whippetmom’s Neighborhood

I am officially 11 hours away from the start of my first marathon.  We took the course tour today and I am so excited! The weather has been kind of ehh but it is supposed to clear by tomorrow.  I fell ready and I am looking forward to a good experience.  The race starts at 8:00 MT  (10AM ET).  I will let everyone know the results when I get home!

As my nursing orientation comes to an end, there have been quite a few initiation milestones that I have passed. The long hours and 13 hour days without so much as a bathroom break are, sadly a common occurence. An entertaining, but not so wise nurse I met during nursing school once told me that his two favorite words are "Nursing Shortage." At the time I laughed hysterically, but since "leaving the nest" and navigating my way through this career path I have chosen, I have begun to realize that that witty nurse is not witty at all! He is, in fact, INSANE!!! They sheltered us in nursing school to believe that things aren't as bad as everyone says..."As a new nurse, they won't give you critically ill patients or make you carry a load of more than 4 or 5 patients at one time." BOLOGNA!!!!! An assignment of 5-6 patients at the start of my shift is now a regular standard of practice... and I still work the day shift! I've been told by fellow new grad nurses that their patient load at night has reached up to 8 patients. RIDICULOUS!!! Luckily, I have only had one critically ill patient included on one of my 6 patient days. More on that in a bit... but first... back to the initiation milestones...

Last week, I had yet another patient with a nasty infection who was, unfortunately very overweight and elderly. At the end of my shift, I was walking toward the oncoming nurse that was taking my patients. As I reached into my pocket to hand her my phone and pager (the final step in transferring care), I received a page that this overweight, elderly patient needed help getting up to use the bathroom. I graciously offered to help her so that the oncoming nurse could get settled before starting her shift. So, I went in to help the woman up and... to make a long story short, I got pooped on!!! GROSS!!!! I'm not sure if she knew what she had done, and I'm not about to explain how it got on me, but either way, it was gross!! Once I realized it had happenned, I ran to the bathroom and washed off the pantleg that it had gotten on as best I could and left the room... YIKES! I calmly collected my things (after scrubbing my hands and arms, of course!) and went home. As I was on the elevator with another nurse, Lauren, she looked over and asked what was the matter... (not noticing that the elevator had stopped and the doors were about to open), I blurted out.. "I got POOP all over me!!!" As soon as I said it, I looked up to see two family members standing outside the elevator with horrified expressions on their faces!!! My eyes about burst out of my head and I just moved to the back of the elevator and kept my mouth shut for the rest of the time! (Lauren, of course was laughing hysterically!). We walked to our cars together and I told her not to drive by my car when she left because I was going to take my pants off as soon as I got in! So, that's exactly what I did. I took my pants off, called Josh, and went home.

When I called Josh, I asked him to open the front door so I could run inside without having to encounter the dogs. He initially agreed, but then said, "wait! You want to run inside with no pants on??" "How else would you suggest I come in?" I replied? Finally, after some negotiating, Josh suggested I come in through the garage while he wrangled the boys and tried to keep them from coming near me. So, as I pulled into the garage, I noticed all of our neighbors were outside doing whatever... I better make this quick, I thought. I opened the car door... poopy pants in hand and went to run around the front of my car to the door (the most inconspicuous way to get inside). Unfortunately, I had pulled my car too far into the garage and I couln't get around our bikes... YIKES! So, as quickly as I could, I ran around the back of my car wearing my black, cluncky nursing shoes, white socks pulled up, blue striped underwear, and scrub top. I couldn't help but look to see if anyone saw me... and of course, they did. I couldn't help but laugh, wondering what they were thinking and as soon as I got inside and saw the disgusted expression on Josh's face as he held the puppies down, I couldn't help but laugh so hard I cried! It was possibly the funniest moment I've ever had! Although it was disgusting, I've heard it's a milestone that every good nurse must cross... unfortunately... it's not the worst!

The following day, I started with the 5 patient load that I talked about and the nurse I work with was off the floor for a "Skills Day" event she had to go to... so I was on my own. About half way through the day, I got a call from the charge nurse saying that I was going to get a transfer from the Intensive Care Unit. When I asked why he wasn't going to the Critical Care (Step-down) Unit like they usually do, she replied, "They don't have room... you'll be fine!" GREAT! So, once the patient got there, I got him settled, did my nurse thing, and told him to page me if he needed anything. A few minutes later, I went back in his room and found him walking around... ok.... he's a bit nutty! I can deal with that. Then, the second initiation milestone began to approach:

(Patient) "I think I'm going to throw up"

(Me) "Then you should sit down" (I move the trash can over to him... he's still standing)

(Patient) "Oh...no, I think I'm ok... wait! Yeah! I'm going to throw up"

(Me) "SIT DOWN!" (moving the trash can closer)

(Patient) "No, no... I'm ok... wait!"

PUKE!!!!!!! As soon as he said "wait!" I looked over at him (I was stooped over moving the trash can) and just as I stood up, he puked projectile, green, bile looking puke right where I had been standing! GROSS!!!! Horrified by what had just happened, I called another nurse in to help me. As soon as she told me that was "normal" and we got the situation cleaned up and the patient back to bed... dumb patient... we walked out and I told her what happened. She laughed at me and said... sounds like your next horror will have something to do with the "yellow river!" YUCK! Oh well... I can now say, with confidence, that while nursing may seem like a fairly glamorous job to some... it is DEFINATELY NOT!!!! Let's hope the initiation process is over!!! I don't think I can handle much more!

I knew I would get your attention.... enjoy the youtube video on the importance of voting.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out and screaming 'WOOO HOOOOO what a ride!' 

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Watch a good, old movie from the 1940's...especially ghost films, such as "The Uninvited" - and oldy, but a goody.

Things have been very busy around here this week.  We are all heading up to Lewiston, ID tomorrow and I will be doing a Pampered Chef bridal shower tomorrow evening.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be a good success both for the bride and for my commission!  It will be the first bridal shower I have done so I am excited.  Friday we plan on visiting nearby Hell's Canyon before heading back home.

Apparently that was NOT the first cake Matt has ever made, and he was highly offended that I would even imply so.  I asked him when he had made a cake before (I certainly hadn't heard about it) and he replied "with my mom."  I stand corrected!