Refreshed

I hope everyone is doing well.  February is just flying by.  I've had a light schedule at work - which is a nice change.  I had 9 days in a row off, then went back in on Wednesday night.  They scheduled me as the PCT (patient care tech).  It seems the last 5 times I've gone in...I've been scheduled as the PCT.  I don't mind being PCT...but not all the time. 

I can't complain though...the past few times someone else volunteered to be PCT for various reasons.  Another time they pulled me at like 7:20 to be a nurse.  This time however...I was the PCT....but a PCT with an orientee.  That's the best...lol.  It's always nice having an extra set of hands right there to help with patients instead of trying to track other nurses down.  He did really good - jumped right in & started doing vital signs.  It's kinda weird teaching someone to be a PCT when that isn't my usual job role.  I was teaching him from a nurse's perspective & what we as nurses look for when we need help from our PCT's.  It was only his first night, so I'm sure other people will teach him other ways.  I emphasized to him that there is no one way to do things - do what feels right for him.  He seems real helpful & is good with the patients...that's a really good start. 

Most of our patients were alert & oriented....there was only one that I could say was a total care.  We probably could have bathed her, but she was pale as a ghost, full of edema and cold as ice.  I wasn't about to start moving her around in the middle of the night for a bath.  She was getting platelets and fresh frozen plasma.  I got the eery feeling that if we started moving her around, it could lead to a code blue situation.  No thanks...we left well enough alone.

For the next 4 or 5 weeks I'll be working every Sat, Sun & Monday night.  I don't mind - it will be nice to be on a regular schedule & the weekends are usually light with families and doctors.  I'm sure by the end of March I will be tired of this schedule...but the new schedules will be up soon & I can pick & choose what I want.  That's one thing I like about this hospital - the flexibility to pick our own schedule.  We had to sign up for the spring/summer holidays already.  I only had to do one & I chose Easter Sunday...just to get it over with. 

I went to Orlando last weekend & stayed at a really nice hotel....the World Center Marriott (I think that's the name).  It's gigantic...like 1500 rooms and even has a convention center on the ground floor.  It was a nice little get away.  I wish I could go back!  I need more get aways.  Don't we all???

It's late, I need to get to bed.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!

 

Finally Rested Up

I've been off of work since Monday night/Tuesday morning. I think I'm finally caught up on my rest. I think that's the hardest part about working the night shift- trying to maintain getting enough sleep & still living a normal life.

My schedule is pretty light for February. In fact, after this weekend, I'm off for 10 days. I may pick up some shifts - I'll just play it by ear. I am planning to go out of town for a few days - have some fun in the sun. The weather has been so beautiful lately - I hope it lasts.

Monday night was a busy night for me. I love busy nights and I hate them. I love them because the time flies right by. I hate them because it feels like you'll never get caught up. It was just about 1 am before I sat down & started charting. By the time I got done charting...it was around 3 am. Time was just zipping by.

My patients weren't too bad - all were stable. I had to transfer two of them to med-surg which meant I was open for two admissions & I got them. Admissions aren't bad, just time consuming. Luckily, they were both pretty much with it & just wanted to sleep. That's always ok with me!

My clinical leader was taking report from me when we heard another patient's 02 sat monitor alarming continuously. We went to check on him & it was in the 60's (ideally...we want it above 92). 60's is really, really bad...it means there isn't enough oxygen circulating in his body. He was very pale & although his eyes were open, he wasn't responding. His nurse tried to tell us this is how he always is, but anyone looking at this man could tell he was in some major distress. We called a code & they ran the medicatons & luckily got a shockable rhythm and were able to bring him back. He ended up being transferred to ICU.

Before I knew it, it was about 5:30 am & the end was in sight. I finished up charting, passed my morning meds & waited for the day shift to arrive. Ahhh, the life of a night shift nurse...lol.

Have a good weekend everyone!