but I am so excited!!!! (the trick will be to keep sid under lock and key to cut down on "incidental" costs- I think I've already paid for him 10 times over!!!!).

There has been a been a little drama this week too. Lisa Teeter called me about a note she found in my mailbox. It seems that a neighbor slipped on ice in front of my house (note: this is before Jamie took over shoveling for me) and had to go to the ER. Luckily, she only had a sprained wrist and no broken bones. However, as a result, she lost the position she was working at (through a temp agency) and is now unemployed. I have spent lots of time talking to her and my home owners insurance and am hoping that this all gets ironed out before you see my face on Judge Judy!!!

I just dropped off the Montero at the garage. It sounds awful! I noticed a little squeak on the drive out here and thought it had gone away..... ummm, maybe I should have turned down the radio. The squeak is now loud and happens when I go over a bump, turn or even get out. You know it's bad when someone stops you in a parking lot and tells you to get the suspension checked (true story)! I took it to get lubed yesterday only to find out that it can't be lubed because it has a closed chassy. From my limited knowledge of cars, fixing a suspension problem can be (although may not be) very costly to fix. Heres hoping its not $$$$$$$. (btw- I know someone who's selling a 2002 montero sport, champagne in color, bumpers have some peeling paint, low mileage, only in 1 accident- minor damage, runs great, definitely does not squeak(new owners must be deaf or like loud music), no questions, no refunds).

Not much else happening on the West Coast. I'm off to catch some rays before I take a nap and get ready for work!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY LAURA!!!!!!!!!!