Today was a day of nesting. I don’t have my own home. Or a kid. Or a dog. So when I feel like playing house, my mother-in-law benefits. Baked banana bread, cleaned the garage, did some laundry, vacuumed, windexed (much like the word ‘google’, windex can also be a verb), and tried out a new stir-fry recipe for dinner (result was positive). And now that I’ve done my bit of homework on cardiac pacing rhythm strips for tomorrow’s class (and printed out several short lectures), I have to turn my mind toward making a lunch that will get me through the day.
Normally, we have one speaker for an entire day, thereby having the ability to control how long we spend talking about what. Tomorrow we have several speakers who will show up at their allotted times. The last one arrives at 15:30 so I have no hope of leaving before 16:30. Long day sitting on my bum learning things I’ve learned before. But I will not complain. It’s a good review. And, quite frankly, the easiest money I’ll ever make as a nurse.
I started work this past weekend - had my first three shifts in in a Southern ER. And they went well. I am still waiting for my first (of many) peel-me-off-the-floor moments. I was certain I’d have at least two in my first shift. But apparently, there was a low census that weekend. Perhaps everyone got ‘hospitaled’ out the previous weekend being panicked about H1N1 and decided to stay home and do real weekend things that don’t include sitting for 8 hours in an emergency department because you have a fever and cough (a trend that’s not entirely extinct). For this, I was thankful. I was lost in the minutia of working in the department. Getting the hang of e-documentation, how to access medications, where to find supplies, and generally, how the unit works.
I am impressed with the team of nurses, EA’s, doc’s and specialists. Everyone I’ve met so far has been very friendly and willing to fill me in on what’s happening. A detail that is so very essential to work-place-happiness.
Archive for November, 2009
There is nothing worse than being stuck at a mall for a few hours. Leaves me drained, dirty-feeling, and either like I’ve wasted my time or I’ve spent too much money. Nothing worse except following up that experience with sitting in traffic. Which is what we did today. On the 403. Coming home from Square One. Seriously solid traffic. WHY didn’t we leave to run those errands earlier? Honestly…
Absolute depression.
That is…until…. we realized: we are two. Not one. In one car. Therefore, the carpool lane (OH blessed carpool lane) is an option for us. Slowly we moved from the far right to the far left and merged from going 0-15km/hr to a clear 100. Sweet relief.
Also worth mentioning that 90% of the vehicles on the highway are capacitized at one-per-vehicle.
Also, it’s bloody November 3 and the mall stores are playing Christmas music.
Nothing like making it special.
On the other hand, they are selling clementines by the crate now.
And that EARLY Christmas treat is welcomed.
I keep forgetting I even HAVE a website. You can label me DISTRACTED, cos I am. Distracted with school, imminent ‘first day’ at work in the ER, H1N1 debates, partner’s work-related travel, an ECG test, night shifts, finding a home and locating my fall/winter gear in many boxes we have stored in the basement from three different periods in our lives these past two years. Regardless of how I try to keep things organized, I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for without de-taping at least 10 boxes first. Tonight I hit the jackpot tho - found a jacket I was looking for (beautiful felt number perfect for fall) and found a coat I bought in Sri Lanka at the same time. Long felt pea-coat. Love it! Clearly had no need to wear it while in Male… or through the Ontario summer. So it was forgotten. Lucky I packed it with the jacket I was looking for. Perhaps my organizational methods aren’t THAT bad.
So, I admit, a close second to the hubby’s deployment to the South Pole in: ‘most likely to take up my brain space’, is starting work this weekend. Nurses are notoriously hard on green members of the team. As a student and a new grad I could plead ignorance and bat eye lashes to avoid adversity. But this time, entering the work force is going to mean hard work on my part. Evidence. Experience. And likely, cookies. MUST WIN OVER STAFF. IMMEDIATELY. And naturally, I picked the best time of the year to start in the ER. In the thick of swine flu paranoia. YAY. I am so excited. At least I will be able to start on a busy note, and a relatively simple one. Fevers. Fevers. EVERYWHERE. I’ll get my feet wet, learn how the unit operates, how the team functions and how I fit into the place. And, of course, where the N95 masks, gloves, gowns and face shields are.
Just no all-out disasters until I learn where all the supplies are OK?
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