Change of Address

Not exactly any more creative but....

rachelandryan.wordpress.com

Hopefully more about the cooking the eating the running the reading and the drinking :) Leave a comment!

New blog soon...

Working on moving to word press. Am a fool for thinking a new layout/venue will motivate me to blog more?

http://rachelandryan.wordpress.com/

Brief

I tried writing a post last week but it became so long winded and was going nowhere. So, a brief update in bullets:

• New job: on my own (off orientation) starting this up coming week. Hopefully people still like me after that (I feel like the girls on the floor can turn pretty quick).
• Running: PR'd twice within 4 weeks on my 5k time. First run was 24:58 (my first sub 25 minute run). Two weeks later I ran a 5k in 24:16. !!!!! (my long winded post was about that 24:16 run. Maybe I'll go back to revisit and revise...)
• Travels: A last minute week-long trip to Paris next week! I've been listening to language podcasts/CDs and really can only say two things. "My name is" and "Would you like to sleep with me?" (pop music has it's educational value).
• Shopping: For the trip to Paris I 'needed' new clothes. mainly dresses (I figure it's more comfortable to wear a dress when you're walking the streets of a city in the middle of summer). I found three dresses, one was an amazing red Theory dress from a consignment shop. With a stain. So, I crossed over to the dark side of crafts and attempted to dye the dress yesterday. More to come on that....
• Good reads: Currently finishing Object of Beauty by Steve Martin. Enjoyed Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Read Three Cups of Tea with a grain of salt. One Day (just saw that movie trailer for it last night) is a truly enjoyable, light romantic read that I have on my Kindle. Buy it!

Sorry for the lapse in posting; more to come soon on the dress dyeing adventures!

Turn The Page

I did it! I submitted online applications to two hospitals. That was on a Tuesday or Wednesday. I had the weekend off, but then had two absolutely HORRENDOUS days at work that led to crying and midnight panic attacks. On Wednesday, I was driving home from a yoga class (needed to learn how to breath again), and thinking about calling the hospitals to ensure that they received my applications.

No need as they had called me. Woop woop!

The interview though wasn't until the following monday. At the end of the interview I had a verbal offer ("I like you, the staff likes you, so what shift do you want? Do you want start in two weeks or in 4 weeks?").

Tuesday I had to go in and turn in my two weeks notice and then return to an awkward day of work Wednesday. Some people enjoy working at smaller hospitals because of its size (people know who you are), but I'm not fond of the gossip mill. I was amazed to come in on Wednesday morning to know that nearly everyone knew I was leaving (day AND midnight shift). By the following week people on different floors were aware.

It wasn't until this past Monday (last week) that I signed the papers at my new hospital-which is why I haven't posted anything...I was worried I had turned in my 2 week notice too soon, but no worries (husband didn't mind...he has been wanting me to quit/resign/move on for awhile now).

Orientation at the new hospital has already begun-it's two weeks long! Then I should have about 4 weeks on the floor to get orientated/precepted before being cut loose on my own.

I know the grass isn't always greener on the other side (however a nurse I worked with said it might grow faster and taste better). The grass might be just as brown on the other side. But from what I can tell in orientation (and people in the community), I've made a good step in the right direction.

I'm proud to say that I got a job at this hospital!

Dx Me

With the running club on Sunday, I ran my first ever trail run/race-a 10k Trailblazer run. Having never ran trail, and with a deep seeded fear of being lost in the woods, I planned to run with Katie, a true outdoors girl who has done her share of traveling and climbing.

Good thing, as quite a few people got lost, including Caroline (who has run the course in the past), and a coach with three of her teenage-cross-country runners.

The run started at 1:00pm, which I thought was odd (my life revolves around eating), so I had a larger kind of breakfast of waffles & fruit. at the 12:45, my stomach started growling.

Weather was perfect, 70s and for the most part the course was shaded. We crossed water 3 times (although the third water crossing was more like walking in the river and not across.....). Towards the end of the run I really started getting hungry and may have made the comment, "I think next year I'll volunteer."

And that's when the trail-running-lords slammed me with my negative energy.

We only had maybe 1 mile left.

I was running, and I think the toe box of my left shoe landed on tree root because I remember yelling out in pain; it felt like my toes were being forced up to my shin. Yelled out enough that some running friends stopped to check if I was ok. walked a few steps and continued running again with no problem. no pain whatsoever.

The sloppy run had only just begun. a few minutes later I tripped and fell straight forward kissing dirt. Surprisingly, what hurt at that moment was my shoulder (I guess from my landing on my hands).

We probably finished a few minutes after the tumble.

Our finished time was somewhere around 1 hour 20 minutes (not bad considering we ran an extra loop on the course). My ankle felt ok, that is until an hour or so later when I squatted down to gather my stuff.

So now it's Tuesday. I've iced my ankle maybe 2-3 times a day since Sunday and yesterday I took my first dose of naproxen as well as wrapped my ankle in a bandage. There is no swelling, no bruising. I can move my toes and point my foot up an down. Rotating my foot is painful and doesn't happen very easily. I haven't tried squatting. I can walk, but not as if I was injury free. The front of my ankle is sore to touch with mild pressure.

I haven't called the doctor yet (since there is no swelling, no bruising). Sprain? Strain? How long to stay off running? I really don't want this to be a recurring thing...and I work Wed/thursday of this week (essentially 12 hours on my feet). Thoughts?

Copy Cat

"Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

– Steve Jobs

I totally stole the above quote from D.A.R.

It's a much nicer, wholesome version of my personal mantra that I stole from someone else (I don't remember where:

"Quite whining-make life your bitch"

Now for some seriousness. We all know that my work situation has been less than ideal. My old hospital, if you were selected to orient a new nurse or precept a student nurse, you were first required to attend a preceptorship class. (my current hospital has such a class, however it's only offered maybe two or three times as year...I assume this as the next class isn't until OCTOBER.)

And, I hate to make comparisons, but yet again at my old place of employment your nurse manager or leadership would highly encourage and then push for you to sign up for a charge nurse class.

To learn how to become a charge nurse. Then, you would train with the charge nurse for a few days. And then be charge nurse on your own with some assistance before being let on your own.

Here, again, not so much. I don't even know if there is such a class. But Monday afternoon I was somehow designated in a charge like role, and then on Tuesday I was told by the house supervisor:

"Nurse Director said that you were going to be charge, so I'm not asking, I'm telling you what I was told. You're going to be charge." (and then proceeded to tell me she would hold my hand as needed for the rest of the day.)

So, with an orientee and six patients, I had to take the charge role.

And at one point I had a breakdown at work.

The lady who will One Day Take The Nurse Manager Role (it was announced in January, yet here we are in April and they still won't let her take the job) kept saying to me, "Why don't you want to do this? You're doing great." She then proceeded to give me her favorite cookies that she received on her weekend flight with Delta. She was saving them for herself or her nephew but decided to give them to me for "doing such a great job."

I felt like I should sit, beg, and shake paws.

Why don't I want the charge role:

1. I have six patients.

2. I'm orienting a new nurse.

3. I am still not familiar with hospital policies.

4. I am not sure how to best make assignments.

5. Having just received ACLS certification 4 months ago, I do not feel comfortable running a code.

On both Monday night and Tuesday night I woke up in the middle of night in a panic, tossing turning, and crying hysterically so that I had to leave the bedroom and sleep/cry in a different room to not wake up my husband and hope that a different room would help me sleep.

Wednesday morning I went to a yoga class, and this morning I attended the "yoga for meditation class.' Not sure if I"m suffering from panic attacks, but clearly the point of all this is that

Something Must Change

and

I am the director, the conductor, the author, the coach.

So in the meantime, applications have been submitted, fingers are crossed.

This chapter needs to end.

Weekend Favorite

Saturday: Waffles with blueberries, real maple syrup, coffee, relaxing music, sun, and the newspaper. The only thing missing were the strawberries.

Sunday: Ran 8 miles today with my speedier friend, who told me she was going to 'go it slow.' Her slow is my happy pace (9:15 pace). We ended up meeting a new runner at our turn around point and the pace quickly became an 8:30 pace. Good workout overall-minus the blisters. Then a trip to Publix for the NY Times and fresh produce.....then a day spent with the paper and a tuna/artichoke panini. Now need to make plans for dinner. I'm thinking shrimp, pasta, lemon, shallots, white wine.

For Real

Applying for new jobs.

Another hospital has to be better-and safer-than mine.

(Ok, I'm sure there are worse places to work at, but.....I'm tired.)

I'm tired of six patients when I should have four.

I'm tired of having six patients, getting my accuchecks, delivering meal trays, collecting menus, collecting finished meal trays, obtaining vital signs, all while trying to BE A NURSE (assessments, medications, basic care, communicating with physicians, educating patients, helping them get, you know-BETTER).

(and should I mention I'm orienting a brand new RN to the hospital? me, who has only been at the hospital for 7 months)

I'm tried of patients saying to me, "Are you the only one working here?" or "Don't you have a nursing aide" or "Shouldn't your tech be doing this?" or "I know you don't have help, don't worry about me; I know you're running around" (and I wish I could say, "we don't have a tech" or "I'm not sure what or where our tech is-and management doesn't seem to care"

It kills me that we can be so incredibly short (and incompetently) staffed when according to news reports there are so many people out of work.

For the first time since entering nursing school, I want to leave the nursing profession. And I know it's not the profession but this hospital that is making me think this way. Longer commute be damned; if it's safer it's worth it.

(Side note: I know this is more about the hospital than the profession; According to the new US News report, the hospital I used to work at is 3rd in its region (out of 90+ hospitals) -and that truly was a hospital I was proud to be associated with, even on the very bad days.)

Just Get It

Famous words of the husband when I called him at work to say, "so there are really only two phones to choose from.....unless I get a smart phone. Can I get an iphone?"

And I did.

And 4 hours later I began to feel buyers remorse. I tend to be super cheap about certain things. I will go weeks and weeks without spending much money on myself, and then the next thing you know, I'm buying $150 swimsuits, traveling to Miami Beach, and buying an iPhone (which is not only $$$ but means you have to spend $30 more each month for a data plan).

And silly me, I didn't realize that 1052 songs would take up nearly all 16GB!

But let's be fair for a moment. Last week, my phone became possessed; the touch screen wouldn't work and when I was just holding the phone flat, random 'buttons' on the touch screen would appear to be pushed by some other unseen being or spirit. Eventually the touch screen went completely dead, and in order for me to use the phone in any way (to make or answer calls, set the alarm, etc), I would have to OPEN the phone, dial out, and then carefully close the phone and hope that I was not hanging up on anyone. Clearly, I 'needed' a new phone, and it had to be an iphone.

ugh. I am officially a modern day yuppie: expensive taste (trina turk swimwear-you rock), Nikon dSLr camera owner, foodie, kindle loving, iphone owning 31 year old in a DINK marriage.

moving on.....

The trip to SoFla was great. Either I'm getting older and my taste is running on the more conservative side, or people now take their 'fashion' ideas from Jersey Shore (it was a birthday weekend treat-ugh, 31, you just look so old. Much more serious than 30). There were so many spring-breakers, and with that, so many short, tight, and cheap cheap cheap looking clothes. I think sexy can be done without showing or pulling a britney.

I ate a lot of food that weekend and drank even more cuban coffee. My dear friend treated us all to mini-cupcakes at what we thought would be an outdoor mini-concert, but was really a $2.50 per ticket 30 minute mini-concert inside a new performance space for the New World. If you're in the south Florida area, you'd be a fool to pass up the mini-concerts or FREE outdoor concert wallcasts. (the sound and feel of the music indoors was pretty amazing too!)

We ran along the beach twice and had our photos taken by two men with telescopic paparazzi like cameras. I'm sure once they looked at the images and realized we were not anyone remotely famous they deleted the shots. Either that or we're on some TMZ-like celebrity stalker site. (but seriously why they bothered to shoot us beats me...if I was worthy of a paparazzi shot I would probably wear a hat, glasses, etc.)

Speaking of running....seems like I've been falling of the band wagon and need to print out a training plan to keep me on track. I'm not putting the amount of miles that I would like; especially if I'm going to have to start training for chicago soon. for the first time in a few weeks I was able to join the Thursday night runners and made the mistake of talking to Val just before the run. Which meant I started running with Val. Val who qualifies for Boston on the new time scale. We call each other the road hogs, and I tend to start with tail hogs (ie, the back). Yesterday I started with the people I call the head hogs.

Mile 1: 8:10. Eeks. Fast for me

Mile 2: 8:03. uh, I have three more to go?! and a bridge?!

Just beyond the 3 mile mark is a 4 lane road to cross and I had to stop for a second to avoid being roadkill a la Frogger. And that's where I completely lost it. I tried for a bit to catch up and run with the group, but at mile 4, I lost all drive and chilled at a 9:18 pace.

Total time: 42:38; 8:32 pace

Clearly I didn't stretch and am feeling it now, but the beer and greasy pizza afterwords was so worth it (look at the twitter stream for a picture....speaking of which, how can I upload the pictures on twitter to the blog??)

Today's plan: clean the house, hopefully re-discover the gym and its medieval looking weight machines, and tonight we'll have the neighbors over for dinner before a 3 day marathon weekend at work.

To Do

1. get off this chair and go for a short run. First one in a week. blah. this week's work schedule stinks...plus getting sick earlier in the week and the bad weather didn't help (i know, excuses excuses).

2. go to the mall and try. on. swimsuits. And find one to buy!

Ugh. I don't remember the last time I tried on swim suits. I've had the same swim suits for at least 7 years (there are pictures from our time in SC). And our shopping selection in these parts are slim pickings, so wish me luck! The mall here has an overwhelming stench of mold & mildew and you can feel the vibrations of the air conditioner running. Classy :)

Value

When I have a patient, if they suddenly show blood in their urine, I call the doctor. Especially when it is new and unexpected. It's what you should do as a nurse. Anything new or unexpected-like blood in the urine- typically warrants a call to the doctor.

If you are an employee-or ahem, nurse- at my place of employment, and you suddenly notice blood in your urine, you're told:

'I can't afford to lose you right now. Let me see if the pharmacy can get you an antibiotic and some pyridium. In the meantime, drink lots of water and cranberry juice'

Employee: "So I can't leave to go see a doctor?"

Charge: "No, I don't think so....we can't afford to have you go."

Employee: "The last time this happened it turned into a kidney infection. I can not make it through the day without going to see a doctor."

Charge: "I'm sorry-my pharmacy connection doesn't get here until 1:30pm. In the meantime, just keep drinking lots of water and cranberry juice."

Issues: (Besides the obvious-you know, the issue of blood being where blood shouldn't!) I already drink 1-2 liters of water during my 12 hour shift. Hardly think I'm dehydrated. Every morning begins with a small glass of cranberry juice. While we're on the cranberry juice comment, drinking cranberry juice is not going to stop or reduce the amount of infection -or blood- in one's urine. It's not going to stop an infection from traveling north to my kidneys when, after a matter of one hour I went from discomfort to blood tinged urine. (which is exactly what happened in college: it went from mild discomfort to a trip to the ER and a full out kidney infection in a matter of hours.)

Had they sent me to see a doctor (it is an acute care facility and they do employ medical doctors and have a pharmacy), I would have been able to start an antibiotic and pyridium before noon, AND I probably would have been able to work in the afternoon.

Instead, it wasn't until 12:15 that I was able to find someone higher up. At 12:45 I was given the go-ahead to leave and get treatment. At 1:15 I was in my car. My doctor's office couldn't get me in for an appointment and had already referred me to an urgent care center (35 minutes away-the irony). I spent 20 minutes waiting at the urgent care center, 10 minutes in the exam room waiting for the doc, 5 minutes with the doctor, before leaving with a prescription in hand. I dropped off my prescription at about 2:45, and my "20 minute wait" was more like 45 minutes. I finally took my first dose of antibiotic at 3:45 pm.

My symptoms started around 9:45am. I couldn't find my charge nurse. I found her at 10ish, told her "I'm getting a uti, I need to see a doctor." I found her again at 10:30 to say, "I have blood in my urine." Not to get all TMI and all, but by the time I made it to the urgent care center, it was certainly more than blood tinged....as evidenced by the comment I overhead the nurse made to the doctor.

I understand that my charge was upset that she would have had to give everyone six patients. I don't think she realized how urgent my situation was. Had I not mentioned it to 4 other people and some 'higher ups,' I don't think I would have been able to leave and seek treatment, but would have had to be treated much more aggressively as I would have been much sicker, and then off the floor for an extra day.

I value my health. If I am not healthy, I can't do my job well or care for my patients adequately. If I can't care adequately for my patients, they are at a greater risk of missed lab values, missed orders, gaps in care, etc, all leading to an increased length in stay. Had I not been able to go and get treatment, I have no doubt that I would have had to miss out on a couple of days of work.

My husband, impressed by the stellar treatment of their employees, asked what would have happened if I had cut off my finger at work.

I don't know. But I imagine they would have told me to put my finger on ice and go to the ER after work.

All I Wanna Do...

is log my run.

Seriously, running ahead's site must be down and I REALLY want to log today and yesterday's run now. I work tomorrow and Friday, which means I won't remember to log the runs until...some other time, if at all.

Yesterday I did a nice-n-easy 3 miler because I was planning on meeting up with a co-worker at the running club to do a run-walk (or as she said, a walk-run). Bummer that she failed to mention that she hasn't run at all yet. AT ALL. Our .25 mile run was the longest distance she's ever ran.

We all have to start somewhere I guess; and at least she made it out. A for effort. I'm just glad I had the foresight to run earlier in the morning.

And since I'm back at work tomorrow & Friday, I ran again today (I rarely run two days in a row). The run started off FAST for me.

And just got faster. I felt like I was in race mode (I only feel race mode tempo when I'm actually running in a 5k or 10k, or what others call 'racing.') Anyways, somehow I managed (barely) 4 negative splits. woot-woot! And while I know it's not my fastest (it was just me by myself after all), I'm still a little excited about the pace. (which is why I want to log my run...darn you 'service unavailable' message!)

Today's Run...temp: 60*s...time: 4:45pm; 4 miles, 33:03 final time; avg 8:15

Mile 1: 8:36

Mile 2: 8:16

Mile 3: 8:06

Mile 4: 8:04

Tomorrow is my first day after having a pretty easy work schedule (one a day, off a day, on a day, off 4 days...). I'm on for two, off for two, and then it gets hairy:

after this weekend I will work Monday, off Tuesday and then...

work Wednesday/Thursday, off Friday, on Saturday/Sunday, off monday, on Tuesday/Wednesday.

But I shouldn't complain because then I'm off for five sweet days and will hopefully be here:

To Trivia!

Team Trivia tonight. the first time since this past summer when we lived in Delaware.

I am absolutely HORRIBLE when it comes to team trivia, but the beers and laughter are why you go, right? And I ran 4 miles today, so I at least earned a beer....

So with what team of people am I joining for team trivia?

a mom's group.

yes, somehow, even though a separate facebook group was set up just for me, the childless one, I am invited to their mom's night out. (pathetic tid bit: it might be a pity invite because they were all talking about trivia night over dinner when I first met them, but still.)

Today's run:

4 miles, 61* weather, 58% humidity. I wore shorts and a tank top, and sleeves, which I probably didn't need. Total time: 36:12/9:03 average pace

Mile 1: 9:30

Mile 2: 9:01

Mile 3: 8:56

Mile 4: 8:42

Lunges to boot at the end. Not sure why, but it seemed to take longer than normal to get my heart rate down (it just felt like it was still running even though I wasn't). Maybe the higher temps?

And what can we say about unfriendly runners? I saw a man running without his shirt (it wasn't THAT warm), listening to his ipod/radio, and not a nod, glance, wave, or gesture of acknowledgement.

He must be a surgeon at my hospital.

Tonight

Dinner at our house with the parent's of my husband's high school best friend.

(sounds odd, I know, but they are such a nice couple-and the high school friend lives in a different state, otherwise we would have him over too of course).

It's beautiful out and I'm debating if we should just eat out in the patio....except the patio is still bare bones and because we're finally just coming out of winter, there are no plants to enjoy.

The house is nearly spotless (minus the messy closets); some more pictures are up on the walls (and off the floor), and dinner....needs to be prepped. Now. (on the menu: cuban food (piccadillo, black beans, perfect white rice, and flan)

Tomorrow I'm planning on meeting up with a friend at the Long Run location. I haven't been since October. She's running 14. me? probably 6-8. Unless I get conned....

The Division

Lately, I've noticed more than ever the effects of getting older. The canyon developing between my eyes, the dark clouds under the eyes, a wider set of hips, dimples on the bottom cheeks.

People always warned me about getting older (watch what you eat, it sticks!), especially patients. The patients never failed to sugar coat aging: "It's no fun getting older."

But nobody ever told me about the division that would come with getting older (age) and children; or should I say being child-less.

And if you're a military spouse reading this, you probably have already noticed this little unscientific factoid: it is rare to meet a 30 year old child-less couple in the military. I like kids. They are painfully honest and incredibly entertaining. But for personal, educational, and medical reasons, we haven't had kids yet (although hopefully maybe one day soon!)

Anyhoo-In an effort to expand my tiny circle of friends here in this new hometown, I was invited (by a friend who has kids) to a book club dinner. It was a good time, and I enjoyed the social aspect of it (although lets be honest: I can't contribute to a discussion on the merits of one car seat over another). I was included in their plan to meet up for trivia night as part of their Mom's Night Out. I gave them my email address, and most of the girls immediately friended me on facebook. I considered it a success.

Last night, I get home from work, shower, eat dinner, eventually get to the computer, and see on facebook that I'm part of a private group, 'bookclub' where there's a post saying:

"Made a group so we can have our book info here and that way Rachel can join and not have to see all the mommy stuff from our other group. Did I forget anyone?"

And I think.....it's nice. Except...you've made it known that there's a group out there that everyone except me is a part of.

I should respond. But I cant figure out what to say. To say something funny would come across mean or acerbic; And to ignore it would seem snooty.

Every time I read that line I feel this little black hole or better yet, a big fat black line.

I understand it probably wasn't the author's intent (and there will always be groups out there that you can't be a part of), but it was just made crystal clear that when people get together, those who have children vs those who have no children is taken into account of invitation.

But enough mulling; Time to change into some running clothes and meet up with the road hogs for a 5 miler followed by greasy pizza and pizza. Take that Dividers!

Another One Bites The Dust

Another RN is leaving my floor!

to work at a doctor's office!

more tomorrow; newest malady I believe I suffer from:

tension headaches.

One Week

I haven't taken a full week off running since probably living in Delaware.

There was the toe pain last week (naturally Sunday was BEAUTIFUL and perfect for running, but I was still feeling my toe and decided to continue giving it a rest).

Woke up Monday feeling like crud; worked Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Today was a 'skills fair' at work, and I woke up early to meet up with two coworkers for breakfast at the Awful Waffle (and yes it was awful....my coworkers' eggs looked better than my waffle; at least the coffee was good, and the breakfast was deservedly dirt cheap.

picture from the internets, not my own

All that followed by my second post exposure lab draw, lunch at home, an afternoon with my kindle, tea, candle, cats on my lap, and a nap. It's a little too easy to become that homebody crazy lady with her cats and candles.

Survival

Another nurse at work turned in her 2 week notice.

That would be 5 nurses that we've lost in a two month period of time (three on day shift, two on night shift). That brings the total to 9 or 10 since I started working there a few months ago...

Anywho; this evening, just prior to leaving the house to meet up with the running club, my director/pseuo-nurse manager (another story) called to ask if I would be willing to come in tomorrow and pick up an extra "critical need" shift.

I normally don't mind picking up a half a shift (and only for the first half). Sadly, I'm already scheduled to work tomorrow. Here's hoping I survive tomorrow.

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And because this blog needs to incorporate something other than my job.....

Tonight's run was painful. My left great toe has been bothering me on and off lately. Yesterday after work it ached (as it did this morning). Hypochondriac that I am, I'm convinced I'm developing a bunion. After nearly turning around on the way to the run (the weather looked miserable), only a handful of us were actually there to run.

My toe ached, and then, just 1.5 miles into the run the rain really began to come down hard. My partner and I looked at each other and said, "let's turn around."

Glad we did; by the time I started my car and pulled out of the lot, it was pouring. Thinking of taking the weekend off and hopefully getting a new pair of running shoes.

Hope everyone has a happy friday!

Oops...I Did it Again!

I should have Just Said No.

I should have just heeded that age-old advice that parents tell their kids (if everyone else was jumping off a bridge would you do it too?).

Instead, I caved into peer pressure.

I signed up for the Chicago Marathon!

I never really thought of running Chicago. Truth be told, NYC is The One I Want To Run. But NYC is pricey (although not much more pricier than Chicago). There's no guarantee that I would get into NYC (it's a lottery system unless you happen to be super speedy, which I am certainly not). The weather for NYC during the marathon is also spotty. And if I were to get in the lottery and get pregnant and not be able to run in the marathon, I would be a tad upset.

While I can't defer or sell my bib to anyone for the Chicago marathon, at least I don't have to feel like I'm giving up a winning lottery ticket if something happens and I can't run in it (like getting pregnant).

There are three other people from the running club that also signed up for the marathon. My hotel is booked, registration complete. Now I just need to study and memorize the course, find a half that would possibly qualify me to get into a corral, and find places to eat and things to do in chicago. Oh, and I have to work on getting that weekend off of work. Damn work!

Dwaddle Day

Just finished working 3 days in a row, and on day 3 three I started with 6 patients. SIX. On a so called 'stepdown' unit.

And, when a physician did not call back regarding a patient's discharge medications, my charge nurse and I agreed what medications the patient would probably go home on. We had no order. It's obvious the patient would not go home on IV medications yet I had no order and there were a couple of other medications in pill form. I made it clear: "I can't just write down what I assume the doctor will want."

but she did.

I can see her point of view....there was a patient who wanted to get out the door, and more importantly, there was a patient on a different floor who needed a medication NOW that could only be administered on our floor or the ICU.

So after my charge did a 'telephone order read back' and signed the discharge papers, my guy went home and the new patient came up.

The physician never called back. I left one voicemail, and had tried calling after about 45 minutes, with the call being forwarded to voicemail. The kicker? I called the operator to do an overhead page.

And the operator says....

"ok, but I don't think our overhead paging system is working." (it didn't work)

This is where I work. Six patients when I should have 4. Physicians routinely don't complete discharge orders and not return phone calls. And an overhead paging system that may or may not work.

Thank g-d I didn't have an emergency on my hands: the doctor wouldn't have called back or would have then been unreachable, and the overhead paging system to alert the attending, the ER physician, the intensive care nurse, the respiratory therapist, and the house supervisor would not be able to alert anyone at all.

Today and tomorrow I'm off....and I woke up this morning to the pitter pattering on the gutters. It's a good day to lay in bed, under blankets and look for a new blog layout, don't you think?