Floating

Well I was having a fine...semi-crappy week, when they decided to float me to 3rd. Well, I don't mind floating, but I have only floated to that floor one time in 4 years, and I'm pretty sure it was almost 4 years ago. I got report. No body bothered to tell me where the supplies were kept, or any of the forms. The regular nurse on the other side didn't even bother to tell me her name. Some of her patient's records were on my side, because she apparently had the middle group, although I'm not sure since no one bothered to explain how the patient's were split on that floor. Everybody thought that were my patient too...and I had to field family requests and doc's and phone calls for you, the unknown nurse for the unknown patient's!
I worked my ass off. Transitioning from being a cardiac nurse to doing pretty much all GI stuff (three post exploratory lap's, with two ruptured appendix with open laps, and a few other goobly gook's thrown in to confuse me) was no easy task. I literally had to think myself through everything I was doing. (What no Open Hearts...no chest tubes....no harvest sites???)

About two p.m., when I was about to drop from lack of nurishment (no breakfast, no lunch, although my assigned aide had managed to disappear for breakfast, mid-morning break, lunch, mid-afternoon break) while I earnestly medicated, did pericare, took people to the bathroom, turning and doing all the things that normally two people or at least THE ASSIGNED AIDE does, when finally the Nurse Manager walked by to ask how I was doing.....HUNGRY and about to pass out was my answer. Oh, we have two nurses assigned to float around and help, haven't they helped you??? Well one of them had informed me she was the "admission nurse" and did admission's only. The other had informed me that if I had a difficult IV, that she would try if I tried several times first. So there is all this help available, and I am drowning, because no one will even show me where to find stuff. I was literally alone at the station 90% of the day answering the phone's, call bells and taking care of my assigned patient's. I hope they never float me to that floor again!

The topping on the cake was when on of the GI doc's was rounding and asked me a question about his patient...you got it Exp. Lap, then open lap with appendectomy...and I didn't know the answer off the top of my head without looking at my paper's or the chart...he remarked " You certainly don't know you patient very well, do you?" He points out the info he needed in the chart (a lab report that had been placed by a med records tech while I was in a room)....like my remark was..."Gee, there it is...right were it belongs". Moron! My husband saw this same doc for a Colonoscopy last year...guaranteed I will never see him...he will not get one more red dime of my money....asshole. Read this people....I AM A CARDIAC NURSE...I KNOW ABOUT GI PROBLEMS, BUT I AM NOT A SURGICAL NURSE!!!!!!!!! I AM HELPING YOU PEOPLE OUT, BECAUSE YOU ARE "SHORT" STAFFED, WITH YOUR TWO FLOATING NURSES TO "HELP" OUT WHO NEVER "HELP" OUT...MAYBE IF THE PEOPLE ON THAT FLOOR DID THEIR JOBS PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH YOU.

OK, now I feel better.

People that Quietly touch your life.....

Sometimes a patient will touch you, in unexpected ways. Just seconds, that become a memory, that comes to you from time to time. Last week, it was a physician, who was my patient. Going for surgery, outcome expected to be very good.

He was humble, not arrogant at all, not expecting extra perks or favors from being a V.I.P., just a very nice guy. I gave him all the info about his surgery, even though I suspect he knew more than I, because I thought having the more basic information would help to calm his family down some. I remember when I was a patient having a procedure, that although I was very familiar with what was going to be done, it is still very scary knowing you are the patient, putting yourself in other (hopefully) capable hands. The lack of control over the situation, is in itself anxiety inspiring.

While I was off, this patient went to surgery. I was expecting to already have him back on the floor as a patient, as we get post-op hearts out as early as on the first post-op day. I found out yesterday, which would have been like the 4th post op day that he had to go back for another procedure, and that his outlook was very bleak. I was shocked! I would have absolutely thought this mans outcome would be great, he looked healthy, he had a positive attitude, lots of family support, and a good surgeon.

I am in prayer for him and his family. I was very touched by this humble unassuming man, who you would never suspect was a physician.