A Nurse's Tale

Been Busy

2009-12-18T12:22:00.003Z

Been a while that I did not write anything in all my blog. Been busy the whole month especially that the school holiday started last week. And with Christmas that's coming and birthday of my 2 daughter I need to do more extra shift. Lucky that my salary is every 2 weeks. Unlike before on my last job that extra shift will be paid the next month. Last week I did two extra shift and hopefully I can do another one this coming Sunday. Need to go now because I need to look for xbox 360 online for my son.

Who Is Pam?

2009-12-06T12:53:00.004Z

One of my patient last week had her tumor that metastasized in her brain removed. Because of it big part of his brain was removed. So what do you expect? Most of his memory was gone. He was very confused and kept calling the name Pam. It was a long 12 hours night and all I can hear is Pam. So who is Pam? It is his wife of 30 years. He cannot remember or recognised anything even his kids name and face apart from his wife Pam. Oh so sweet!

Anyway, need to go now because I am very tired from my 12 hours day shift at work and I still need to look for a steam cleaner online for my friend. Goodnight everybody.

Punched by Patient

2009-11-22T14:16:00.004Z

Did an overtime last night (New Moon can wait hehe) and I had a very easy patient but the next bed is a different story. The patient is barking mad. He was very very confused and violent. I was so please that I did not have him. The one who looked after him is an agency nurse. A very tall and big woman, around 6'2'' in height and moderately obese. At the start of he shift I kept asking if she needs a help. But she said she can manage and she wants to be alone. I think she was stress. Then early morning around 4am she was punch. She was very upset and went home straightaway. I'm sure she's going to have a dark eye circles because the patient is big and very strong. Oh life as a nurse is hard indeed.

I Need A

2009-11-20T14:30:00.003Z

In any circumstances nurses are not allowed to use the sideroom toilets. WTF! I read that in the notice board last week and a lot of nurses in the unit disagree. Staff toilet from the sideroom is about 1 km. away. Yah I'm not joking. So, do I need to run there and leave my patient? Or just use the patient toilet in the sideroom? Of course I will use the patient toilet, pt. doesn't use it anyway because they are unconscious. I don't know why they are making this as a big issue. Maybe because they think it will cost them more money for cleaning the American Standard toilets that we have. Uhm private hospitals, whatever!

Do I Need To Do It?

2009-11-20T14:22:00.002Z

The whole shift when I was at work today I was thinking if I will do an extra shift tomorrow. The pay is very good because it is weekend - 12 hours extra pay rate and another 9 hours basic pay rate for enhancement. I don't want to do it but I want the money. I want to spend the afternoon with my 2 girls in the cinema to watch New Moon. But I know they will understand if we can't do it. New Moon will be out in the cinema for a long while for sure. So tomorrow if the unit will call me I will do an extra shift. I need to pay our bills you know.

He Needs GPS

2009-11-18T12:12:00.003Z

If you've been a patient/relatives/visitor in ICU you will notice that the patient (if not you - if you were the patient) that you are visiting when they are awake most of them are confused. This may be related to sedation, noise that the patient can hear (nurses chats and monitor alarms) or any related causes during ICU admission. Last night my patient was absolutely alright when I arrived at the start of the shift. Then here come middle of the night. Yes most of the patients get confused or gets worst at midnight (as what I noticed). My patient is trying to get out of bed. I was with another patient and heard his monitor alarm. And guess what his *central line was already out when I went to his bedside. He said that he was lost and he needs a gps to go back to his house. lol. Good thing is that the pacing wire is very secure if not the patient will be in big trouble. Whew! that was a relieved.

*Central line is a long fine catheter with an opening (sometimes multiple openings) at each end used to deliver fluids and drugs. The central line is inserted through the skin into a large vein that feeds into a larger vein sitting above the heart, so that the tip of the catheter sits close to the heart. There are several veins that are suitable for access, and the line may be inserted above or below the collarbone, on the side of your neck, in your groin or at the front of the elbow.

Soon....

2009-11-18T12:06:00.003Z

Soon I will apply our residency status here in Australia through my employer. I cannot wait to have our residency status so that I can get shifts from another hospital. Psssst don't tell them :) I really miss taking care of very sick general ICU patients. Also, I want to try what government hospitals like here in Australia because if they have more benefits and the system is better then maybe I will transfer. But that will depend also. For now. I will finish another 6 months in my employer and see how it is like after that time.

What If?

2009-11-11T23:59:00.003Z

This is related to my previous post. I'm just thinking if I will stop doing nursing job. What do you think I will end up? I am thinking of maybe doing an Admin Jobs? No I don't think so. I hate paper works that even my own file I cannot do it. What more if I will do this type of job. How about a teacher or a clinical instructor? No, I hate teaching!!! I think what I need to do is to save money so that I can put up my own business. But the answer is when?

Help Needed

2009-11-11T23:45:00.004Z

I do six 12 hours and one 8 hours shift forth nightly. Mostly night shifts. And that's not including the shifts for overtime. So overall in one month I do around 10-14 nights shift. It is quite difficult because I don't get much sleep during the day and during the night when I'm off. I've been doing this job for more than 13 years now. Don't know how many years more I can cope. Looking myself in the mirror make me scared to death because I can see wrinkles slowly showing up. If you know any wrinkle cream that works wonder please do tell me. Help me please. I don't want to get old early.

Disturbed

2009-11-11T23:25:00.004Z

Few days ago, I had a patient who had his 6 teeth extracted. And because he is a smoker and a drinker his lung did not cope with the anesthesia that he had. He was admitted to ICU immediately for airway management. I was wondering how this patient survived for his day to day life? He is a doctor and still practicing. How can he manage to treat people while he cannot look after his self???

I just hope there's no situition like this that happened in his clinic... lol.

Brought A patient in Morgue

2009-11-09T02:37:00.002Z

As I said my patient died on my shift last week. The same process in UK. Nurses do the cleaning and washing of the dead patient. The one that I did not expect is that I will go to the morgue too and sign that I brought the patient over there. It was spooky!!! There was only 4 spaces of a freezer like room. Good thing is that it was day time. I was thinking what if it happened on night shift? It will be very scary.

Anyway, need to have a break now because I still need to clean the copper kitchen sink/copper kitchen sinks that we have. And need to sort out the dishes from yesterday's party.

Motorcycle Accident

2009-11-09T01:46:00.002Z

My husband friend is selling his motorcycle and my husband is thinking of getting it. Hubby said that motorcycle is very cheap to run. But the answer from me is a big NO. I already encountered a lot of motorcycle accidents and they we're bad. Most cases end up with head injury if not spinal injury. And worst in most cases they died. Now who wants a motorcycle? but if you do, you need to have a good insurance and good attorney to cover you in case of accident. Try Pleasanton motorcycle accident attorney and see what they can offer you.

Cannot Predict Life

2009-11-09T01:35:00.004Z

My last post as I said I already know what will happen on my shift. But it did not turned out like that. My patient died. Which is unusual in the hospital where I work because we don't have a lot of very sick patient. I thought the patient will be stable with me because he was OK for 3 days. But then he died. Actually 2 of them died in a span of only 4 hours. I think they we're waiting each other. There was a time that when my colleague was cleaning the patient who died first the pt. buzzer was on which the nurse said she did not press it. So I told her that maybe the deceased patient did it to remind my patient to hurry up and he did hurry up. His blood pressure went down and he did not react to any treatment at all. Anyway, better for them because they we're in ICU for long time and not improving at all. Now they are resting where ever they are. May their soul rest in peace.

Thankful...

2009-11-04T12:42:00.003Z

After off sick for 3 days, day off for 2 days, 1 night shift and another 2 days off. I am back for two 12 hours day shift. Urgh!!! I am sure it will be a busy shift again. Moving and transferring patient to the ward and getting a new case of open heart surgery. See? I know already what will happen :) But still, I am thankful that I have a job and it pay all the bills. I think I need to rest now after looking for insurance online so that I will have more energy for tomorrow. Goodnight everybody.

She Looks Good

2009-10-29T16:02:00.003Z

A lot of my colleagues goes to the gym. One of them was featured in slimming competition because she loss a lot of weight. She said she started from 130 kgs and now down to 65 kgs and she is about 5'10''. She said she did everything to achieve this, gym for 1 hour when she's off, run for 1 hour when off, she watch what she eats, she takes diet pills and everything you can think of. Now she really looks good. I don't know if I can do everything she's gone. I think I can't.

Bored Nurse

2009-10-29T15:51:00.004Z

Now that I work in Cardiothoracic ICU I find it so boring. No more interesting cases that I handle. Work is very routine. I miss looking after patient who are so poorly with a lot of issues. I cannot wait to get my residency status so that I can apply another job to different hospitals. The good thing is work is very light apart when I do day shifts which involve transferring patients to the ward. I want to be busy but not that type of work. I want to handle patient with complicated situation. Call me weird.

Lose Belly Fat

2009-10-27T04:12:00.004Z

Yesterday when I was at work me and my colleague discussed how we will lose our belly fat. Being a mother of 3 is not easy. And with a very good appetite like me it is a sacrifice. But I am trying my best. I jog now 2 to 4 times a week. Just for half an hour but better than nothing. I know it will take time to lose belly fat but at least I am doing something because if I will just sit and do nothing I'm sure I will get bigger and bigger.

What If ?

2009-10-27T03:48:00.005Z

What if you had a surgery and the surgery is not intended to you? I witnessed another case again. If it will be me I will sue the doctor's who done the surgery. Have you heard about medical stories that gone wrong? Yes it is true and according to survey the rate is around 12 to 20%. Scary.

Live Chat for Nurses

2009-10-20T04:39:00.007+01:00

The good thing working in Intensive Care Unit is the work is light. We only have one patient most of the time. Now being in Cardiothoracic ICU, the job is more routine and patient are not too bad at all. They are still and ventilated but they are not sick sick (if you know what I mean). If they are ventilated problem is we need to be in the bedside all the time except breaktime and if I am in the side room imagine for 12 hour shift I don't talk to anybody. I wonder if there's any hospital with a live chat for doctors and nurses? I think it will be fun, fun, fun. Check the link now for live chat.

Facts About Mesothelioma Cancer

2009-10-10T15:17:00.000+01:00

Have you been exposed to asbestos? If you are you should be aware that asbestos is a very toxic material and it can cause mesothelioma cancer. For you to be aware mesothelioma may not develop until 15 - 40 years after you have been exposed to asbestos, which is widely used in building industry, ship building industry, manufacture of household appliances, motor industry, power stations and telephone exchanges. Asbestos is an insulating material that is heat and fire resistant. If you have been exposed and affected by this disease, check mesotheliomahelp.net for more information, how they can help you and for treatments for Mesothelioma.

I Still Miss My Good Friend

2009-10-10T14:49:00.003+01:00

All human beings don't know when our life end. One of my friend died 2 years ago. She was a nurse too. She went home to Philippines to attend family reunion and she never came back. What happened is she collapsed few days before her departure to UK where she worked. They discovered that she has brain tumor. She had surgery and 2 more surgeries but she did not make it. She died.... she was only 36 years old. Until now I still miss her.

Working in a hospital where I see a lot of cases like her make me realized that I need to get a good insurance to secure my kids in case something bad will happen to me. If you are looking for one too you can get cheap term life insurance rates in wholesaleinsurance.net. Better to do it now while we are still healthy.

A Nurse With Good Appetite :)

2009-09-30T15:18:00.002+01:00

I remember when I was new in nursing I can survive shifts especially night duty with only drinks - either coffee, tea, water or cola. But now that I am getting older and fatter I need to eat something with my drinks. So the result? Me getting fatter and fatter everyday. If any of you know the best appetite suppressant in the market please do tell me. I need it badly.

Back To Work

2009-09-30T15:09:00.001+01:00

After 1 week off duty I am back again to work tomorrow. Back to reality where I do 12 long hours shifting day and night. I wonder when I am going to win lottery so that I can retire early. Oh life!!!

Pet Supplements

2009-09-28T17:59:00.004+01:00

Most people that I know here in Oz are very particular with their health which is really really good. They exercise and eat healthy foods and some of them that I know include their pets to be healthy. One of my colleague buys pet supplements for her dog to maintain her dog's weight which is beneficial for the dog. Check jefferspet.com for any type of pet food and pet supplements. Where you can find quality products in discounted prices.

Ugg Boots For Nurses :)

2009-09-19T15:07:00.000+01:00

Now that it is spring time Ugg boots here in Australia are on sale. Not that I want it but one of my best friend in UK who is a nurse too want it. Ugg boots looks nice and comfy but living in a warm place I think it will not be comfortable. Back in UK, almost all of my colleagues have one and they said that even it s a little bit pricey it's all worth it. It reminds me that I need to check the price for my friend N.