Ramblings of a Night Nurse

Kind of has to deal with work, kind of doesn't - more like a vent on idiots

2005-09-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

I need to get a new car...not because there is anything wrong with the one I have, but I'm going to need 4-wheel drive this winter since I have more than tripled my commute to work.

So I called a Honda dealership on "The Auto Mile" about a 2005 CR-V EX. They quoted me $20,000 and told me they had them on the lot. About an hour & a half later, they call me (I never gave them my number...they must have gotten it from caller ID) and told me they didn't have any on the lot for sale, but that they would be getting some in "soon" and I could look at the sold ones. So I treck down there (took almost an hour). I looked at the 2005 & loved it. But I test drove a 2002...not even close to the same engine/transmission, but it was nice. Well come to find out, the ones coming in "soon" aren't coming in until the first week in October. Fine...whatever. So I pick one of the ones off the list that is "arriving soon" and I hand the guy my $500 cash down payment...off he goes to the cashier. He comes back and says there is no way that they are going to sell me a CR-V for $20,000 but I could pay the $24,xxx sticker price. WTF??? Do you think I'm stupid??? You have them listed on your website for $21,xxx!!!!! Needless to say they wouldn't even match that price...so I took my money and left. @$$holes!!!

This made me laugh!

2005-08-28T07:45:00.000-04:00

I took my first fresh heart on Friday with my preceptor...not too bad. Actually pretty straight forward. Well we get this man extubated, and the first words out of his mouth are..."I could really go for a beer." And if you are a nurse...you know this means trouble.

Hello Serax, Ativan, or Librium!!!

I forgot to mention...

2005-08-21T08:05:00.000-04:00

...I'll be back on nights the 3rd week in September!!!

Wow! This is nothing like the other place.

2005-08-21T07:55:00.000-04:00

I apologize for not updating sooner. But dang...this place is nothing like the hell hole!

My first day (8/8), I spent 5 hours in Hospital orientation, then went to the unit and worked until 7pm. I saw more in those few hours than I did my entire time at the other place. My first patient there was the nicest man...scared sh!tless, but so nice. He was being rushed into the OR for a dissecting aneurysm (not good). I picked him up on Tuesday...he did great! His family was just wonderful to him, and to the staff. But I was not so fortunate to have him on Wednesday. And I'm sorry to report that he had a major stroke, followed by some severe complications that resulted in this wonderful patient passing away on Friday. That was my baptism by fire.

But I was floored to received an email from my boss thanking me for the wonderful job I did with this patient...AND IT'S MY FIRST WEEK!!! Never in my 8+ years of nursing have I ever gotten a note like that from a manager.

This past week I spent in nursing orientation...BORING! I was the only one, yes the only one, who was not a new grad. I'm sorry...but if you're only in this field to "meet a cute doctor", get out and get out now! They see right thru you. And obviously you don't take this seriously...you can't even do the math! Ugh! Ok there is my rant.

But I do love this job...it's nuts at times, but I love it. And thank god I'm back in the unit this week...I can't sit for 8 hours! What nurse can?

Well it was a mixed reaction...

2005-07-22T18:59:00.000-04:00

I did get some very nice well-wishes from the co-workers I liked the most. But then there were the others...they did nothing but cut down my decision. I don't know if it was because of jealousy or what, but what a bunch of b!tches!

I am glad that I'm moving on...but I'm sad that I'm leaving some wonderful friends behind. But they aren't getting rid of me that easily...I still have their email addresses!

Oh my god! They are going to crap!

2005-07-11T12:50:00.000-04:00

I have an interview on Wednesday at 1pm. Think good thoughts for me.

I can only imagine what the reaction will be when I quit!

Which Happy Bunny are you?

2005-07-10T16:09:00.000-04:00

congratulations. you are the kiss my ass happy
bunny. You don't care about anyone or anything.
You must be so proud

which happy bunny are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

What year were you born under?

2005-07-10T16:07:00.000-04:00

You Were Actually Born Under:

You are quick witted, charming, and bring luck to all who know you.
A bit greedy, you tend to go after what you want - with success.
Clever, you seek out knowledge... and eventually use what you know to your advantage.
You are very loyal, and you treat your real friends like they are family.

You are most compatible with a Dragon or Monkey.

You Should Have Been Born Under:

You are totally loyal, faithful, and honest.
However, you don't trust others to be as ethical as you are!
Straight forward and direct, you really aren't one for small talk.
You are a great listener - and an agreeable companion when you're in a good mood!

You are most compatible with a Tiger or Horse.

What Year Were You Born Under?

It wasn't too bad, but...

2005-07-10T13:45:00.000-04:00

there is this one nurse who feels that she can boss us all around. It's ok for her to look at her Match.com 'winks', or what ever the hell they are, for an hour; but god forbid I get on and check my email for less than 5 minutes. Or when she's running around like a chicken with her head cut off at 6am because she's behind on her work due to the fact that she was doing her Match.com thing, she feels the need to tell us to do her work so she can get out on time. You've gotta love that double standard.

I honestly don't mind helping out, but give me a break. It's not my fault you're a slack!

Last night wasn't too bad...

2005-07-09T14:15:00.000-04:00

Just one patient. But I must say that I do not like taking care of drug-addicts/alcoholics going thru withdrawals. They are just down right nasty. No matter how nice you are, they are the biggest jerks!

Hoping my sanity improves on Monday!

Something just occured to me...

2005-07-08T10:27:00.000-04:00

I got the email July 6th...exactly 6 months after Dad passed away! @$$holes!

Well I did it!

2005-07-08T10:25:00.000-04:00

Staffing called yesterday...and I laughed while I deleted the message! No...I didn't return their call, nor will I in the future.

Hubby wants me to get a new job...either with the VNA his friend's wife works for, or some other company that his boss's cousin works for. I don't know...VNA was never my thing. And I have no idea what the other one is.

Maybe it's time to move on. I'll need to think long and hard about it. I wish my dad was here to bounce this off of. He was great for things like that.

Ok...it's official...

2005-07-06T14:30:00.001-04:00

Where I work sucks!!!! And I guess I'm not the only one who thinks that since everyone in administration is leaving.

I got a verbal (well it was an email) warning for absenteeism. I really don't care about that, well I do since it is my first on ever! But that's besides the point. They are counting my berevement leave from when my dad passed away in January against me. WTF??? I'm sorry that his death was so sudden that I had to call out (duh!)! I talked to him that day...he was fine. The next thing I know, my mom's calling me to wake me up to tell my that paramedics were working on my dad and she thinks he isn't going to make it. I'm sorry, but my world was turned upside-down from that moment. The last frickin' thing on my mind was work.

And to be honest...I shouldn't have gone back to work when I did. I wasn't ready. My first night back I had a breakdown when we had a patient code and not make it. I wasn't ready.

Well here's what I've decided...since they feel that they can punish me for my dad passing away, then here's what I'm not going to do:

* I'm not going to pick up any extra time. They've gotten their last extra shift out of me.

* I am not going to be flexible with my time. When I want time off...I want time off. I'm not changing my schedule to suit the unit. I do like the people I work with, but screw the administration. It's the patients I'm concerned about, not bureacracy.

* I am no longer answering my telephone when it comes up "Unavailable". Tough sh!t staffing!

I'm changing my tune...work is not longer a priority!

How I feel today...

2005-07-06T14:30:00.000-04:00

Some people...ugh!

2005-07-05T22:45:00.000-04:00

Ok...why must some male nurses think they are far superior to those of us who are female nurses??? Ok...there are some male nurses that I have come across that are extremely intelligent; but then there are also the ones who talk a good game but are as dumb as a box of rocks. Case in point, the @$$ that I worked with last night. He bitches more than any female I know of, and yet he has that 'god' complex. I finally said to him last night..."Ok, just drop them and show us all now, because obviously you are trying to compensate for your short comings."

And don't get me started on the house officer last night...what a whimp! He acts like a 2 year old. "I want some respect and some cooperation!" and he's stomping his foot like a temper-tantrum was coming on. WTF??? Grow up! It's about time you realize that doctors are not God, and God is not a doctor. Sh!t happens! And fortunately for you, the nurses save your @$$! Just because you get the big bucks, doesn't mean you've earned it.

On that note...Happy 4th!!!