ICU Nurse

Work is great, I really love working in ICU. I have more good days than not. I have to use my nursing skills/judgement with patients. My patients are touch-and-go rather than waiting for a nursing home to accept them. Many days it's so intense that I want to rethink my choices, but I'd still choose it.

The intensivists (ICU doctors) are an odd bunch. There's three of them. Doctorita is a no frills, no extra movements. She comes in like a whirlwind and turns off sedation and leaves silently. Then, I'm usually wondering why Pat is wide eyed, flailing and arching off the bed. Thirty minutes later she has 95% of the people extubated and half-way out of the ICU. Don't get me wrong, she's a great doctor and doesn't give people cushions when they need a good slap. I've been working there for like 6 months, and I'm still surprised when she comes around. I've gotten a little better at expecting her movements though. I hold off on any sedation until mid-morning (otherwise "they're too sedated, don't give them that much") and try to get ahead by planning on them being extubated and out of bed.

Doctorio doesn't care about anything, but cares about everything. His most used phrase is "I don't even know why we're doing this!" "Why this?" and "why that?" but then, "I don't care, what do you want me to do??" He can be super nice and so easy going, but then WHAM! something spits in his coffee and he's McCrankypants. But, to be fair, we've had some nice chats during some procedures. He laughed at my kid's name, I laugh and chortle at his. And he's very down-to-earth with family and patients. He gives slightly more cushion that Doctorita.

Then we have Señor Doctor. I think his goal is to do as little as possible, unless he can get other people to do it for him. He likes to keep people intubated and sedated if possible. Now, he makes for a pretty easy day, but not always in their best interest. Everyone knows that when he's on for the week that everyone stays intubated and sedated. He loves to give out water flushes though, haha.

But I love it. I have some irking things when I work with certain people, but who doesn't? It's not as bad as I was thinking, working with some nurses. I do know how to work my days when I work with the select few. *cough*

But like I said, I would still make the same choice to go.

Voices in my head

I started my car this morning in the dark. It was before 0630, and the sun wasn't up. I started the car and heard voices. I turned up my radio to hear what they were saying, but realized it was set to "AUX" meaning my iPhone. It was in my pocket. Not plugged in. I turned it off, just to make sure. Nope, the voices were still talking. I panicked a bit, my HR spiked and my imagination went into hyperdrive.

Then I realized that the kids' DVD was turned on and it was Flynn Ryder and Rapunzel having a conversation. Then I was ok. But I really panicked before I knew. 

The birds

There's this flock of birds that are always circling the hospital and hanging out on the roof. I wonder what they're waiting for?

I can't help but think of the Alfred Hitchcock film about the birds that attack all the people. I have to stop myself from running inside. I think I may be scarred. 

Dickies summer Scrub line from Uniformed Scrubs

Back a while ago, kinda a long while ago...my bad...Uniformed Scrubs contacted me to review one of Dickies' medical scrubs for their spring and summer collection.

Since our hospital has gone to solid uniform colors, pickings for nurse scrub tops are slim. Well, they really aren't, but because any color/contrast that's not white or navy is not allowed, it seems like it. When Uniformed Scrubs contacted me to review a top of Dickie's spring line, I was happy to potentially find a favorite line, that would have variation with the style. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the color that Local Hospital wears, so I couldn't wear it at work. I did wear it around the house with the boys, and believe me, I did a LOT of movement in it. 

It's so so soft, almost as soft as a uber-expensive pair of scrubs I have. It's also long enough to not show my baby fluff. No drafting allowed here! It's made of thicker fabric than most, but that's good. I have this one top that is super thin, so I have to wear another shirt underneath. This one, would be fine without any extra clothes. And the pockets! I usually have my phone with me, because of my kids being at daycare. I hate to wear this one pair of pants because it doesn't have hip pockets, but this top would be my solution! It had double pockets on each side, so I can wear those pants with this top and not have to worry about my phone ending up like it got into a fight with my scissors. There's also a sleeve pocket, I've seen some people use their sleeves for hanging their badges on, not my cup of tea, but it'd work we'll. maybe a pen or two? I've also seen some wear our Nurse Tracker on it. Keeps it out of the way, but easily scanned by the system.

It's got cute details also- ribbon lining the slits at the waist, contrasting stitching here and there. It's pretty affordable too, as scrubs go. It comes in the usual colors, so if your hospital is like mine and gone to uniform colors it will work for you :)

If I had to start again with my medical scrubs, I'd totally buy one brand, especially to make sure that my shades of navy were all the same shade. And buying from one site, like Uniformed Scrubs, ensures that you can save on shipping, and exchanges would be so much easier with one site.

But that's not all! I have a discount code :) You can use "trueblue" to get 15% off until July 31 :)

You can find Uniformed Scrubs on Facebook, on Twitter at @UniformedScrubs, on Pinterest, and they even have a blog!

I'd love to buy the new spring/summer line from Dickies, from Uniformed Scrubs, if I had a reason to start my scrubs collection again. 

Most Important News

At work yesterday, the 6 pm news came on. I forget what channel, but I was in Long-Term Trach Guy's room doing something. Anyway, the 6 pm news came on, and the first two stories were studies that had been done and needed to be reported. The first one was that binge-drinking may lead to a increased risk if alcohol dependence. Seriously?? Did you know that? I had no clue!! The seldom story was almost as mind blowing as the first. Ready? People may feel more inclined to loose weight if there's a payout involved. ERMAGERD!! (Haha, I've always been wanting to use that!) There you go. Prime-time news stories. Tell me a few things. First, who got paid to research that? Second, who decided "wow, this is super important stuff, let's put it at 6 pm so everyone will notice it!" And third, did the reporter laugh and snort when she saw the "headlines" she had to report and be excited about? That would have been hard to do.
"Ok, let new what stories I have tonight. I will be excited about them! Hmm, ok. What's this? Binge-drinking may increase the risk for alcohol depen-what?? I have to say this? Can't I report something exciting? What about this 5-block-sized asteroid? Can I tell them about this? I'll make them all pee their pants!"
"Nope, that's Sven's story, he's the space guy. You're the studies guy. You get this one."
"Ffftt. Fine. What else do I have? Weight-loss, that's interesting for everyone. Ok, people may be more likely to loose weight if there's a monetary incentive. Umm. Sure, I'd even gain weight if you'd pay me! This is that news that supposed to be on at 2 am when no one is watching!"
"Oh no, that's where we put Sven's story about the asteroid, because it's not going to hit earth. THAT'S our 2 am story. Your stories are the earth shattering studies."

Haha. My coworkers and I had a great laugh. Nevermind I didn't get to leave until almost 8 pm.

Bait and switch

The past two days I've worked, I've asked for a bowl of oatmeal and brown sugar for breakfast. Well, they must be outoif oatmeal, because I keep getting something else. The first day, the lady was like, "we're out of oatmeal, here have a orange or a banana." Seriously?! Ok. Whatever. At least it's something. Then, the next day. I was hoping for oatmeal, please? Nope. But the guy (a different person was the key) brought me a plate of French toast! You guys! I love French toast! I like the oatmeal here too, but that's ok, I'll take French toast :)

No patience for patients

Still alive, yo.

Patient of the day: "Are you coming back in the morning? Because I'd like someone who already knows me to be my nurse" was said to me about 5 minutes after I met her. I met her at 7:15 pm, as my shift was ending. I guess she thought we had a connection going on.

Runner-up patient of the day: bed-ridden, 350 pounds, massively swollen legs, necrotic ulcers on her abdominal panis, multiple pressure sores on her back, butt, and posterior thighs, has a long-term trach, incontinent of poop, and won't do anything for herself. She thinks she gets to go home because she doesn't want to go to rehab/nursing home. Who will care for her? Her parents who are in their 70s. Her momma can barely walk without falling, her daddy is in a neck brace. It takes three strapping nurses to turn her over, amid her many shouts of "I don't want to turn, I'll be ok sitting in my sh*t, leave me alone. Yeah, of course she'll be fine at home.