Other than to go to work twice last week at HSC, I had not been back to Winnipeg since I moved to Steinbach. However, I had several things that needed doing, and Mom needed stuff at Walmart so we ventured into the big city of Winnipeg today, just me and Mom.
Our first stop was at Mom's accountant where she dropped off her tax papers; apparently she and Dad had been going there for the last 30 years or so. What shocked me about this accountant was that he mentioned Dad and how he would drop by every now and then and tell stories and chit chat. But guess what?! He didn't have Dad's book! Unheard of! So now we have to get a book to him somehow.
Second stop was HSC where I took Mom up to visit D2 and to introduce her to my former co-workers. Only gone for a week and already it felt strange to be there. Mom has been there to visit only once before and that was about five years ago when I was still a student. She doesn't remember that visit.
Third stop was the parking office, where I turned in my transponder for the Tecumseh Parkade. I was so proud of that thing! It stuck to my windshield and gave me unlimited access to the Parkade for $75 a month. Not a bad deal when you consider that one full day of parking in the William Avenue Parkade costs $15.
Fourth stop was Roger's near the stadium, not the Rogers in the mall. I've long since given up on going in to the mall. The employees at this location are so much more friendly and helpful. However, I'm not entirely sure they helped me today. I was overcharged $200 for my iPhone due to a "glitch in the system" at the time of purchase.
Fifth stop was A&W right across from Polo Park where Mom had an Uncle Burger and she ate every bite of it.
Sixth stop was my doctor's appointment; I was there half an hour early and was out of the building 15 minutes before my appointment was even scheduled. It was just a change of prescription appointment, the business portion of the appointment took a mere minute or two and we spent some time discussing the stupidity of some patients that we've met in our various positions in the health care profession. My favorite is the man who was triaged at approximately 2330 on one of my orientation shifts. His entrance complaint was "swollen foot." When asked how long his foot had been swollen his reply was "for a few months." The question that immediately popped into my head was "and why is it suddenly such an emergency tonight that it could not wait till a walk-in tomorrow or even wait a week or two for a scheduled appointment?" My doctor's favorite story of needlessly seeking health care is of a mother who called at 0200 complaining of her infant being constipated on that particular day. Apparently the constipation could not wait till the following morning.
And the seventh and last stop (by this time I was just dying to get home to Steinbach) was Walmart @ St. Vital. Mom needed hearing aid batteries, panty hose and her favorite brand of cereal. I needed a shower curtain rod and a shower curtain and am quite happy cuz I haven't been able to shower in a few weeks. Of course I had to have someone else come and put up the curtain rod cuz I was completely incapable of doing it myself!
Finally we were done and it was time to leave the bustle of the city. Traffic and traffic lights have never irritated me as much as they did today. I wanted out of the city in the worst way and that was an interesting feeling for me, as I don't remember ever feeling that way before.
Mom had a good day and was pleased with what we accomplished. She got to assist me in dropping off Kev at Auntie Pam's and then again when picking Kev up on the way home. She always asks me where Kev stays when I'm working; hopefully now she will have something to remember when I tell her where he is.
So it seems that I won't be going to the city any more than is absolutely necessary. There are so many people there, the stores are so full, the streets are full and everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere. I love my new life in "the country" where my drive across town takes mere minutes instead of an hour or hours.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Life in a Small Town
(This was written in March 2010)
Steinbach is technically known as a city, but to me its a small town after having lived in Winnipeg for almost half my life. I spent years trying to leave the small-town girl and the small town behind, so its a huge surprise to me that I am happy here. The move was made for practical reasons and for Kev's benefit, not for my enjoyment, so its an added bonus to genuinely like it here.
Thus far, I've had a few experiences that make this lifestyle differ greatly from that of city living. Let me tell you about them:
A week ago I helped a friend make a delivery something to a small town (even smaller than Steinbach) and took roads other than the main highway, aka the scenic route, to get there. It was almost dusk when we finally left, so the scenery didn't make much difference. What does matter is that the vehicle in front of us began to tap on their brakes and gradually slow to a stop in the middle of the road. Of course I also stopped, curious to see what the issue was and wanting to avoid having an accident driving someone else's vehicle. Wow, I could not believe my eyes! We were waiting for a small herd of cows to cross the road; approximately 10-20 (I was too busy laughing and pointing to actually count) sauntered across the road, impervious to the honking from the driver of the vehicle in front of me. My official initiation into country life.
The very first weekend that we lived here, I heard a knock on my door. Obviously I was shocked because I wasn't expecting anyone and I had long since grown accustomed to people calling or texting prior to their arrival at my door. I checked the front door, the obvious choice. No one there. I checked the door to the patio, the other alternative. Still no one. Then, remembering that I had a door from the house to the garage, I ran quickly and opened the door. There were very friendly looking strangers at my door. This caused me only momentary concern, but only momentary, until they introduced themselves. Their last names were Reimer and Penner; how harmful could they be? It turns out they were friends of friends and were welcoming me to the neighborhood. Second inititation to the country.
A big city hospital such as HSC in Winniepg has specialized everything; X-ray. Phlebotomy. IV team. Housekeeping. And so on. Not quite so in a rural hospital. I discovered this first hand just last night as I played the role of IV Nurse and Housekeeping. A patient required an IV start and I was ecstatic because the first try yielded success!! Flashback appeared instantly. This patient was on blood thinners and there was more blood present than just "flashback." I was moderately concerned for my pants and shoes but was able to subtly move them out of the way without the patient noticing. Completing the IV start, I glanced down at the floor and noticed a puddle about 3 inches in diameter. Hmmmmm.....this called for a call to housekeeping. Alas, I WAS the housekeeping department and had to go get the mop and mopbucket, mop the floor, then rinse out the mop bucket and refill it with water and soap. I would have expected to be upset by mopping, after all I bitched and complained at HSC when I had to do filing and cleaning. But I just giggled through the experience, thoroughly enjoying the situation. After all, it gave me more time to talk with the patient and try to decide whether or not we were related and who our common acquaintances were.
Small town life is agreeing with me and Kev. Kev is much much happier here, if such a thing were even possible and I am so much more relaxed and laid back and content. When a person makes a bad choice in life, there are usually cues and indicators. I have had no such indicators about my move from Winnipeg to Steinbach.
Steinbach is technically known as a city, but to me its a small town after having lived in Winnipeg for almost half my life. I spent years trying to leave the small-town girl and the small town behind, so its a huge surprise to me that I am happy here. The move was made for practical reasons and for Kev's benefit, not for my enjoyment, so its an added bonus to genuinely like it here.
Thus far, I've had a few experiences that make this lifestyle differ greatly from that of city living. Let me tell you about them:
A week ago I helped a friend make a delivery something to a small town (even smaller than Steinbach) and took roads other than the main highway, aka the scenic route, to get there. It was almost dusk when we finally left, so the scenery didn't make much difference. What does matter is that the vehicle in front of us began to tap on their brakes and gradually slow to a stop in the middle of the road. Of course I also stopped, curious to see what the issue was and wanting to avoid having an accident driving someone else's vehicle. Wow, I could not believe my eyes! We were waiting for a small herd of cows to cross the road; approximately 10-20 (I was too busy laughing and pointing to actually count) sauntered across the road, impervious to the honking from the driver of the vehicle in front of me. My official initiation into country life.
The very first weekend that we lived here, I heard a knock on my door. Obviously I was shocked because I wasn't expecting anyone and I had long since grown accustomed to people calling or texting prior to their arrival at my door. I checked the front door, the obvious choice. No one there. I checked the door to the patio, the other alternative. Still no one. Then, remembering that I had a door from the house to the garage, I ran quickly and opened the door. There were very friendly looking strangers at my door. This caused me only momentary concern, but only momentary, until they introduced themselves. Their last names were Reimer and Penner; how harmful could they be? It turns out they were friends of friends and were welcoming me to the neighborhood. Second inititation to the country.
A big city hospital such as HSC in Winniepg has specialized everything; X-ray. Phlebotomy. IV team. Housekeeping. And so on. Not quite so in a rural hospital. I discovered this first hand just last night as I played the role of IV Nurse and Housekeeping. A patient required an IV start and I was ecstatic because the first try yielded success!! Flashback appeared instantly. This patient was on blood thinners and there was more blood present than just "flashback." I was moderately concerned for my pants and shoes but was able to subtly move them out of the way without the patient noticing. Completing the IV start, I glanced down at the floor and noticed a puddle about 3 inches in diameter. Hmmmmm.....this called for a call to housekeeping. Alas, I WAS the housekeeping department and had to go get the mop and mopbucket, mop the floor, then rinse out the mop bucket and refill it with water and soap. I would have expected to be upset by mopping, after all I bitched and complained at HSC when I had to do filing and cleaning. But I just giggled through the experience, thoroughly enjoying the situation. After all, it gave me more time to talk with the patient and try to decide whether or not we were related and who our common acquaintances were.
Small town life is agreeing with me and Kev. Kev is much much happier here, if such a thing were even possible and I am so much more relaxed and laid back and content. When a person makes a bad choice in life, there are usually cues and indicators. I have had no such indicators about my move from Winnipeg to Steinbach.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Last Night Shift on GD2 - Orthopedics
So here I am, just past the midpoint of my very last shift at HSC. I'm happy and nostalgic and a little sad at the thought of leaving this place. Though it's far from perfect, this ward has taken an eager idealistic student and molded me into a highly capable not-so-idealistic nurse. The experiences here have been filled with learning and opportunity. Not a shift has gone by without me saying "hmmm, I did not know that." There are so many things to learn, it seems overwheing at first.
Let me explain a general principle of nursing students; as a student I knew lots! At least as much as some of the "real" nurses. The very first day that I was on my own without a preceptor to guide my actions and answer my questions, I realized within about five minutes that I knew absolutely nothing. Nothing. Without my preceptor by my side to answer each and every question I was forced to think for myself. Making decisions regarding patient care was suddenly much more difficult when I was the one really responsible. But I bumbled my way through shift after shift with a constant stream of questions.
Somewhere along the way my questions decreased and I became the one that new staff or new students came to with their questions. It was a gradual and subtle change. When I work with new staff now, I remember where I was several years ago and explain things the way I would have liked to have them explained to me back when I was a student.
As a new nurse, everything takes longer. Getting each patients meds, vital signs, and doing patient assessments takes virtually hours at first. Time passes and you become more and more speedy with your routine work, until finally you can keep up with the veterans on the job.
Idealism seems to go hand in hand with being a student nurse. As students we listened in horror to some of the things we heard in report. Gravol being given to a patient to help them sleep rather than for nausea, it's intended purpose?! Oh horrors! As students we vowed we would never become like the nurses we were learning from. We would never ignore a call for help, we would never say anything crude or rude about a patient. We would never lose our patience with a difficult patient. And, speaking of patients, we also vowed we would always refer to the patient as "client." We vowed we would never make jokes about death or make light of it in any way.
As a practicing nurse for 4.5 years, I'm telling you I've broken every one of my ideals. Some of them many times, and some more than others. I have yet to meet one of my fellow grads who has maintained their idealism.
Nursing is hard work. Nursing is dirty work. Nursing is highly unglamorous. And, I can only speak for myself, nursing is the best thing I've done with my life. I enjoy it immensely and have never been sorry I'm doing it.
Let me explain a general principle of nursing students; as a student I knew lots! At least as much as some of the "real" nurses. The very first day that I was on my own without a preceptor to guide my actions and answer my questions, I realized within about five minutes that I knew absolutely nothing. Nothing. Without my preceptor by my side to answer each and every question I was forced to think for myself. Making decisions regarding patient care was suddenly much more difficult when I was the one really responsible. But I bumbled my way through shift after shift with a constant stream of questions.
Somewhere along the way my questions decreased and I became the one that new staff or new students came to with their questions. It was a gradual and subtle change. When I work with new staff now, I remember where I was several years ago and explain things the way I would have liked to have them explained to me back when I was a student.
As a new nurse, everything takes longer. Getting each patients meds, vital signs, and doing patient assessments takes virtually hours at first. Time passes and you become more and more speedy with your routine work, until finally you can keep up with the veterans on the job.
Idealism seems to go hand in hand with being a student nurse. As students we listened in horror to some of the things we heard in report. Gravol being given to a patient to help them sleep rather than for nausea, it's intended purpose?! Oh horrors! As students we vowed we would never become like the nurses we were learning from. We would never ignore a call for help, we would never say anything crude or rude about a patient. We would never lose our patience with a difficult patient. And, speaking of patients, we also vowed we would always refer to the patient as "client." We vowed we would never make jokes about death or make light of it in any way.
As a practicing nurse for 4.5 years, I'm telling you I've broken every one of my ideals. Some of them many times, and some more than others. I have yet to meet one of my fellow grads who has maintained their idealism.
Nursing is hard work. Nursing is dirty work. Nursing is highly unglamorous. And, I can only speak for myself, nursing is the best thing I've done with my life. I enjoy it immensely and have never been sorry I'm doing it.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, With a Twist
My day started off routinely enough; Kev bouncing in his crib with a cute cheesy grin on his face, totally ready to start his day. Coffee, breakfast, coffee, bath, coffee, phone Mom, coffee, and get Kev dressed.
Kev and I slowly made preparations to leave the house, and I do mean slowly. All the coffee in the world can't speed up the "getting ready to leave the house" process. (this is sort of told from Kev's point of view): Change diaper and get dressed. Have mini temper tantrum when not allowed to mess up neatly folded clothes. Brush teeth with Grandma. Play with tractors on windowsill while Grandma gets ready. Get jacket and vest on, just like Grandma. Wait by the door. Poop. Listen to Grandma mumble under her breath while she fixes my diaper. Resume waiting at door. Wait for Grandma while she gathers up her keys. Get in car. Cry because I can't have the crusty day old bun on the floormat. Wait while Grandma runs back into the house for the garage door opener. Laugh with relief when she finally starts the car. Start crying when Grandma has to run back into the house for cash. Finally we leave. Giggle with delight when the garage door closes magically by itself. Distract Grandma by saying "wuss dat?" every few minutes while she's driving.
Fast forward to later in the day, also told from Kev's point of view: have long, long bath. Throw water logged toys in Grandma's general direction. Ask for "uppies" and then cry when Grandma takes me out of the tub. Have diaper applied before leaving the bathroom so I don't make a pee pee on the carpet. Run around the house as fast as I can cuz I love wearing just a diaper. Allow Grandma to put jammies on me cuz she said something about a truck and bye bye. Wait at the door. No pooping this time. Wait for Grandma to brush her teeth and comb her hair. Wait patiently till Grandma opens the door. Go straight to my wagon, get in and wait expectantly. Grandma says "just a minute." Sit in wagon while Grandma takes my car seat out of the car. Sit very still while Grandma pulls the wagon around on the driveway. Get excited when a white truck drives into our driveway. Let Grandma buckle me into my carseat in the white truck.
There you have bits and pieces of our day, the way Kev might see it.
Kev and I slowly made preparations to leave the house, and I do mean slowly. All the coffee in the world can't speed up the "getting ready to leave the house" process. (this is sort of told from Kev's point of view): Change diaper and get dressed. Have mini temper tantrum when not allowed to mess up neatly folded clothes. Brush teeth with Grandma. Play with tractors on windowsill while Grandma gets ready. Get jacket and vest on, just like Grandma. Wait by the door. Poop. Listen to Grandma mumble under her breath while she fixes my diaper. Resume waiting at door. Wait for Grandma while she gathers up her keys. Get in car. Cry because I can't have the crusty day old bun on the floormat. Wait while Grandma runs back into the house for the garage door opener. Laugh with relief when she finally starts the car. Start crying when Grandma has to run back into the house for cash. Finally we leave. Giggle with delight when the garage door closes magically by itself. Distract Grandma by saying "wuss dat?" every few minutes while she's driving.
Fast forward to later in the day, also told from Kev's point of view: have long, long bath. Throw water logged toys in Grandma's general direction. Ask for "uppies" and then cry when Grandma takes me out of the tub. Have diaper applied before leaving the bathroom so I don't make a pee pee on the carpet. Run around the house as fast as I can cuz I love wearing just a diaper. Allow Grandma to put jammies on me cuz she said something about a truck and bye bye. Wait at the door. No pooping this time. Wait for Grandma to brush her teeth and comb her hair. Wait patiently till Grandma opens the door. Go straight to my wagon, get in and wait expectantly. Grandma says "just a minute." Sit in wagon while Grandma takes my car seat out of the car. Sit very still while Grandma pulls the wagon around on the driveway. Get excited when a white truck drives into our driveway. Let Grandma buckle me into my carseat in the white truck.
There you have bits and pieces of our day, the way Kev might see it.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Morning After
Of course I'm referring to the morning after a night shift! What did you think I was referring to?
Work ended uneventfully with the usual amount of post-night giddiness and the long-awaited arrival of the day staff. Seven fresh, well rested nurses; some of them even wearing makeup! It seems we put in a bit more effort for the day shift than for the nights. Our CRN arrived on time, our MOPC arrived, as did the unit clerk. The orthopedic residents were already doing rounds on their patients. All was in order in the D2 universe, my home for the last 4.5 years. I took pictures of the familiar scenes and the familiar faces, even though I know I'll be back soon enough to work as a casual nurse. D2 has been the place where I went when I needed peace and quiet from my teenager infested home. And, more recently, a place that reminded me that I was more than Kev's Grandma; I'm also Myrna.
Report went as it normally did, starting quietly and building up to a cacophony of voices, each trying to be heard over the other. Instead of the usual twelve vocal nurses that usually congregate in the conference room, today there were six additional bodies and voices in the room. We have groups of student nurses from Tuesday to Friday. All wearing all white, they tend to stand out in a crowded room. Their instructor was safely seated by the nursing station, away from the chaotic environment that we call "report.".
Following report, I grabbed my stuff from my locker, took a few more pictures, and left the building via the long tunnel system to the Tecumseh Parkade.
A quick stop at a drive-thru ATM, and a stop for gas and coffee and I was on my way. Visibility was alright, but not spectacular. It was misting just enough to need the wipers on every minute or two. As per my usual habits, I called my mother while driving. She loves my pre and post work phone calls and I will continue to make them as long as it is possible.
The call to her this morning was somewhat difficult as I could hear in her voice as she said hello that her world was upsidedown today. She asked twice who I was and then asked "Is this Myrna?" Her hearing is not improving and her memory has some noteable gaps in it. This makes for some very interesting conversations. By the time she understands and hears what I'm saying, the initial topic of conversation is long forgotten.
This morning we discussed all the things that were wrong in her world, and there were a lot this morning. She misses Dad an awful lot; she spent the majority of her life with him and is now expected to function without him. If you take the time to really think about it, it must be an incredibly difficult adaptation to make, wouldn't you agree?
In addition to Dad being gone, she feels that she was mistreated by her doctor yesterday. Her world was not a pleasant and safe place this morning. I stayed on the phone with her for twenty or so minutes. Frustrating at times, yes. Alarming, yes. Sad, yes.
It felt so right to drive into Steinbach and know that I was "home." Walking into the house from the double garage where I now park my car is so much more pleasurable than my walk to the front door in Winnipeg.
Kev was already awake and dressed. He came running to me, chattering away in his language about the events of his evening and morning while I was absent. It's such a fantastic feeling to return home to be greeted at the door by Kev.
Despite having worked all night, there was work to be done. And I worked on unpacking and cleaning right up until nap time at 1. Finally I got some sleep! Two hours is better than none.
A trip to Superstore and Shopper's Drug Mart completed our day. That, and two wonderful friends came over for coffee in the evening.
So despite having worked a full night shift, my life cannot come to a crashing halt just so I can sleep. I am utterly relieved that my new job is evenings and days, with no night shifts!
Work ended uneventfully with the usual amount of post-night giddiness and the long-awaited arrival of the day staff. Seven fresh, well rested nurses; some of them even wearing makeup! It seems we put in a bit more effort for the day shift than for the nights. Our CRN arrived on time, our MOPC arrived, as did the unit clerk. The orthopedic residents were already doing rounds on their patients. All was in order in the D2 universe, my home for the last 4.5 years. I took pictures of the familiar scenes and the familiar faces, even though I know I'll be back soon enough to work as a casual nurse. D2 has been the place where I went when I needed peace and quiet from my teenager infested home. And, more recently, a place that reminded me that I was more than Kev's Grandma; I'm also Myrna.
Report went as it normally did, starting quietly and building up to a cacophony of voices, each trying to be heard over the other. Instead of the usual twelve vocal nurses that usually congregate in the conference room, today there were six additional bodies and voices in the room. We have groups of student nurses from Tuesday to Friday. All wearing all white, they tend to stand out in a crowded room. Their instructor was safely seated by the nursing station, away from the chaotic environment that we call "report.".
Following report, I grabbed my stuff from my locker, took a few more pictures, and left the building via the long tunnel system to the Tecumseh Parkade.
A quick stop at a drive-thru ATM, and a stop for gas and coffee and I was on my way. Visibility was alright, but not spectacular. It was misting just enough to need the wipers on every minute or two. As per my usual habits, I called my mother while driving. She loves my pre and post work phone calls and I will continue to make them as long as it is possible.
The call to her this morning was somewhat difficult as I could hear in her voice as she said hello that her world was upsidedown today. She asked twice who I was and then asked "Is this Myrna?" Her hearing is not improving and her memory has some noteable gaps in it. This makes for some very interesting conversations. By the time she understands and hears what I'm saying, the initial topic of conversation is long forgotten.
This morning we discussed all the things that were wrong in her world, and there were a lot this morning. She misses Dad an awful lot; she spent the majority of her life with him and is now expected to function without him. If you take the time to really think about it, it must be an incredibly difficult adaptation to make, wouldn't you agree?
In addition to Dad being gone, she feels that she was mistreated by her doctor yesterday. Her world was not a pleasant and safe place this morning. I stayed on the phone with her for twenty or so minutes. Frustrating at times, yes. Alarming, yes. Sad, yes.
It felt so right to drive into Steinbach and know that I was "home." Walking into the house from the double garage where I now park my car is so much more pleasurable than my walk to the front door in Winnipeg.
Kev was already awake and dressed. He came running to me, chattering away in his language about the events of his evening and morning while I was absent. It's such a fantastic feeling to return home to be greeted at the door by Kev.
Despite having worked all night, there was work to be done. And I worked on unpacking and cleaning right up until nap time at 1. Finally I got some sleep! Two hours is better than none.
A trip to Superstore and Shopper's Drug Mart completed our day. That, and two wonderful friends came over for coffee in the evening.
So despite having worked a full night shift, my life cannot come to a crashing halt just so I can sleep. I am utterly relieved that my new job is evenings and days, with no night shifts!
Glamorous Nurses
Is nursing a glamorous job? Hardly. The nurses you see on TV or in movies bear virtually no resemblence to the ones I work with. We are not perfectly made up and our hair is not perfectly styled. Our scrubs are not tailor made and our bodies are far from perfect. Sometimes we don't get breaks and when we do, we certainly don't get to go out on the roof with a hot male doctor and kiss passionately underneath the stars (an actual scene on ER).
What are real nurses like? Well, we're predominately female but that is changing. I've worked one shift where I was the only female nurse and not one of those male nurses was gay. That's another nursing myth which assumes that if a male is a nurse, he must be gay. I'm telling you it's just not true.
Makeup? What's that? Most of us have full-time jobs as homemakers and mothers; personally, I'm lucky to have time for mascara, and that's on a good day. Not only do we not wear makeup, we do not bother to hide the circles under our eyes that come from years of shfift work.
Our hair is hurriedly tied into a pony tail as we rush out the door. Who has time to style their hair to perfection? The young nurses with no family responsibilities, that's who. They've also got the income for regular haircuts and colors. Tonight I'm at work with half an inch of grey roots showing and I don't really care. While I believe that we should care more about our appearance, work is not a meat market.
Our scrubs tend to be loose and baggy and cofortable. When you are bending down to pick up dropped pills or to check a urine bag, loose clothing works best. It's not realistic to wear tight scrubs with the amount of moving around we do.
The other reason our scrubs are comfortable and loose is that it hides our imperfect bodies. While you'd think with the miles we walk every shift our bodies would be firm and buff, that is simply not the case. Any benefit that may be gained from our highly physical job is quicky negated by junk food. Appreciative patients and family members believe that chocolates and other sweets is a way of expressing gratitude. Would it kill anyone to bring us veggies and dip once in awhile?!
By law we are entitled to 97.5 minutes of break per 12 hour shift. When we get breaks we inhale our food and argue over who gets to curl up on our miniature couch. As far as I know, there is no way for staff to get up to the roof. As far as having a makeout session under the stars, there's not one male I've met to date that I would consider a makeout partner.
TV doesn't show the routine things a nurse does in a shift. So far tonight I've taken vital signs 7 times, given numerous narcotics and other medications. I've turned 4 patients, and checked each of their bums for potential skin breakdown. I've checked urine bags for amount and color of urine. I've looked at a bazillion dressings, done two hours of paperwork, poked a few fingers for blood sugar checks, given some puffers, and done a little impromptu dancing with a patient of mine.
The rest of my night is more of the same. And when my shift ends at 0745 I'll drive an hour home, pay the sitter, do some errands around town, and pray fervently that naptime for Kev comes early.
 |
| Oh, yeah, we're so glamorous! |
Makeup? What's that? Most of us have full-time jobs as homemakers and mothers; personally, I'm lucky to have time for mascara, and that's on a good day. Not only do we not wear makeup, we do not bother to hide the circles under our eyes that come from years of shfift work.
Our hair is hurriedly tied into a pony tail as we rush out the door. Who has time to style their hair to perfection? The young nurses with no family responsibilities, that's who. They've also got the income for regular haircuts and colors. Tonight I'm at work with half an inch of grey roots showing and I don't really care. While I believe that we should care more about our appearance, work is not a meat market.
Our scrubs tend to be loose and baggy and cofortable. When you are bending down to pick up dropped pills or to check a urine bag, loose clothing works best. It's not realistic to wear tight scrubs with the amount of moving around we do.
The other reason our scrubs are comfortable and loose is that it hides our imperfect bodies. While you'd think with the miles we walk every shift our bodies would be firm and buff, that is simply not the case. Any benefit that may be gained from our highly physical job is quicky negated by junk food. Appreciative patients and family members believe that chocolates and other sweets is a way of expressing gratitude. Would it kill anyone to bring us veggies and dip once in awhile?!
By law we are entitled to 97.5 minutes of break per 12 hour shift. When we get breaks we inhale our food and argue over who gets to curl up on our miniature couch. As far as I know, there is no way for staff to get up to the roof. As far as having a makeout session under the stars, there's not one male I've met to date that I would consider a makeout partner.
TV doesn't show the routine things a nurse does in a shift. So far tonight I've taken vital signs 7 times, given numerous narcotics and other medications. I've turned 4 patients, and checked each of their bums for potential skin breakdown. I've checked urine bags for amount and color of urine. I've looked at a bazillion dressings, done two hours of paperwork, poked a few fingers for blood sugar checks, given some puffers, and done a little impromptu dancing with a patient of mine.
The rest of my night is more of the same. And when my shift ends at 0745 I'll drive an hour home, pay the sitter, do some errands around town, and pray fervently that naptime for Kev comes early.
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