I tend to just keep my mouth shut as Health Care has become more about politics and which side you're on than about providing care to people, but seeing as this bill is happening I must say something.
Health care isn't perfect-it's far from perfect but I don't see where this bill helps correct the problem. They are "fixing" a problem and creating many, many more. I just can't see where the math adds up to make this better than what we have now.
Coming from the perspective of a nurse, this is what I see:
Many doctor's are going to leave the profession, the workload would be too great and the taxes too high to continue (see this article: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/print/62812), I've talked to a few docs at the hospital who would agree with this statement. So doctors leave and we have more patients flooding the hospitals-yes, the problems will continue in ER with people receiving their health care there because those docs that are leaving are GP's-so private physicians are gone. Where else do you go then? ER. While the Dayton area has been flooded with nurses, it is a temporary increase and the rest of the country isn't experiencing this-they are still in a nursing shortage. So now we have few doctors AND fewer nurses (and smaller paychecks for the nurses who are left, I'm sure) but MORE patients to care for. What does that mean? Well, in Advanced Care (step down ICU) we take 3-4 patient's depending on severity and work load of the patients. If we have fewer nurses then the nurse:patient ratio changes; nurses will carry a heavier team.
Nursing is a hard job, there is so much to think about and caring for 3-4 patients (and on Med Surg floors it's 5-6 patients) is difficult. We want the best for our patients. We want them to be safe, we don't want sentinel events, we don't want to miss something because we're behind and we're trying to catch up. I know for me, I like to know about my patients and their families. It's not just assess patient, pass meds, document, repeat. Not for me. I talk to my patients, I learn about them and spend time with them. I love getting to spend time with families. It's especially comforting for me to spend time with family members of someone who is critical or who is dying. And it's a great joy to take care of someone who has gotten well and comes back to tell you "thank you." It's the best part of my job. I hate to think that this will be taken away because I'll be caring for 5 or more patients on a daily basis. There won't be enough time. I know some people wouldn't think that's important but nurses treat the whole person-mind, body and soul (or mental, physical and spiritual, if you prefer) and I'll feel like such a bad nurse if I don't.
Not to mention that if you give these nurses heavier assignments that they'll get burnt out and leave the profession, giving us an even bigger shortage. And do you think many people will be waiting to become a nurse then? Sinclair won't have a waiting list for it's nursing program anymore, that's for sure.
I'm not saying we don't need changes to the way insurance companies practice and run health care. But I'm saying this is such a drastic way to change. I don't understand why we can't do little steps? Allow the purchase of insurance across state lines for starters. Don't tax people who don't have "acceptable" coverage (see house bill here: http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf p 8 subpart A) {On a side note, I did hear that surrogates will be required to be covered under all insurance plans...not sure if that's a good idea or not...you'll start seeing surrogate companies pop up all over the place and a lot of people who shouldn't be doing it will be}.
Well, that's all I can post for now. Will follow up soon though. I'm still trying to read this stupid bill. It takes awhile! :D
More soon...
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Anniversary
What a great weekend! I had class til about 3 on Friday, came home and got ready for our night out. I bought a new dress to wear-deep teal-and wore it with my new short trench coat from Marshall's. Felt nice to dress up. :o) My MiL was supposed to be here at 1630 but didn't make it til almost 1700 so by the time we got to The Cheesecake Factory we had a one hour wait but since we went to The Greene, we walked next door to Bath & Body Works, then to Kay's Jewelers. I found the perfect ring for me!! So excited-and for a lot less than I was afraid it was going to be so I'm even more excited. Don't know when we're going to get it, still want to look around and see what else is out there.
Anyway, dinner was very good but portion was huge and I took home 2/3 of it! When we left we headed for Richmond (with the plan of stopping at iHop for breakfast in the morning) to stay at a hotel. We got a room with jacuzzi, which was fabulous after the very long week we both had! We slept in, which was great, but slept in so much that iHop was packed by the time we got there. Maybe in a few weeks we'll make a quick trip over there. So we came home. It was the perfect time for us! Nothing busy or rushed; just relaxing and enjoyable. I loved it.
We came home to a very messy house that I got cleaned up nicely over the weekend. Ryan stayed at Grandma's on Saturday night and that gave us some time with just Austin. <3 We never get time alone with either of the boys so when the occasion comes up we take full advantage. I let him pick out a new toy and new pair of shoes. He even got some Toy Story bed sheets. He was the happiest little boy in the world, I think. Came home and played for awhile before bed. I'm trying to think of something we can do with Ryan on his Spring Break-he always loves the Air Force Museum so that might be just the ticket! I just need to figure out how to get some more of those "lunchables" that Seth had! haha! Can't believe how much he liked that thing.
Well, I think I'll be applying to 6SAC-I wanted to go for it and apply to Coronary but I just want to transition well through things, take my time and if I get to CICU then I get there. Advanced Care (6SAC) is a wonderful unit to start on. Unfortunately, the only jobs open anywhere in the hospital are on nights. Hopefully it will only be for 6 months to a year. I can handle that. Eric likes that idea better but I'm not sure why. I'm especially worried with our house being so small-how will I sleep on weekends??? And Eric will have to take time off for sick days and school vacation days anyway (at least on days I work). We'll figure it out. And the extra 10% will be nice for sure.
This week won't be quite as busy: class on Monday, work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I start Neuro on Monday and unfortunately with the way her schedule falls, I work next weekend too. Once again, the extra money will be nice, but I'm going to be beat! I am actually hoping to talk to one of my educators and see if I can just apply to 6SAC and stay there and not finish out the internship on Neuro. We all know I won't want to stay there. haha! My goal for this week is to make it to the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday and hit the park track on Sunday if it's not raining. I am aiming for -3#. I'm doing pretty good but this weekend (pasta and cheesecake, even if it was only half of each) took it's toll! I don't have too many errands to run this week so maybe I'll get to catch up with my girls on Wednesday or Friday? We'll see.
Here's to a wonderful week!
Anyway, dinner was very good but portion was huge and I took home 2/3 of it! When we left we headed for Richmond (with the plan of stopping at iHop for breakfast in the morning) to stay at a hotel. We got a room with jacuzzi, which was fabulous after the very long week we both had! We slept in, which was great, but slept in so much that iHop was packed by the time we got there. Maybe in a few weeks we'll make a quick trip over there. So we came home. It was the perfect time for us! Nothing busy or rushed; just relaxing and enjoyable. I loved it.
We came home to a very messy house that I got cleaned up nicely over the weekend. Ryan stayed at Grandma's on Saturday night and that gave us some time with just Austin. <3 We never get time alone with either of the boys so when the occasion comes up we take full advantage. I let him pick out a new toy and new pair of shoes. He even got some Toy Story bed sheets. He was the happiest little boy in the world, I think. Came home and played for awhile before bed. I'm trying to think of something we can do with Ryan on his Spring Break-he always loves the Air Force Museum so that might be just the ticket! I just need to figure out how to get some more of those "lunchables" that Seth had! haha! Can't believe how much he liked that thing.
Well, I think I'll be applying to 6SAC-I wanted to go for it and apply to Coronary but I just want to transition well through things, take my time and if I get to CICU then I get there. Advanced Care (6SAC) is a wonderful unit to start on. Unfortunately, the only jobs open anywhere in the hospital are on nights. Hopefully it will only be for 6 months to a year. I can handle that. Eric likes that idea better but I'm not sure why. I'm especially worried with our house being so small-how will I sleep on weekends??? And Eric will have to take time off for sick days and school vacation days anyway (at least on days I work). We'll figure it out. And the extra 10% will be nice for sure.
This week won't be quite as busy: class on Monday, work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I start Neuro on Monday and unfortunately with the way her schedule falls, I work next weekend too. Once again, the extra money will be nice, but I'm going to be beat! I am actually hoping to talk to one of my educators and see if I can just apply to 6SAC and stay there and not finish out the internship on Neuro. We all know I won't want to stay there. haha! My goal for this week is to make it to the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday and hit the park track on Sunday if it's not raining. I am aiming for -3#. I'm doing pretty good but this weekend (pasta and cheesecake, even if it was only half of each) took it's toll! I don't have too many errands to run this week so maybe I'll get to catch up with my girls on Wednesday or Friday? We'll see.
Here's to a wonderful week!
Monday, March 1, 2010
What is your deal?
We went to the Y tonight right after work, I still had my uniform on and it reminded me to ask them about a discount for being an employee at MVH. I asked front desk girl and the Director of Marketing (aka being a giant whore to get her job) or Employee Relations or some made up job title, said, "what did she ask?" Ok, I'm standing right there. Then she says "you can just come over here and talk to me." So I very nicely went over and smiled and said that I had been told that the Y was one of the places I could use my employee discount (by one of the YMCA employees, BTW) and now that I was full time I'd like to look into it. She looked up my acct and starts by saying "You're right where you should be." Ok, that's fine. "Why did you not have this discount set up before? Didn't you know you could do that?" (Do you know how hard it is for me to have someone talk to me like an idiot. I have to try very hard not to get kicked out of places.) I told her I wasn't FT before and was told by someone that after FT status I could get the discount.
Continuing on, "you're account is being charged at the reduced rate since you made less than $40,000 and you're not eligible for a discount. You're already reduced." Great, thank you for the information. Thank you for also making me feel like poor white trash. She said, "IF (and she did place that much emphasis on the word) you start making more than $60,000 a year (which, dare I tell her that I make more than Eric now? haha! AND Eric has gotten a few raises since we signed up) then you'll be eligible for a 10% discount." Fabulous. That's all I wanted to know. Why so bitchy about it?? She wouldn't look me in the eye, she talked down to me. Seriously? Why such a bitch? I thought, gee, it'd be great to come in here in a few weeks and be like "BAM!" We make more than $60,000 now, please kiss my behind. Thanks! Then I remembered, it goes off of this past years W2's. I get the reduced rate for another two years anyway. Guess I'll get my "BAM!" moment in two years.
For the record, didn't like her before, definitely don't like her now, and she really did sleep with her boss to get her job.
Continuing on, "you're account is being charged at the reduced rate since you made less than $40,000 and you're not eligible for a discount. You're already reduced." Great, thank you for the information. Thank you for also making me feel like poor white trash. She said, "IF (and she did place that much emphasis on the word) you start making more than $60,000 a year (which, dare I tell her that I make more than Eric now? haha! AND Eric has gotten a few raises since we signed up) then you'll be eligible for a 10% discount." Fabulous. That's all I wanted to know. Why so bitchy about it?? She wouldn't look me in the eye, she talked down to me. Seriously? Why such a bitch? I thought, gee, it'd be great to come in here in a few weeks and be like "BAM!" We make more than $60,000 now, please kiss my behind. Thanks! Then I remembered, it goes off of this past years W2's. I get the reduced rate for another two years anyway. Guess I'll get my "BAM!" moment in two years.
For the record, didn't like her before, definitely don't like her now, and she really did sleep with her boss to get her job.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
All kinds of stuff...
I've started my new rotation on Advanced Care...not bad, very busy but they are very sick patients. I enjoy it but there is not nearly enough heart stuff. I was so excited when one of my pts came back from an angiography and had had a fem line pulled...finally, something I can work with! hahaha! Had a couple of firsts occur this week but none I can speak of here.
Our anniversary is on Friday and we had planned on getting new rings but d/t an unforeseen circumstance with the car, we will not be able to. So now I have to find something to get Eric and only Wednesday to shop for it! I have class on Monday and Friday and I'm working on Tuesday and Thursday. (42 scheduled hours this week!) I can't believe it's been 7 years. You don't see how long it's been; like with kids, you see how they grow over the years...marriages aren't like that. I can't look at a picture of us from 5 years ago and "see" how we've grown. I guess that's why it's so hard to believe that we've been married for 7 years and how his parents can't believe they've been married for 40+ years. With the boys I'm even startled sometimes...we got a pair of pants a few years ago from my SIL and I thought, "gee, Ryan is never going to fit in those." Well, he barely does now, already ready to outgrow them. :o) I just can't wait to see what the next year, next seven years, next seventeen years will bring us.
This past Wednesday I got to have lunch with Amber and Jennifer, Mindy and Stacy were working/had just gotten off of work. After lunch the three of us went to Target and shopped around-had a wonderful time! Got to see Amber's themes throughout her house. It's going to be so nice and I'm so excited for her. Jennifer had to go home after that but Amber and I went to Marshall's where I bought a $380 short trench coat (Vertigo Paris) for $40 and my first Aigner purse for $30! So excited to use it this spring! The coat is stunning! And the lining is so soft!! It's kind of lame how excited I am about this. hahaha! Anyway, I had such a good time with them. I miss seeing them as often as I used to. I guess I just got spoiled being in school.
Surrogacy update: I am moving forward with another company. No clue on when I would be able to carry for a couple as they would have to buy the insurance for me but at least it's a possibility. I'm so excited!
Something happened at work this week. Very ill man, DNR, family having trouble dealing, the works. They prayed. I'm pretty open in the fact that I'm agnostic. I believe in God but not they way most people do. I can't not believe that there is something bigger than myself, something that is too great for me to understand. But I don't believe in heaven or hell, in prayer, some guy watching me up in the sky, etc. I don't mean to be crass or put down another person's belief's, at the end you'll see it's quite the opposite. See, I don't believe in these things myself, but I believe in them for my patients, their families, my friends and my family. I found such comfort that my patient and family found comfort in believing. I didn't feel like everything was going to be okay in the sense that he would live but that he could die peacefully and his family could cope in a way that was healing for them. I think when I say I'm agnostic people take it as I don't believe in anything. But I guess what I believe in is peace for yourself, whatever it is you take comfort in. I appreciate my friends praying for me (though, I didn't always) because I know they care and they find comfort in prayer. I hope this is all making sense. Religion always gets so complicated and I'm trying to describe it on a very basic level.
Well, I suppose I should call it a night soon. That 42 hours is going to be rough to get through...but at least I have three days off after that. And Friday night I get a date night with my hubby. <3 Nothing fancy, of course, because that's just not us. We are going to Red Robin, movies and maybe a hotel for the evening. We sure could use time by ourselves.
Our anniversary is on Friday and we had planned on getting new rings but d/t an unforeseen circumstance with the car, we will not be able to. So now I have to find something to get Eric and only Wednesday to shop for it! I have class on Monday and Friday and I'm working on Tuesday and Thursday. (42 scheduled hours this week!) I can't believe it's been 7 years. You don't see how long it's been; like with kids, you see how they grow over the years...marriages aren't like that. I can't look at a picture of us from 5 years ago and "see" how we've grown. I guess that's why it's so hard to believe that we've been married for 7 years and how his parents can't believe they've been married for 40+ years. With the boys I'm even startled sometimes...we got a pair of pants a few years ago from my SIL and I thought, "gee, Ryan is never going to fit in those." Well, he barely does now, already ready to outgrow them. :o) I just can't wait to see what the next year, next seven years, next seventeen years will bring us.
This past Wednesday I got to have lunch with Amber and Jennifer, Mindy and Stacy were working/had just gotten off of work. After lunch the three of us went to Target and shopped around-had a wonderful time! Got to see Amber's themes throughout her house. It's going to be so nice and I'm so excited for her. Jennifer had to go home after that but Amber and I went to Marshall's where I bought a $380 short trench coat (Vertigo Paris) for $40 and my first Aigner purse for $30! So excited to use it this spring! The coat is stunning! And the lining is so soft!! It's kind of lame how excited I am about this. hahaha! Anyway, I had such a good time with them. I miss seeing them as often as I used to. I guess I just got spoiled being in school.
Surrogacy update: I am moving forward with another company. No clue on when I would be able to carry for a couple as they would have to buy the insurance for me but at least it's a possibility. I'm so excited!
Something happened at work this week. Very ill man, DNR, family having trouble dealing, the works. They prayed. I'm pretty open in the fact that I'm agnostic. I believe in God but not they way most people do. I can't not believe that there is something bigger than myself, something that is too great for me to understand. But I don't believe in heaven or hell, in prayer, some guy watching me up in the sky, etc. I don't mean to be crass or put down another person's belief's, at the end you'll see it's quite the opposite. See, I don't believe in these things myself, but I believe in them for my patients, their families, my friends and my family. I found such comfort that my patient and family found comfort in believing. I didn't feel like everything was going to be okay in the sense that he would live but that he could die peacefully and his family could cope in a way that was healing for them. I think when I say I'm agnostic people take it as I don't believe in anything. But I guess what I believe in is peace for yourself, whatever it is you take comfort in. I appreciate my friends praying for me (though, I didn't always) because I know they care and they find comfort in prayer. I hope this is all making sense. Religion always gets so complicated and I'm trying to describe it on a very basic level.
Well, I suppose I should call it a night soon. That 42 hours is going to be rough to get through...but at least I have three days off after that. And Friday night I get a date night with my hubby. <3 Nothing fancy, of course, because that's just not us. We are going to Red Robin, movies and maybe a hotel for the evening. We sure could use time by ourselves.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
What On Earth...
That seems to be how the bulk of my day has gone. Needless to say, it's how it seems to go when you take care of people with...well, I guess any people. LOL! (That's about all I can say without breaking HIPAA).
I started on Advanced Care today and I liked it, but I do miss 5NW. My heart lies in taking care of heart patients. It has for awhile and I guess it always will. Maybe I'll like this rotation more as I get into it but, man, what I'd give to get a day job on 5. I think today was especially hard since I'm switching my schedule up again-went from going to bed at 0100-0200 to getting up around 0500...it's hard on the body. A good point of being up there today, well sort of, the circumstances were less than ideal for this to occur but I pulled a central line today. :o) I'm becoming a big girl nurse!
I've gone back to WW. Actually have for a few weeks now. Did really well at first, lost 6.4 of the almost 20 (YIKES!) that I had gained back. Then TOM hit and it hasn't been pretty. Back on program and so far so good. Still trying to figure out how to eat well when you work 12.5 hours. And when the heck do you exercise? I've been running on my old treadmill at home but it's manual incline adjustment and it's always on an incline and the key is missing so I work harder to go a decent speed. But I've run at least one mile on an incline every day I've been off for the past week with the exception of Saturday. Can't wait to get back on the track though!
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow is Muffins with Mom at Ryan's school and it will be the first time in a long time that I've been able to participate in something like that. So excited! Then I might have lunch with Stacy-haven't seen her since Austin's bday party and I can't wait to hear about her job and catch up! Friday will be another enjoyable day as I head to lunch with at least Amber (yay!!!!) and maybe even Mindy and Jennifer. I miss my girls so much and with spring coming it just reminds me of how much fun we had and how close we all were last spring. Oh, how growing up can suck! :o)
And last but not least: my surrogacy path may not be over just yet. I have so been looking forward to doing this and I couldn't just leave it at "no" so I did some more research, found a company called 'Creative Beginnings' that is based in Cincinnati that will accept me (pending all their qualifications, etc) without the surrogacy insurance in hopes that I can match to a couple and they buy the insurance policy to cover the surrogate pregnancy. I do hope I can do this! It's such a gift to give to someone else-my boys are a blessing and I can't imagine life without them. I have friends and family who cannot conceive and would be the perfect parent...why should they be limited? I know that some people think it's for the money that goes along with it but that's just icing. I would be putting that money away for my boys for college. Not everyone can be a surrogate due to emotions, attachments, etc. I saw something about it on Dr. Phil today at work. (I was not watching voluntarily as much as being held captive in the land of never ending IV meds) I hope that I can be one of the people that can do it! I have a very supportive group of family and friends who I know will help me and support me every step of the way. They are the very best that anyone could have.
Well, I guess that's it for tonight. Better get some sleep. Morning will be here all too soon.
I started on Advanced Care today and I liked it, but I do miss 5NW. My heart lies in taking care of heart patients. It has for awhile and I guess it always will. Maybe I'll like this rotation more as I get into it but, man, what I'd give to get a day job on 5. I think today was especially hard since I'm switching my schedule up again-went from going to bed at 0100-0200 to getting up around 0500...it's hard on the body. A good point of being up there today, well sort of, the circumstances were less than ideal for this to occur but I pulled a central line today. :o) I'm becoming a big girl nurse!
I've gone back to WW. Actually have for a few weeks now. Did really well at first, lost 6.4 of the almost 20 (YIKES!) that I had gained back. Then TOM hit and it hasn't been pretty. Back on program and so far so good. Still trying to figure out how to eat well when you work 12.5 hours. And when the heck do you exercise? I've been running on my old treadmill at home but it's manual incline adjustment and it's always on an incline and the key is missing so I work harder to go a decent speed. But I've run at least one mile on an incline every day I've been off for the past week with the exception of Saturday. Can't wait to get back on the track though!
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow is Muffins with Mom at Ryan's school and it will be the first time in a long time that I've been able to participate in something like that. So excited! Then I might have lunch with Stacy-haven't seen her since Austin's bday party and I can't wait to hear about her job and catch up! Friday will be another enjoyable day as I head to lunch with at least Amber (yay!!!!) and maybe even Mindy and Jennifer. I miss my girls so much and with spring coming it just reminds me of how much fun we had and how close we all were last spring. Oh, how growing up can suck! :o)
And last but not least: my surrogacy path may not be over just yet. I have so been looking forward to doing this and I couldn't just leave it at "no" so I did some more research, found a company called 'Creative Beginnings' that is based in Cincinnati that will accept me (pending all their qualifications, etc) without the surrogacy insurance in hopes that I can match to a couple and they buy the insurance policy to cover the surrogate pregnancy. I do hope I can do this! It's such a gift to give to someone else-my boys are a blessing and I can't imagine life without them. I have friends and family who cannot conceive and would be the perfect parent...why should they be limited? I know that some people think it's for the money that goes along with it but that's just icing. I would be putting that money away for my boys for college. Not everyone can be a surrogate due to emotions, attachments, etc. I saw something about it on Dr. Phil today at work. (I was not watching voluntarily as much as being held captive in the land of never ending IV meds) I hope that I can be one of the people that can do it! I have a very supportive group of family and friends who I know will help me and support me every step of the way. They are the very best that anyone could have.
Well, I guess that's it for tonight. Better get some sleep. Morning will be here all too soon.
Friday, February 12, 2010
What a day!
I do enjoy my job. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping my patients and talking with their families. But days like today really drain me and I just don't have much left. Today was my first day with difficult patients-called docs and put in all kinds of orders. I gave plasma today...it's hard to talk about everything without violating HIPAA so I'll leave it at that. I had one patient with BP issues and another with respiratory issues. It was a crazy day.
I didn't eat breakfast, then no lunch til 1430 and tried to squeeze a very quick dinner in around 2000. I'm so glad tomorrow is my day off. I did call and schedule a dr appt for myself though because this cold is lingering around and my ears were so plugged up today that it was really hard to get a manual BP. Of course, two hours later my ears popped and no problem. If I wake up in the morning and my ears are ok, I might skip the appt. I should probably send Eric instead and see if he really does have pneumonia. LOL!
The snow has been ridiculous around here! I'm glad I don't live on the East Coast...but almost 2 feet of snow is more than enough to justify complaining. I guess we have more coming but I've heard conflicting reports on the amount. My days off have been ruined by snow days for the last week and I really need to get caught up on sleep and housework in a big way. Since the roads are clear, those kids are going to school! I wanted to sleep in until 10 but my appt is scheduled at 1010 in Kettering so I better be up before that I guess.
Eric's dad was supposed to head home from Florida today and be home on Sunday but Eric thought we should be nice and watch the dogs for another week so Papa could stay and avoid the snow. I'm so ready for these dogs to go home; it's been a month now and it's just too much. I can't believe how much two little dogs can upset the normalcy of our house. But our house is small and we're still getting used to Hank and getting Hank used to going us and getting house broken. We've gone through three big bags of dog food in the last month and tons of dog treats. I've lost pictures, a little stool that Eric got me in Texas, socks, shoes, carpet, blinds and a few of the kids' toys since the dogs have been here. So over it! Oh...my in-laws are buying a winter home in Florida, which means that if we want to we can vacation there in the summer. That might make up for this mess! hahaha!
Well, at 0130 I think I better get myself to bed. Just had to get some of this out so I could sleep. That's the worst part of working til 2330, no one to talk to on the way home or when I get home. I love the shift otherwise...especially the 10% shift diff from 1500-end of shift. I work this wknd so that's a 15% shift diff and I really like that. :o)
I didn't eat breakfast, then no lunch til 1430 and tried to squeeze a very quick dinner in around 2000. I'm so glad tomorrow is my day off. I did call and schedule a dr appt for myself though because this cold is lingering around and my ears were so plugged up today that it was really hard to get a manual BP. Of course, two hours later my ears popped and no problem. If I wake up in the morning and my ears are ok, I might skip the appt. I should probably send Eric instead and see if he really does have pneumonia. LOL!
The snow has been ridiculous around here! I'm glad I don't live on the East Coast...but almost 2 feet of snow is more than enough to justify complaining. I guess we have more coming but I've heard conflicting reports on the amount. My days off have been ruined by snow days for the last week and I really need to get caught up on sleep and housework in a big way. Since the roads are clear, those kids are going to school! I wanted to sleep in until 10 but my appt is scheduled at 1010 in Kettering so I better be up before that I guess.
Eric's dad was supposed to head home from Florida today and be home on Sunday but Eric thought we should be nice and watch the dogs for another week so Papa could stay and avoid the snow. I'm so ready for these dogs to go home; it's been a month now and it's just too much. I can't believe how much two little dogs can upset the normalcy of our house. But our house is small and we're still getting used to Hank and getting Hank used to going us and getting house broken. We've gone through three big bags of dog food in the last month and tons of dog treats. I've lost pictures, a little stool that Eric got me in Texas, socks, shoes, carpet, blinds and a few of the kids' toys since the dogs have been here. So over it! Oh...my in-laws are buying a winter home in Florida, which means that if we want to we can vacation there in the summer. That might make up for this mess! hahaha!
Well, at 0130 I think I better get myself to bed. Just had to get some of this out so I could sleep. That's the worst part of working til 2330, no one to talk to on the way home or when I get home. I love the shift otherwise...especially the 10% shift diff from 1500-end of shift. I work this wknd so that's a 15% shift diff and I really like that. :o)
Friday, February 5, 2010
Something New
Well, I guess not too new. I used to blog frequently on MySpace but since I rarely log onto MySpace I haven't as much. I made a note on Facebook but it just isn't the same. So I followed Amber's lead and created a blog. Thanks Amber! :o)
My new job is great! I love what I'm doing - I have so much left to learn but that just makes me more excited! I have realized how important those lessons from instructors and preceptors were, how randomly those little things come back. I had some students with me this week and I realized how I must have seemed to my instructors for quite awhile...lacking confidence, working slowly, etc. And I definitely feel that change within myself. I don't have a problem walking into a patients room and introducing myself - I still get butterflies sometimes at the beginning of the shift but as soon as I walk in that room it's like breathing, just natural. I don't want to sound too much like I'm in the honeymoon phase, but it is what it is. I questioned myself in 230 and before and right after boards and so far on the job I haven't. I'm glad I'm there. So I guess, reality shock here I come!!! haha! Right now I'm working 11a-1130p on 5NW Cardiology. It's a pretty good unit, kind of boring sometimes but one day I'll be begging for time to sit on my butt! I'm going back to 7a-730p shift for the next two rotations which will be 6SAC (Advanced Care, like ICU step down) and then Neuro which I am terribly nervous about. I would eventually like to get back to CICU. I would also love a chance to go to ER. I'm still waiting to hear back from Ohio University on their BSN completion program but I think I'll be starting classes again very soon. ;o) Then just a few more years to work on my Master's so I can teach. But I've got time to get that done.
The boys are doing great! Ryan loves first grade and I think will pass me in height by the time he's in 5th grade. He's an excellent swimmer and I'm just so proud of him. We're starting to look at whether swim teams are a good option for him. Austin is the same little monster he has always been, into everything and has no plans to stop. He's at Sinclair's Early Childhood Center and has learned so much in the last month. He's growing up so fast!! And no, it doesn't make me want another one. LOL! Well...sort of. I'm still working on the surrogacy thing. Just heard from Eric's insurance company that they will not cover any expenses for surrogacy so we are waiting to hear back from the Agency to see what if anything we can do to move forward. Wish us luck!
Eric and I are coming up on our 7th anniversary. Can't believe we've been married that long! I'm trying to plan something nice but we won't have much time. His Mom said she'll watch the boys but for how long (and if she really does) who knows? With her dogs being here, it has added a lot of stress to our household and half the time one of us has to get up in the middle of the night and sleep on the couch so they don't tear up the house...which only works sometimes. Then with me starting the new job and working an odd shift, I've hardly seen him in the past month. (I didn't see my boys from Tuesday evening until today and I swear they grew a foot each!) Guess I better start working on something nice for him for all of his hard work!
Something exciting happened in my neighborhood this week. Tuesday night the drunken fool down the street from me crashed his Expedition into two mailboxes, a truck, another two mailboxes and finally (with bent rims and tires laying sideways) stopped in someone's front yard. Hopefully he stays in jail for awhile. He used to have the cops called frequently when he lived with his wife...domestic violence, of course...This is one of the guys that speeds up and down the speed bump-ridden street for no reason and makes me nervous to even get my kids in my car. Hoping we can be moved within this next year...guess I'll be updating about that via blog now. :o)
I suppose that's it for now. Going to get some sleep. I have a very busy couple of weeks ahead of me. I have work or class almost everyday of the next two weeks. Getting the hours are going to be awesome, especially when the paycheck comes but I need to rest up in advance. haha! I've had a cold this week and then getting used to this schedule has been quite difficult, only got 4-5 hours of sleep per night for the last three nights.
And Super Bowl is Sunday!!!! GO COLTS!!!!!!! :o)
My new job is great! I love what I'm doing - I have so much left to learn but that just makes me more excited! I have realized how important those lessons from instructors and preceptors were, how randomly those little things come back. I had some students with me this week and I realized how I must have seemed to my instructors for quite awhile...lacking confidence, working slowly, etc. And I definitely feel that change within myself. I don't have a problem walking into a patients room and introducing myself - I still get butterflies sometimes at the beginning of the shift but as soon as I walk in that room it's like breathing, just natural. I don't want to sound too much like I'm in the honeymoon phase, but it is what it is. I questioned myself in 230 and before and right after boards and so far on the job I haven't. I'm glad I'm there. So I guess, reality shock here I come!!! haha! Right now I'm working 11a-1130p on 5NW Cardiology. It's a pretty good unit, kind of boring sometimes but one day I'll be begging for time to sit on my butt! I'm going back to 7a-730p shift for the next two rotations which will be 6SAC (Advanced Care, like ICU step down) and then Neuro which I am terribly nervous about. I would eventually like to get back to CICU. I would also love a chance to go to ER. I'm still waiting to hear back from Ohio University on their BSN completion program but I think I'll be starting classes again very soon. ;o) Then just a few more years to work on my Master's so I can teach. But I've got time to get that done.
The boys are doing great! Ryan loves first grade and I think will pass me in height by the time he's in 5th grade. He's an excellent swimmer and I'm just so proud of him. We're starting to look at whether swim teams are a good option for him. Austin is the same little monster he has always been, into everything and has no plans to stop. He's at Sinclair's Early Childhood Center and has learned so much in the last month. He's growing up so fast!! And no, it doesn't make me want another one. LOL! Well...sort of. I'm still working on the surrogacy thing. Just heard from Eric's insurance company that they will not cover any expenses for surrogacy so we are waiting to hear back from the Agency to see what if anything we can do to move forward. Wish us luck!
Eric and I are coming up on our 7th anniversary. Can't believe we've been married that long! I'm trying to plan something nice but we won't have much time. His Mom said she'll watch the boys but for how long (and if she really does) who knows? With her dogs being here, it has added a lot of stress to our household and half the time one of us has to get up in the middle of the night and sleep on the couch so they don't tear up the house...which only works sometimes. Then with me starting the new job and working an odd shift, I've hardly seen him in the past month. (I didn't see my boys from Tuesday evening until today and I swear they grew a foot each!) Guess I better start working on something nice for him for all of his hard work!
Something exciting happened in my neighborhood this week. Tuesday night the drunken fool down the street from me crashed his Expedition into two mailboxes, a truck, another two mailboxes and finally (with bent rims and tires laying sideways) stopped in someone's front yard. Hopefully he stays in jail for awhile. He used to have the cops called frequently when he lived with his wife...domestic violence, of course...This is one of the guys that speeds up and down the speed bump-ridden street for no reason and makes me nervous to even get my kids in my car. Hoping we can be moved within this next year...guess I'll be updating about that via blog now. :o)
I suppose that's it for now. Going to get some sleep. I have a very busy couple of weeks ahead of me. I have work or class almost everyday of the next two weeks. Getting the hours are going to be awesome, especially when the paycheck comes but I need to rest up in advance. haha! I've had a cold this week and then getting used to this schedule has been quite difficult, only got 4-5 hours of sleep per night for the last three nights.
And Super Bowl is Sunday!!!! GO COLTS!!!!!!! :o)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
