Chernobyl, 20 years later.
Check out this site chernobyl legacy.
It's painful to see the children suffering.
Check out this site chernobyl legacy.
It's painful to see the children suffering.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The best day in years.
Man, today is the easiest day in my professional life. One patient and an admit at noon. The admit never came and I "baby" sat one patient all day long. The charge didn't send me home so something was up. The other registry nurse was the one who transfered and admitted. She had a bad afternoon as her patient was intubated and a swan ganz catheter was inserted. Her blood pressure was very low and a ton of things needs to be done.
Days like this is rare. So i'm writing about it. I had two lunch breaks and no one complained. People were busy but they were not concerned about me. They are doing their work as they should. In some hospitals, "busy" nurses will actually get mad at me because they are busy and I'm not. Most Filipina nurses and Chinese nurses are like this. I think it's cultural. Asians are dominant in nursing but boy they can be mean heartless beasts. Whites and Latino nurses rarely act in a vindictive way. They communicate better by explaining and leading not yelling and intimidating. Just my observation, I don't have funding for a grant to study this observation.
The unfortunate fact is that a lot of Asian nurses are in management. They are mean and nasty at that position too. They preach professionalism but not act as one. They hold grudges and have childish behaviours. I don't admire their position.
Enough of the poisons of my profession. The good things are rare and far apart. I just enjoy it when it does happen.
Man, today is the easiest day in my professional life. One patient and an admit at noon. The admit never came and I "baby" sat one patient all day long. The charge didn't send me home so something was up. The other registry nurse was the one who transfered and admitted. She had a bad afternoon as her patient was intubated and a swan ganz catheter was inserted. Her blood pressure was very low and a ton of things needs to be done.
Days like this is rare. So i'm writing about it. I had two lunch breaks and no one complained. People were busy but they were not concerned about me. They are doing their work as they should. In some hospitals, "busy" nurses will actually get mad at me because they are busy and I'm not. Most Filipina nurses and Chinese nurses are like this. I think it's cultural. Asians are dominant in nursing but boy they can be mean heartless beasts. Whites and Latino nurses rarely act in a vindictive way. They communicate better by explaining and leading not yelling and intimidating. Just my observation, I don't have funding for a grant to study this observation.
The unfortunate fact is that a lot of Asian nurses are in management. They are mean and nasty at that position too. They preach professionalism but not act as one. They hold grudges and have childish behaviours. I don't admire their position.
Enough of the poisons of my profession. The good things are rare and far apart. I just enjoy it when it does happen.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Unmotivated...
I continue to feel unmotivated. The nursing job is just old and uninteresting. I've seen it all, I believe, in the field I'm in. There are a couple of non critical care hospitals around my area. One is Casa Colina. A rehab center in Pomona. Another is Aurora Charter Oak, a behavioral facility in Covina. Both are interesting places to work at but will it hold my interest?
Rehab nursing is not the most interesting field in nursing but it serves a niche. Psych nursing I think is interesting as long as some one is doing the tackling for those special moments when the neurons aren't firing right. Images of the devil chasing you are not the most joyfull thoughts in a schizo's mind. Believe me, not everyone is a Nobel prize winning mathematecian.
I think working in registry has it's negative side. Yeah, the schedule is great. This can also mean not getting enough work because flexibility means not working. Having very little money should be a motivation.
I'm playing with the thought of getting a management degree. School vs. on the job traning comes into mind. I don't want to incur more loans besides the ones I currently have. Okay they are not educational loans but they are the same, they are money owed. It will be better if I can start off as a supervisor and then work my way up to management. At forty, I think I have enough experience to do it.
I've asked supervisors how they got into management and one responded that she was injured and can't do any more nursing care. That is exactly the way I feel. Be there on the right time and the right place.
I continue to feel unmotivated. The nursing job is just old and uninteresting. I've seen it all, I believe, in the field I'm in. There are a couple of non critical care hospitals around my area. One is Casa Colina. A rehab center in Pomona. Another is Aurora Charter Oak, a behavioral facility in Covina. Both are interesting places to work at but will it hold my interest?
Rehab nursing is not the most interesting field in nursing but it serves a niche. Psych nursing I think is interesting as long as some one is doing the tackling for those special moments when the neurons aren't firing right. Images of the devil chasing you are not the most joyfull thoughts in a schizo's mind. Believe me, not everyone is a Nobel prize winning mathematecian.
I think working in registry has it's negative side. Yeah, the schedule is great. This can also mean not getting enough work because flexibility means not working. Having very little money should be a motivation.
I'm playing with the thought of getting a management degree. School vs. on the job traning comes into mind. I don't want to incur more loans besides the ones I currently have. Okay they are not educational loans but they are the same, they are money owed. It will be better if I can start off as a supervisor and then work my way up to management. At forty, I think I have enough experience to do it.
I've asked supervisors how they got into management and one responded that she was injured and can't do any more nursing care. That is exactly the way I feel. Be there on the right time and the right place.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Communication barriers.
I worked at COH (City of Hope) last Good Friday. Dealing with non english speaking patient is quite challenging. Basic needs that we take for granted may not be available if stuck in bed and your nurse can't speak the three languages that you do speak. Farsi, Armenian and Turkish.
I envy people who are multilingual but they have to be in the right side of the planet.
The situation was frustrating. The good thing was he wasn't that sick and was recovering well. Eating was a great need and most culture believe that if you don't eat you get sicker. Not eating actually clearthe toxic crap out of your body and make you better. Energy wise, a bed rest patient needs so little energy that liquids alone will suffice for a few days.
My patient started eating his tissues to tell me that he wants to eat. That really upset me and I confiscated his tissue box. I started giving him some liquids as I wait for the meal to arrive. One thing about the new hospital at COH is that the cafeteria is a separate building. Food needs to be wheeled in from that building. I'm glad I'm not doing it as it has been raining a lot out there the past few days.
Smoking 3 and a half packs of smokes a day will cause tumors to grow around the neck. Having a history of neck tumors would make a sensible person quit. Not this patient. 17 years ago, he had a tumor removed on his right neck. Today, he had one removed from the left. My brother is right. People will continue to smoke so lets invest in cigarette companies. The demand is there so the product will continue to sell. It's like any chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and obesity. They can be controlled by diet, exercise and medications. Unfortunately, excess eating and sedentary lifestyle prevails.
I worked at COH (City of Hope) last Good Friday. Dealing with non english speaking patient is quite challenging. Basic needs that we take for granted may not be available if stuck in bed and your nurse can't speak the three languages that you do speak. Farsi, Armenian and Turkish.
I envy people who are multilingual but they have to be in the right side of the planet.
The situation was frustrating. The good thing was he wasn't that sick and was recovering well. Eating was a great need and most culture believe that if you don't eat you get sicker. Not eating actually clearthe toxic crap out of your body and make you better. Energy wise, a bed rest patient needs so little energy that liquids alone will suffice for a few days.
My patient started eating his tissues to tell me that he wants to eat. That really upset me and I confiscated his tissue box. I started giving him some liquids as I wait for the meal to arrive. One thing about the new hospital at COH is that the cafeteria is a separate building. Food needs to be wheeled in from that building. I'm glad I'm not doing it as it has been raining a lot out there the past few days.
Smoking 3 and a half packs of smokes a day will cause tumors to grow around the neck. Having a history of neck tumors would make a sensible person quit. Not this patient. 17 years ago, he had a tumor removed on his right neck. Today, he had one removed from the left. My brother is right. People will continue to smoke so lets invest in cigarette companies. The demand is there so the product will continue to sell. It's like any chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and obesity. They can be controlled by diet, exercise and medications. Unfortunately, excess eating and sedentary lifestyle prevails.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Off jury duty!
Monday was my first and last day for jury duty. I sat at the juror waiting room for the whole day. Two groups were called after lunch. The clerk will call in the names of people who will be going to be picked as juror. It was not really bad but that will really kill the week.
Prior to the year 2000. I used to sit in the juror waiting room the whole day for 10 days. Now a days, I can call in if my group is being called, if not, I go to work. If I get called, I show up at 8:30 in the morning and pray I don't get called for a case. I have a good book to read with me. There are plenty of reading material around if you want to read yesterdays bad new or yesterday's "new" technology.
Taxes paid, thank God it's over.
I love getting refunds from my taxes but I hate getting reciepts and paper work together. I've been working on my taxes for weeks. I make sure that I get every cent that I can deduct. I need to get a box where I can toss every receipt instead of keeping them in my wallet.
I drove 35 miles to my accountant in Los Angeles. Driving my old Honda Civic was nostalgic of the time I used to drive to work in L.A. I don't miss it at all. The price of gas has risen considerably during that past week and I don't want to spend too much on gas. I also tried to drive at 60-65 mph. I succeeded without anyone honking their horns at me. I stayed on the slow lane to avoid hot headed speed demons. The Civic is a well built car, it's 1500 cc engine has not given me any problems. I try to keep up with scheduled maitenance but since I don't drive it hard, I delay a lot of it until my conscience can't stand it anymore. Sure there are squeeking parts here and there but a nice stereo system can fix that problem. I have a set of new shock absorbers for it and it drives much better than the original. The new KYB shock absorber is better than stock Honda parts. It will never drive like a sedan as it doesn't have the wheel base to make it so.
I also went and visit my parents resting place in Glendale, after buying some flowers from the flower shop across the street from the cemetery. The brass plaque was all soiled due to a recent rain and burial not far from theirs.
Deciding what to have for lunch was a little challenging. I settled for Sizzler not far from the cemetery. The salad bar was over priced but I need to watch my diet and my wallet.
The Holy Week is good so far. I just need to get some work in so I have some income for the week. I can't wait for the weekend. Easter is always nice.
Monday was my first and last day for jury duty. I sat at the juror waiting room for the whole day. Two groups were called after lunch. The clerk will call in the names of people who will be going to be picked as juror. It was not really bad but that will really kill the week.
Prior to the year 2000. I used to sit in the juror waiting room the whole day for 10 days. Now a days, I can call in if my group is being called, if not, I go to work. If I get called, I show up at 8:30 in the morning and pray I don't get called for a case. I have a good book to read with me. There are plenty of reading material around if you want to read yesterdays bad new or yesterday's "new" technology.
Taxes paid, thank God it's over.
I love getting refunds from my taxes but I hate getting reciepts and paper work together. I've been working on my taxes for weeks. I make sure that I get every cent that I can deduct. I need to get a box where I can toss every receipt instead of keeping them in my wallet.
I drove 35 miles to my accountant in Los Angeles. Driving my old Honda Civic was nostalgic of the time I used to drive to work in L.A. I don't miss it at all. The price of gas has risen considerably during that past week and I don't want to spend too much on gas. I also tried to drive at 60-65 mph. I succeeded without anyone honking their horns at me. I stayed on the slow lane to avoid hot headed speed demons. The Civic is a well built car, it's 1500 cc engine has not given me any problems. I try to keep up with scheduled maitenance but since I don't drive it hard, I delay a lot of it until my conscience can't stand it anymore. Sure there are squeeking parts here and there but a nice stereo system can fix that problem. I have a set of new shock absorbers for it and it drives much better than the original. The new KYB shock absorber is better than stock Honda parts. It will never drive like a sedan as it doesn't have the wheel base to make it so.
I also went and visit my parents resting place in Glendale, after buying some flowers from the flower shop across the street from the cemetery. The brass plaque was all soiled due to a recent rain and burial not far from theirs.
Deciding what to have for lunch was a little challenging. I settled for Sizzler not far from the cemetery. The salad bar was over priced but I need to watch my diet and my wallet.
The Holy Week is good so far. I just need to get some work in so I have some income for the week. I can't wait for the weekend. Easter is always nice.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Jury Duty
I called to check if I'm being called in for jury duty next Monday. They want me to come in. Sucks. My friend got out of it for the whole week without coming in. UNFAIR.
Being a citizen of this great country has it's price. I have to serve in a jury every other year or so. What case will I get to hear this time. My very first was insurance fraud. The second was terrorist act. No it has nothing to do with the arabs. The third one was a drive by shooting. All this in the past 17 years. I keep moving in the late 1980's and early 90's so they can't keep up with me. I've been called 3 times since I moved here in my pesent home.
I wish my employer pays for my jury duty but no such luck this time. I'm registry so no benefits. I will earn about $5 a day in the name of justice. Hee haaa, love this country or get the hell out.
I called to check if I'm being called in for jury duty next Monday. They want me to come in. Sucks. My friend got out of it for the whole week without coming in. UNFAIR.
Being a citizen of this great country has it's price. I have to serve in a jury every other year or so. What case will I get to hear this time. My very first was insurance fraud. The second was terrorist act. No it has nothing to do with the arabs. The third one was a drive by shooting. All this in the past 17 years. I keep moving in the late 1980's and early 90's so they can't keep up with me. I've been called 3 times since I moved here in my pesent home.
I wish my employer pays for my jury duty but no such luck this time. I'm registry so no benefits. I will earn about $5 a day in the name of justice. Hee haaa, love this country or get the hell out.
Gospel of Judas.
I knew it, I knew it. I've been suspicious since high school on how a disciple can betray the Messiah. I just won't buy the fact that a believer can do such a terrible act. When Good Morning America showed a National Geographic story about the Gospel of Judas that revealed that Judas was encouraged by Jesus to betray him, I was not totally surprised. Now there is proof.
I knew it, I knew it. I've been suspicious since high school on how a disciple can betray the Messiah. I just won't buy the fact that a believer can do such a terrible act. When Good Morning America showed a National Geographic story about the Gospel of Judas that revealed that Judas was encouraged by Jesus to betray him, I was not totally surprised. Now there is proof.
Size does matter.
Once in a long while I get a chance to care for super large people. How big you ask? 300lbs, nope, guess again. 400 lbs. Ah, not even close. 500lbs. Getting warm. 520lbs. BINGO.
He lies on a special duty bed. One made by Caterpillar or John Deere. Professional quality bed with trapeeze attachment so patients can use their arms to lift their torso. There is a heavy duty air mattress with adjustable firmness levels from head to toe. I'd say $1500 per day rental for this puppy.
Registry nurses gets all the fun with jumbo patients. The regular staff will pass it on to the fools from the registry who even dared show up for work today. Time to earn our money and we don't even get help because everybody is busy.
It took 7-8 people to turn him (I'll use the male gender for simplification, I can't disclose patient's gender). His back is excoriated due to immobilization. Policy suggest turning patients every two hours. I just don't know where to find the resources to turn this person that often. Eveybody was busy with their own patients.
How did he get this big? Apparently he had back problems (I wonder why) and a botched back surgery that made him immobile. Immobility may lead to morbid obesity. On the other hand there are those who pursue atheletic endeavors when they get disabled.
I took care of the client for two days. I was hurting after the second day. Sharp pain start shooting from my left shoulder. I'm careful not to hurt myself when taking care of large people but it comes with the territory.
Once in a long while I get a chance to care for super large people. How big you ask? 300lbs, nope, guess again. 400 lbs. Ah, not even close. 500lbs. Getting warm. 520lbs. BINGO.
He lies on a special duty bed. One made by Caterpillar or John Deere. Professional quality bed with trapeeze attachment so patients can use their arms to lift their torso. There is a heavy duty air mattress with adjustable firmness levels from head to toe. I'd say $1500 per day rental for this puppy.
Registry nurses gets all the fun with jumbo patients. The regular staff will pass it on to the fools from the registry who even dared show up for work today. Time to earn our money and we don't even get help because everybody is busy.
It took 7-8 people to turn him (I'll use the male gender for simplification, I can't disclose patient's gender). His back is excoriated due to immobilization. Policy suggest turning patients every two hours. I just don't know where to find the resources to turn this person that often. Eveybody was busy with their own patients.
How did he get this big? Apparently he had back problems (I wonder why) and a botched back surgery that made him immobile. Immobility may lead to morbid obesity. On the other hand there are those who pursue atheletic endeavors when they get disabled.
I took care of the client for two days. I was hurting after the second day. Sharp pain start shooting from my left shoulder. I'm careful not to hurt myself when taking care of large people but it comes with the territory.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Garage door.
Damn this garage door. The remote opens up the door but not down. Arrgh. Some days it works the some days it doesn't. I've had it. I installed it 7 years ago. It was brand new.
Wait a minute, the internet should have the answer. Sure enough, Genie has a website. Trouble shooter indicates that the safety trip light should blink if there is a problem. I checked it and the red light was off. I moved the sensor one way and the red light turned on. Pressing the remote opens and closes the door. Easy enough, saved me $70, atleast. heehaa
Damn this garage door. The remote opens up the door but not down. Arrgh. Some days it works the some days it doesn't. I've had it. I installed it 7 years ago. It was brand new.
Wait a minute, the internet should have the answer. Sure enough, Genie has a website. Trouble shooter indicates that the safety trip light should blink if there is a problem. I checked it and the red light was off. I moved the sensor one way and the red light turned on. Pressing the remote opens and closes the door. Easy enough, saved me $70, atleast. heehaa
Monday, April 03, 2006
Cycle of Life.
The baby boom generation is aging and one of the best job to have in terms of demand is funeral director/embalmer. Like nursing, no one wants to be one of this.
I've been an ICU nurse for 10 years and I still believe that all patients in the ICU needs to be saved from death. It was my belief that all efforts has to be spent to save people. As the population of our country reaches its golden age, the elderly frequent the expensive beds of ICUs in the country.
I've seen way more DNR conversations between doctors and families. More ventilator tubes are being pulled to let the elder pass away in peace. No more intrusive tube in the throat and nose and catheters to the bladder. No more central lines to pump antibiotics, fluids, TPNs and lipids. No more daily lab draws and chest xrays. No more turning and unnecesary movements that causes excruciating pain.
The first that died on my watch was a DNR. She was in her 70's and 80's. It was a very uneasy feeling to just let her go. Why no just let her in the medical floor if we are not going to do everything?
I also observed that those family members that are hardest to deal with are those who has lost connection with the dying patient. People show up demanding to find the same person they left 20-30 years ago. Time changes people and people change with time.
I'm just glad that I don't have any major issues with my now deceased parents. I lived the good child life the best I could. The tons of money that went to Catholic school education was not wasted. I have repaid all the personal debt I owe to my parents and my siblings. They helped in those lean days when I was unemployed and have to reinvent myself. I returned the favor by helping them when they need me. I don't wait to be asked, I volunteered.
It was hard to lose my parents. I wanted them to live longer. To see me successful and to repay what they have given me. I wanted them to see my house, my Benz and to show them that people can make it from one bedroom apartment building and riding the bus to a nice home in the suburbs with 4 cars and a dog. Let's not go to the family thing as that is off limits. :-)
The relationships are precious. This life is so short to dislike each other. So let's love each other so we can live longer. All I can say is take your vitamins and replace your windows. That is the secret to long life.
The baby boom generation is aging and one of the best job to have in terms of demand is funeral director/embalmer. Like nursing, no one wants to be one of this.
I've been an ICU nurse for 10 years and I still believe that all patients in the ICU needs to be saved from death. It was my belief that all efforts has to be spent to save people. As the population of our country reaches its golden age, the elderly frequent the expensive beds of ICUs in the country.
I've seen way more DNR conversations between doctors and families. More ventilator tubes are being pulled to let the elder pass away in peace. No more intrusive tube in the throat and nose and catheters to the bladder. No more central lines to pump antibiotics, fluids, TPNs and lipids. No more daily lab draws and chest xrays. No more turning and unnecesary movements that causes excruciating pain.
The first that died on my watch was a DNR. She was in her 70's and 80's. It was a very uneasy feeling to just let her go. Why no just let her in the medical floor if we are not going to do everything?
I also observed that those family members that are hardest to deal with are those who has lost connection with the dying patient. People show up demanding to find the same person they left 20-30 years ago. Time changes people and people change with time.
I'm just glad that I don't have any major issues with my now deceased parents. I lived the good child life the best I could. The tons of money that went to Catholic school education was not wasted. I have repaid all the personal debt I owe to my parents and my siblings. They helped in those lean days when I was unemployed and have to reinvent myself. I returned the favor by helping them when they need me. I don't wait to be asked, I volunteered.
It was hard to lose my parents. I wanted them to live longer. To see me successful and to repay what they have given me. I wanted them to see my house, my Benz and to show them that people can make it from one bedroom apartment building and riding the bus to a nice home in the suburbs with 4 cars and a dog. Let's not go to the family thing as that is off limits. :-)
The relationships are precious. This life is so short to dislike each other. So let's love each other so we can live longer. All I can say is take your vitamins and replace your windows. That is the secret to long life.
