Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to share a few things to be thankful for on this day.
Family-- Everyone in my family has helped to shape me into the person that I am today. There are too many of you to name each one but know that if you are in my family that I love you and are thankful for you.
Friends-- Same kinda thing as above. Every friend that I have ever had has left an impression on me in some way. I am thankful that Heavenly Father has seen fit to bring all these people into my life. Years ago I read a quote (I will try to find and post it later) that basically said that friends are not by chance, Heavenly Father places us where He does for a reason. We may never know what that reason is but it is there. So to all my friends new and old I am thankful.
My job-- Yeah, yeah sometimes not so much, but really I am thankful for having the means to support myself. So many people today are out of a job, some after many years of faithful service. I am glad that I chose a profession that will never be outsourced. I love what I do and who I do it with.
My coworkers-- OK, this is really similar to the last one I know, and it kinda overlaps the one before that but I want to seperate it anyway. We have a pretty good crew of people. There are a few that I cringe when I see them on the list but overall I do enjoy sharing my 12 hours with these people. There are many of my coworkers that I miss dearly. Some have moved on to other places and bigger jobs. Some have passed on to a much better place entirely. Again, these people have all left deep impressions on me and will always be remembered.
The gospel-- Ok so I know that I haven't been to church lately and I am not doing all I could be doing to keep my spiritual well filled. But I am grateful that I know the truth and can have the benefits of it in my life. I have drawn on the truth that I know because of the true gospel and been better for it.

And the most important

My Savior-- Jesus died for my sins. He atoned for all that I have fallen short on. He loves me no matter how stubborn, lazy, incompetent, and wrong I am. I know that those times in my life when I have not been doing all the right things, His back was NEVER turned away from me. I had turned from Him and he has always been patiently waiting on me to turn around.

Nothing new here really, but the truth is the truth. These are the things that I am thankful for every day of my life.

Regression?...

A few weeks ago, I admitted a nice lady with a nose bleed. Her nose was packed to stop the bleeding in the ED. We carried on a nice conversation as I conducted the admission interview. Nothing overly strenous for her, but we did talk about her medical history and all that. She answered in complete sentences. About 3:30 a.m. I went into her room to take another set of vital signs. As I prepared to leave the room this conversation ensued:

Me: "If you need anything else just give me a call!"

Her: "Pee."

Me: "Excuse me?"

Her: "Pee!"

Me: "Do you need to use the bathroom?"

Her: {nods head}

Me: {I go and find a bedside commode, she uses it and I empty the bucket}

Her: "Dry." {Holding an empty water cup towards me.}

Me: "Excuse me?"

Her: "Dry!"

Me: "Do you need more water?"

Her: {Nods head}

I am not sure why she was speaking in one-word sentences but for a couple hours she did. By morning she was back to expressing complete thoughts.

I'm still in......

After the respiratory final I was left in a precarious situation in that if I didn't do a good job on the Neuro final then I was gonna be out of the program.  WELL, I kicked neuro's ass.  90% thank you very much.  Now I just have to give Cardio the same treatment.  (I am kinda still in that position, just a little more confident about it now.)

Friends.....

A wonderful friend of mine left a very thought provoking thought on Facebook a few days ago.  I won't put the full quote but basically she was asking if all friendships are meant to be salvaged or if some people are supposed to drift out of our lives. Here was my response.  Take it for what you will.

Sometimes we learn what we were supposed to from them. Sometimes they learn what they need to from us. Sometimes one friend or the other gets "fixed." We always remember them and they continue to be part of us. Part of our memories, part of what makes us who we are. We may not be around them (and it may be the way it is supposed to be) but they will still influence our actions in ways we may not even realize.




We can love the memories and the good times. We can forget and maybe even forgive the bad times. And no matter what they will have helped to shape us into who we are.


So, no some friendships are not meant to be saved, but all have some part that is meant to be savored.

It's always funnier at oh-dark-thirty anyway........

Ok, this may end up being one of those things that is funnier at 0530 than it really is but I had to post this conversation anyway.

I went to visit a unit that I often get floated to but had been missing lately. I was chatting with one of those nurses about school, clinic, and stupid people (yes all in the very same conversation even) while another nurse was attempting to print something. She had tried at least twice to print her document. When we asked what she was trying to print, without missing a beat she stated--

"I am trying to print a nicotine patch for this new lady."

Misty looked at me and I looked at her. I whispered "I think she means the education for a nicotine patch."

We then began to giggle. And if you have ever had the giggles near the end of a 12 hour shift, you know they may never stop. We clarified and she indeed had meant the education. As we explained the giggle fit we also explained that we probably have that info printed already. A search began for the pt ed drawer (this unit was just remodeled and we had just moved into our brand new nurses station within the last week). This was located and sure enough there were several smoking cessation packets located inside. Our lovely nurse then stated without hesitation

"Oh yeah, these should all have a nicotine patch in them. Right?"

And there went the giggles again.

Maybe you had to be there but at the time we were crying from laughing so hard.

Having so much fun...........

Yay, I love being in school. Really I do. Working EVERY weekend is such a joy and pleasure. Clinic days at 0700 (getting up at 0500 is my favorite thing to do even though I have worked night shift for seven years now). Being made to feel quite silly when questioned about tasks I have done a million times over. (I get the right answer but still feel pretty silly for a few minutes.) Trying to get inside my instructors head and figure out where she is going with the questions she asked (and not always getting it till long after). Knowing every answer she asks of someone else. (and keeping my mouth shut, unlike some) Putting up with others in my class that drive the rest of us completely crazy. Never having any free time to do what I want without knowing that I should be studying. Yep school is sooo fun. I will be soooo sad when it is over. It will come all too soon!!!

(and for those of you who haven't quite figured it out yet, the preceeding was ENTIRELY sarcasm. some venting is in the works but I don't quite feel comfortable posting it until the full episode is over)

So excited for a few things that are coming to pass in the next few week. Just thought I would let everyone know (whether you really care or not).

1.) Thanksgiving break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For several reasons I am very excited about this week. One is that I really love this holiday and what it stands for. It is about being thankful for what we have. I will leave that topic there cause I am sure I will expound upon it a little closer to it. Another reason I am looking forward to this particular week is that I will be off school that whole week!!!! I will be able to do what I want for a day or so. (And getting caught up on schoolwork is only a SMALL portion of that plan.) It will also mean that I have taken the neuro final and will have that off my back.

2.) This kinda falls into the above paragraph but I am giving it it's own place cause I can. I bought (several weeks ago) Dan Brown's new book. I will read it over Thanksgiving break. This has been my plan for a couple months. You see I LOVE to read. I will often have two or three books going at once. However, since I have started school, I know that if I were to pick up a novel right now it would be all over. You see, reading is stress relief. When I pick up a book, I often use it as a shield to hide from whatever stressor is presenting itself to me. Therefore, if I picked up a book, I wouldn't put it down. But the week of Thanksgiving, I will start and finish the book. And hopefully will be refreshed.

3.) Nov 17 (the week before thanksiving break) I will be going to the movies!!! The Wizard of Oz is showing at the theater to celebrate it's 70th anniversary.
This is probably my all time favorite film. I already have tickets and we are making a girls night out of it. I can't wait. They have also released the anniversary DVD for this film. I have told my family (and if any of you are reading this, I am telling you again. Those that are reading this that know my family please mention this post just to reiterate thank you) that I want this for Christmas. Every year I am asked what I want for Christmas. I never know. I am not really that picky. This year I have stated that I expect this gift. I don't need anything else, they can combine and work together, but I want it somehow, someway!!!!!

4.) Thurs Nov 19 I am going to the movies (yes again). New Moon is being released. This is the second installment of the Twilight movie series. I have a fondness for Edward and really identified with Bella in this book, so I am REALLY excited about it.

Just a few things that are coming up in my small corner of the world that will put a smile on my face!

Enjoy!!!

That's need-to-know information, and yes YOU NEED TO KNOW.........

Ok so I have to share a little pet peeve, this weekend I worked the floor as a CNA two nights in a row.  I don't mind to do this when needed and sometimes it is a welcome break.  (The first night it got me out of doing meds on the whole dang floor so that was a positive. Med nurse is a scary practice to me, but that is a post for another day.)  So I took over for a CNA who was then transferred to another floor per our wise and all-knowing house supervisor.  I went to her knowing that I would get a rush type report and would clarify anything with my RN's later.  However, this girl knew NOTHING about these patients. We have a very detailed report sheet that is used by most of our staff.  Lots of information and I will agree that some information is needed for nurses only.  When I work as an aid I don't need to know the complete history, only relevant info. She had a sheet filled out for each patient and some only had their name.  Other had their names and maybe a few details (diet, freq of vitals, activity), relavent details for sure.  But NO DIAGNOSIS!!! It kinda scares me to walk into a room and not know why that patient is here.  To me this is just something you should know when taking care of a patient. 

Rant over thanks for tolerating me.