This Ain't Burger King, You Can't Have It Your Way

WOW, if ONLY they would let us use that slogan for our branding as opposed to "you complain, we'll brand them, beat them into submission and fire them if you want. In fact, we'll throw in an extra nurse for you to trash. Then we will have them crawl to you with coffee in their hands." Okay, it isn't that bad, but still.......

Let's see, we moved a pt to another unit to suit the surgeon; another doc blasted the charge nurse last night because he didn't specify the floor his pt was to be admitted to and the supervisor sent him to a unit (the appropriate one at that); and a doc that I really like was mad because I called him and asked if he wanted me to consult another doc on his patient - oh wait, you see, I thought it would be a good idea, he was mad because "I wrote that order 3 hours ago and why haven't you done it?" Could be that I didn't do what he didn't write, not in the orders, not in the progess notes. He then said that he told everyone around that he wanted the doc called, well, when asked, no one heard him say that, espiecally me, I was charge and had the patient. He'll chill, he's a good doc and I usually anticipate his needs fairly well. I suspect that he is over tired. I sure am.

But if only now and then, I could say what I really, really think. But then, I do like my job and I really like when I do the right thing for the pt and help the doc out.

Of course, sometimes my mean streak comes out and I just forget that on a holiday weekend that the new pt we just got in is needing a consult by a doc that is standing in the other room. Actually, the doc there takes call for the doc that we were consulting and I wasn't 100% sure. And after this guy has been so hateful, rude, arrogant, and really likes to make nurses feel stupid I just couldn't bring myself to tell him about the consult while he was there. After all, I needed time to make sure that he would actually be the one to see the pt. And I know he hates it when we are wrong........... I'll repent next week.........

Strobes

My youngest son is 16. He is a most interesting child. You must realize I deeply love him, and one day hope to see a) the children he produces, and b) what he tells his therapist (I figure any child raised by me will need one at some point).

This child is a free spirit, he has no fear, and no limits to his imagination. For Christmas his main desires were a camera, strobe light, and outside lights so he can better skateboard at night. His wishes were fullfilled.

The strobe light is what intriges me, I understand that they played catch with the dog to the strobe, which would explain the twiching that she did later when trying to sleep. About the time I was headed for bed, the boys were talking about going to the church to play ping pong by strobe. As it turns out, they state that it is great fun.

Meanwhile, I await the planes that I expect to see circling the house to land. Hopefully he won't flash the strobe at them.

Merry Christmas

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas and that the one who we celebrate will be the focus of your day. My family celebrated today in order to allow me to partake, as the organization I work for is requiring my presence tomorrow. I don't mind too much, obviously I would prefer to be with family, but the patients didn't particually want to be in the hospital then either.

It was good here, we went to church this morning and the Christmas Eve service tonight. We spent some time together this afternoon. It's funny how much the kids have changed and yet how little they have changed. Chocolate milk is still the big drink, only now they can just go buy it themselves. #2 son is impatient with wrapping paper, and will tear the other boys paper if they go slow. They say they don't remember when we had birthday cake for Jesus and sang to him, but they have always understood the reason we celebrate (and yet they always take the presents).

Enough. Sorry, it's my favourite time, and yet I always stress over it wishing it could be better. I don't have the decorate gene, I'm not creative, and I get frustrated because it's not perfect. Today's migraine proved that. Sometimes I think, one more song, one more hug. Merry Christmas, maybe I should reread what I posted y'day, and go play a carol.......

Allelulia

"no one can celebrate a genuine Christmas
Without being truly poor.
The self-sufficient, the proud, those who,
because they have everything, look down on others,
those who have no need, even of God--
for them there will be no Christmas.
Only the poor, the hungry,
those who need someone to come on their behalf,
will have that someone.
That someone is God,
Emmanuel,
God with us.
Without poverty of spirit there can be no abundance of God."

the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvado

There is nothing to add to this....

Anger

Funny, anger has been on my mind this week. I'm having to deal with a situation where some folks have been angry and now the waves from that are affecting others. There is also my *cough* occasional bad mood and how that affects the tone of the home and the unit. I usually snap out fairly quickly, but the damage is done. Then there are words spoken in anger, many times these are true words, but probably not the way you would have either wanted to hear it or have said it. They can never be taken back. You can be forgiven, but the damage is always there. Your family, co-workers have all seen and heard it. It spoils the time that we had together.

Today when there was tension in the air I said something that I thought would make someone feel better, but alas, not only not true, he came back in anger. What he said was true. I guess it's been held back for years. Oh well. It will pass. I'm trying to learn not to respond when someone is angry, I started this at work and am trying to continue it at home. Maybe it's a good thing, maybe not, but it keeps me from having to repent quite as much. Silence is not always a bad thing.

Now, I'm going to get off my lazy duff and get some stuff done. I had to sort through papers this morning, found lots of things of my mom and dad: photo's, their papers, and traded in my dad's truck for a newer vehicle for my son. *my eyes are leaking* Anyway, where is my iPod????

Thoughts on Christmas, part I

36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

The last sentence, "to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" is one of the things that has been on my mind. Actually this started with thinking about the wise men, what faith it took for them to go on that journey. And Simeon, who sat at the temple because he had been promised he wouldn't die until he saw the Christ. And Anna....

So what kind of faith does it take to see a star and change your life for a couple of years...... what kind of faith does it take to see a baby and know that this is the one? I can't imagine. What kind of faith do I have? I couldn't sustain my faith a few years ago after seeing man at his worst. Now I realize that I had actually placed more of my faith in man that God, now I get to repeat part of that test and I'm hoping that my source is totally God and not man. But I know that my heart is "looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

Hopefully this Christmas is more than just the presents and the retelling of the story, but that the many meanings of the story will come to us. Shalom

Christmas Party

I went to two different Christmas Parties this weekend, one work, one Sunday School. Isn't funny how segregated our lives are? And some of the people would blend so well, some have met. It's kinda like an Algebra problem where the lines intersect. I enjoy my friends, I come alive in a new way when I'm around others. I really don't need alcohol or drugs like some do, laughter is my joy. It fascinates me to see the people in my life come together, to hear their stories, to share parts of our lives.

Example: One of the new nurses brought her boyfriend - he blended so well. In dirty Santa he stole a gift from one of the others (in fact, it was a gift I brought - the Crack Calendar). At the SS party I'm the new kid, but they accepted me well. You peer into people in a new way in their homes and when they are relaxed.

I'm in favor of more away time like this. Through the one on one time we truly come to know each other. In a SS class, you are on guard, you must appear "spiritual". What a load of crap!! How can we get through life without each other?

Oh, I stole gifts as well, Santa coffee cups with CANDY and a baseball pig (I have visions of middle child with this gift). The pink t-shirt with "tough men wear pink" almost came home with me, but I thought the boys might hurt each other getting to that one!!

Clapping in a Code

Last night I had a nurse (we will call her Kate for this - not even close to her real name) do charge that had never done it before. She did a great job, but stayed stressed. I was later told by one of her friends that she "needed to put on her big girl panties!" I can't argue with that. This morning after we gave report as she was leaving one of the patients went into v-tach. We raced in, grabbed the crash cart and defibulator, and Kate yells, "let me do it, I've never shocked anyone before!" We throw the pads on, give her the paddles and shocked one time. Patient converted rhythms and was fine (well, so to speak). As Kate was giving back the paddles we all broke into applause and high fives!! What a way to start the day!! Kate left feeling great, the patient did fine (went back to fighting the vent) and the day, well it sucked, but so it goes.