Something Someone will Never Know

"Being a Nurse" has become easier. I'm 6 months in, and I feel much more in control, (even when I'm not - I do know the options I have) I get things done in a timely manner, and I know I have a support group of nurses that I work with - weird or bad situations... They have been through it before and can share their advise.

The first couple months were about survival. Keeping my patients content, medicated and also alive.

The other day I had a patient. They weren't doing so hot when I came on the shift. Lots of phone calls were made to doctors. Consults were made and many labs and tests were ordered. It kept me busy, but I did not want to miss something important. Their vitals are telling me something is going on.... I don't know what - neither does the doctor, but it is not normal. 

Some tests come back. From my limited knowledge of labs I guess they are in Kidney Failure - but I can't make any diagnosis. So I let the doctor come...he takes a look. He says the same thing to me that I thought. Their kidneys are failing.

-I'm thinking... Ha! I got it.           

~a small internal celebration in my mind ensues~

But then something clicks in my mind. 

This patient was just ordered an antibiotic that can hurt their kidneys more than they already are  = Bad.

I ask the doctor if he still want to give it.

It clicked in his mind, he forgot that - something that could be a major issue.

He says 'Thank you.' Changes the order and leaves. 

I've never thought I was a 'good' nurse. Still don't know if I am one. But now I KNOW that I have really made a difference in someones life- that they will never know. 

I feel capable, and it feels good.

E.P. Tom Sawyer Tri

Last Saturday Jared, Joel, Taylor, Sydney, James, and I all participate in a sprint triathlon. It was a fun time, and many people from the ward actually participated too. 

Jared did great and actually got 2nd in his age group (which was awesome by the way). Sydney and Taylor both got first in their age group!

It was fun, but I had forgotten how physically draining it was. phew!

PICTURES!

Joel in the transition area

Me finishing the bike

Jared and a couple guys from the ward

The whole group

Jared and I happy to have finished.

Just putting things into Perspective

Many times at work I am critiqued for Jared being a doctor. Either people say things like ... 'do you even notice when you get your paycheck'...or 'why are you even working'.  The list goes on.

Hello my husband is a resident. He doesn't make bank and very frequently works 60-80 hrs a week. (great by comparison to when he was a first year and worked 80-120hr a week.  (btw he is paid on salary... hrs mean nothing)

So I came across this article. It was a response to an article written about doctors and their big fat wallets. It was written by a dr. and I really like it.

Read if you want.

http://www.meandmydoctor.com/2012/07/setting-record-straight-on-doctor-pay.html?spref=fb&m=1&fwcc=1&fwcl=1&fwl

Sorry for this rant :)

Happy Birthday!

Jared is officially 32 years old!  Nothing too special on his birthday since he was working most the day, but I did manage to get some balloons and his favorite pie. 

Happy Birthday to the best Jared ever!

 

Bike Ride

On the 4th Jared and I went on a bike ride. (my longest) It was about 35 miles.  I struggled and now have some new bruises and scrapes from falling with my clips.
I love hanging out with Jared. He is such a good biker it makes me feel like I stink. However he is patient with my frustrations and encourages me to keep going.

Horse

About 3 weeks before my birthday Jared and I went to a movie. Snow white and the Huntsman. It was.. ok. No the best movie, but not bad either. Jared decided after the movie to try and tease me about a 'special' gift he was going to give me.

He dared to let me guess.

I've always been very good at guessing random things like years movies came out, even when it would have created before I was born. Random stuff. I'm good at it. 

So when I guessed what his special surprise gift for my birthday on my first guess, I felt bad. 

Jared: 'try and guess what I am going to do for your birthday'

Jenny: 'Horseback riding lessons'

Jared: 'Who told you?!?  I haven't told anyone because I didn't want you to find out!'

Womp Womp on the surprise. I'm just a good guesser. (plus Jared is an open book)

It was a lot of fun tho. I have never ridden a horse before and always have wanted to at least try it (especially since we are living in Kentucky)

It was hard, and fun.  And the next time I worked I took care of a young girl, my age who had surgery to repair and crushed foot from a horse.... I don't think I will be getting serious about riding horses, but I think I will try it again sometime. 

"I'm a Nurse, and I Don't Care"

Work has gotten a lot better. It might be because the full moon is gone or that summer is here so people aren't slipping on ice and breaking hips. Or... just because. 

In the past 4 months I have gotten more efficient. I have learned what is going on and how to handle different situations. 

So yesterday when I was working I felt like I was the only one working. Was I? I'm sure I wasn't, but the other nurses were just sitting around while I was running round doing bucks traction, helping doctors with dressing changes, and calling dr. after dr. to get pain meds for a poor little lady. 

So near the end of the day (a day of no lunch break - or any break really) I finally caught up and sat down to chart. The other nurses said something about how busy I had been. I agreed. 

They then said something I thought was very interesting.  

They told me I needed to stop caring about these people. 

They said when I stopped caring my life (as a nurse) would get easier.  The day would go faster, things people say (or don't say) wouldn't bother me- When I stopped caring I would be stress free.
They even joked about wearing a shirt that says "I'm a Nurse and I Don't Care"

I don't know exactly how to express how I feel about the 'advise' to 'stop caring'.

I do know that before I started work I asked for a blessing; and in that blessing I was told to always remember that the people I was caring for were children of God and should ways be treated as such. 

And so if caring about people causes me to miss lunches, cry, and have more stress in my life... Then oh well, because I know that this is how we are suppose to treat others - with compassion, love, kindness and sensitivity.