I get really discouraged about my blog because I post so infrequently, but I would really like to eventually make this a regular, successful sort of a site. Right now, I’m still on orientation, so I am working 5 days a week and totally exhausted – hence my irregular/nonexistent posting. New goal: Post every Sunday [thank you ladies]
Just want to make a note, here and now, that I really like being a nurse. I think there are going to be some really rough patches in the near (and far) future where I’m miserable with my job – that’s the nature of the profession. The systems is fucked up and most of the time, your work environment is totally out of control. I almost never feel like I am providing for my patients adequately yet I’m almost always working as hard as possible.
For now, though, I want a record that I love what I’m doing. I really like most of my patients and the nursing part is getting easier every day. Probably the hardest part of being an ER nurse is coordinating and maneuvering through the incredible ass-fuck that makes up a city hospital beurocracy. Throw in some indifference and contempt from some of my co-workers and, finally, add some basic human suffering, and you have a somewhat distressing work environment.
All of that said, I STILL really like what I’m doing. My job is endlessly challenging and I come home feeling tired and full. So far, I’ve only come home crying once and that was over a patient’s really sad condition [which is OK to cry about sometimes, I think] and not some heinous bitch I work with berating me for my ineptitude [which happens daily].
OH! And a chief complaint! First just a note: Remember the expeditor who writes down people’s chief complaints at the front door? Well, if there is some pertinent information we need to know, the expeditor often writes an extra note in parentheses after the patient’s chief complaint. For example, “Bruise to left eye” (Domestic Violence).
So here was one I liked:
32 year-old male: Dizziness (Drunk)
Sorry I don’t have any more. I’m on the look-out this week.
Hoo-Ray! I love Georgia’s website, and now I can look forward to reading it once a week. Maybe – one in the future – it’ll be more frequent, but for now once a week is a total dream.