Thinkin’ Thursday Thoughts

I didn’t know they put prestige in anesthesia!

I thought my husband had a boost of confidence after his recent surgery.

I’m not sure where the profit went.

It didn’t go to the anesthesiologist.

Oh, there are so many jokes I could make here!

Alas, Emergiblog does not engage in “potty humor”.

I shall keep them to myself.

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A huge thank you to all who responded with prayers and support to the post about my aunt’s death.

Her funeral was this week and I managed to give a humorous talk about her life and only wavered at the end.

It must be a nursing thing. I don’t break down about a family death until about a month after it happens. I’m wierd that way. I get through the hard part and BAM!

No, Emeril Lagasse doesn’t show up, I just lose it for awhile.

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I wanted to mention a new, international carnival called the “International Carnival of Pozitivities“.

Let me quote the site directly. ‘Pozitivities is : A blog carnival for people living with HIV/AIDS, their caregivers, family and/or friends or anyone working to eliminate AIDS in the World.

That is us, folks! Every single person on the face of the earth has something to contribute to this carnival.

It’s monthly, and the rules/guidelines are posted at the site linked above.

Many thanks to Ron Hudson, contributor to Change of Shift, owner of the blog 2sides2Ron (and 21-year HIV survivor!) for his dedication to this new Carnival.

Watch for Ron’s submission to the next Change of Shift.

Most excellent.

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Speaking of carnivals, I have noticed that I often get submissions to “Change of Shift” that are fantastic posts but don’t necessarily have a direct connection to nursing itself, although nurses/patients/doctors would find them interesting.

Usually, these posts are fantastic for Grand Rounds and I send them in that direction.

I feel obligated to do that for two reasons:

• The post will get more exposure over at Grand Rounds and I owe it to the submitter to let them know that. CoS is still a “kid” in comparison!

• I feel obligated not to take what would be a great Grand Rounds contribution and thereby dilute the pool of Grand Rounds submissions.

However….if you send a post to CoS that you really, really want on CoS, I am glad to put it in there!  Or you can submit it to both carnivals and really get some exposure!

So if I send you an email that says I think your submission would be great for Grand Rounds, it’s a compliment, and if you email me back saying you would like it in Change of Shift, I’m sure I can oblige!

Of course, if the word “nurse” is anywhere in the post…hint, hint….to CoS it goes!

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Okay, I need some advice here.

I’m catching up on my blog reading and re-formulating my RSS feeds to make it easier for me to keep up.

What happens when you have linked to a blog that has not had a post in two months and there is no “I’m on hiatus…check back” sort of post?

Is it abandoned?

Do you keep your link on the sidebar?

There are a gazillion blogs out there, and I realize not everyone is like me and has a USB port imbedded in their skull so they can blog 24/7.

But there is only so much space on a sidebar for links and I want to make sure they are blogs that are, well, active.

I don’t want to insult anyone by taking their link off, but if they aren’t blogging anymore I can put other, active blogs in that space

What do you do?

Cherry Ames never had to deal with this!

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Rounding Through the ED

A photo of the very first doctors luncheon provided free of charge by a local hospital.

The topic of discussion?

Grand Rounds, of course!

This week AC at “Protect the Airway” takes us through our paces as we travel through the ED, discussing everything from patients to administration, drugs to xrays, soup to nuts.

Okay, I lied about the soup and nuts.

And a personal thanks to AC who accepted a rather late entry from a certain ER nurse who shall remain nameless!

(And what is that guy on the left looking at? He must have a bird’s eye view of the nurses residence….)

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Somebody’s Watching Me

Oh dear….

It this the epitome of kitschiness or what?

Pardon me whilst I wipe up the sap pouring out of my computer.

Most patients don’t see me as an Angel of Mercy.

They see me as the Defender of the Dilaudid stash.

I don’t even wear my cap, although I want to.

My wings would so get in the way….

(Is it just me or does she look like she’s ready to check cervical dilation on two patients at once?)

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Having spent some time with a relative in ICU, I realized that we are being watched.

And judged.

By the family.

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It doesn’t matter where you work.

Nurses are watched.

And families listen.

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That comment you made with a sneer when you realized a patient was returning?

• The family member who beat the ambulance saw you. And heard you.

The times you left your patient exposed when you ran out of the room to grab a piece of equipment?

• The family noticed. Each time. Every time.

That time you offered to help your co-worker with their patient?

• You’re a professional.

The People magazine you were reading at the nurse’s station while your colleagues ran their butts off with 1:1 patients on multiple drips and a ventilator?

• The family watched you. For two weeks.

• The consensus? You’re lazy.

The vivid description of the concert you attended last night that the entire department could hear?

• Numerous families were listening. Think they appreciated your description of your guitar virtuoso du jour?

Keeping the family and patient apprised of how their admission is progressing?

• You’re efficient.

That F-bomb you dropped in the middle of a sentence while inserting an IV?

• It wasn’t appreciated.

Oh, and that gum chewing, finger snapping, in-your-face attitude that you think is so cool?

• It’s obnoxious. And so are you.

If all the world is a stage, when you are working with patients in a hospital setting you are in the spotlight.

Every move, every facial expression, every word you utter adds to the overall impression the patient gets of who you are. What you do as a nurse. Your professionalism.

Or lack of it.

It doesn’t matter that the patient’s perceptions may be inaccurate. Or that the family may have misunderstood.

We are there for them.

And when we are in sight or hearing range of those patients and their families we need to give that impression.

Even if we have to “fake it to make it”.

Because the family is watching.

And the patients are listening.

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