School is in Session

I worked 3 nights in a row last week. My first night/shift was busy - as it usually is at the start of a new week. I was doing a juggling act with two patients who both had electrolyte problems. Luckily, they were both on the electrolyte protocol, but even with replacement - the rechecked results would be lower than before I gave the replacement. That never made sense to me, but anyways, I spent most of the night dealing with that kind of stuff.

I had another patient that seemed to be losing the will to live. I don't know what he's normally like, but he was acting a little bizarre. It got worse the next day and the family and doctor decided it was time for Hospice. I'm not exactly sure why, I never had the time to really look back in his chart to see what brought them to that final conclusion. The patient seemed to know - he was requesting the chaplain to visit so he could make things right with the Lord. I often wonder if some people know when it is their time. It certainly seems that way sometimes.

I started my first class towards my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing yesterday. We meet online for a 1 hr chat on Tuesday mornings. Silly me thought I needed to have all the reading & all the lectures done by the chat today...so I stayed up all night to get it done. Turns out, it wasn't necessary. She gave us a break since the class just started yesterday. Grrr! Now I'm working on a 500 word paper that is due on Friday. I haven't written a paper in years & it is tough getting started. I'm lost. Luckily I was able to find an online program that walks you thru how to write the papers in the style (APA) that needs to be done. Hopefully, that will be a lifesaver. Now I just need to find material on what to write. There are 5 different topics. I need to pick one! Wish me luck. This will be my routine for the next 7 weeks. I'm hoping to get ahead of the game. It's only day 2 & I feel like I'm behind. Especially since I'll be working Thurs thru Sunday night.

I will post pictures of mytrip as soon as I have time. I'm not scheduled next week other than Sunday - so maybe I'll catch up then. Then again, we're so short-staffed, I may volunteer to work. My tailbone is feeling better - still sore when I sit or stand or move around while sitting or lying down, but it is a lot, lot better. I think working & moving around was good for it last week as much as I dreaded it.

Have a good week everyone!!!

I'm back!

I'm officially back from vacation....ughhhhh.  I can't believe it's all over.  I wish I were back in Hawaii.  It is simply beautiful there!  I've been to a lot of places and thru a lot of states on this trip...California, Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.  I'll post pictures when I get some time.  I'll also go into more detail too. 

Right now I'm in some pain...I slipped in the shower Friday night at the hotel and bruised my tailbone.  It hurts!  The hotel offered to send me to the hospital, but even if it is broke, there isn't anything they can do about it.  I am taking Advil and using the few muscle relaxers or pain pills that I've had saved from past incidents.  I start back to work Tuesday night & work 3 days straight.  I'm trying not to think about it & telling myself it's better to be active with back pain than bedrest.  It's all I can do to convince myself that I'll get thru this pain. 

Wish me luck!

Stroke

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters...S.T.R.

My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
Seriously.. Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and that she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.
It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS

*NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this : Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately !! and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

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Loving It

This vacation has been wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Hawaii!!!!!!! Especially Waikiki beach. I'm in Seattle now & the hotel is amazing. I'll post more pics later, but this has been my favorite so far!! It's not me in the pic...it's the beach that I love...such pretty water.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'll be back in about 2 weeks or less.