The day from hell!

Well, I got up this morning quite tired as I had worked quite hard yesterday, had a chiropractor appointment & then led out in cell ... yep, definiately was tired.

Had handover and then hit the ward.

As I was getting myself organised ... a couple of things happened:
a doctor rang and wanted his paitent to have a CT abdo instead of a Xray abdo & wanted me to organise it
a patient complained of shortness of breath (very serous complaint)
a confused lady wanted to pass urine yet was quite shaky on her feet & had a bit of pain on her hip & therefore the assistant got her a pan
I had a patient due to be transfered to a Nursing Home & had transport booked at 1000hrs therefore needed showering, feeding, packing & paperwork ... all to be organised at least by 0930hrs in case transport came early
another patient complained of pain yet was Nil by Mouth therefore needed to have panadol put up by IV
A patient had an extensive complaint about the fact she had to share a room with a lady she thought of as a pig ... snoring, burbing etc. throughout the past two days
The lady who one of the assistants put on the pan to pass urine climbed out of bed, put the pan on the floor & stood over the pan to pass urine & then got stuck in that position .. yep, she was confused!!
A wardsman came to pick up my lady who was going for the CT abdo ... and I realised that I hadn't changed the test she was going to have ... she was booked for a X-ray & I hadn't changed it after I got the phone call from the Dr ... therefore the X-ray had to be cancelled and her abdo CT had to be booked .. for later in the shift
One of my ladies went for a Renal Ultrasound (things did need to be done to prep for it!)
The lady who had the IV panadol up was also confused & starting saying things like the panadol was giving her diarhoea ... in other words, she soiled her bed & needed to have a second shower & second bed change!!
One of patient stated that a man from the hospital trasnport service came and saw her & introduced himself to her as he would be the man driving her to the Rehab Hospital today - the patient freaked out as she thought she was going tomorrow (as she just had surgery yesterday!!), the Rehab Hospital rang to check if she was coming & the Dr came to review ... thankfully she was staying another night but there was at least 1/2hr down the drain.
Then all of the sudden, the confused lady (the one who stood over her pan) starting crying after her shower complaining of pain in her hip (which made me wonder if we really should have gotten her up for a shower!) & we had to call the doctor to get an order of morphine for her which helped settle her a lot
And one of the patients who had blood in her stool last night needed to have stool speciems obtained and send to Pathology ... all morning I was waiting for this ... but did get it in the end!! Thankfully, this patient is NOT confused! :)

Basically, nothing was flowing nicely at all ... then 2 major things (even tho I do realise they are minor things really!) happened ... I was suppose to have 2 assistants this morning (sharing them with other RNs, of course!). One I knew from yesterday and we managed to sort out our working relationship & she worked quite well with me today ... the other one I had never meet ... but all of a sudden I found her in the room showering the patient who was due for a discharge to a Nursing Home ... I introduced myself & ensured I did the careful wording of "so, we are working in a team today" instead "so, YOU are working for ME, today, huh?" yet she took one look at me (I could almost see her mind tick over as she took in how young I was & I am positive she recognised me from when I was a student nurse on this ward) & ended up being really rude to me stating things like "I don't know!! I am being shared between three teams so you are expect too much of me today!! Oh, and so you know for next time, I was only allocated 1hr to you so I only shower 1 patient for you. This patient is the only patient I will shower ... don't ask me to do any more! SOMEONE ELSE told me he was being transferred today!! I have showered him so don't TALK TO ME!!" (that last bit was later on, when I stopped her & asked her how she was going with all her patients & if she was holding up ok!!!! Good grief!!!)

The second major (yet minor) issue happened at 0930 when an high and mightly clinical specialist nurse (sounds all technical but basically, her nursing is narrowed into a specific field!) came into my patient's room and found the patient still in bed. She was then quite rude to me in re: to why this patient had not been mobilisied after her surgery (as in this particular surgery, the patient needs to start mobilising straight away!) & why she was still in bed! (BY THE WAY, ANY NURSE WHO HAS EVER WORKED ON THE WARD KNOWS THAT IT IS A MIRACLE IF YOU HAVE ALL, AND I MEAN ALL, YOUR PATIENTS UP & SHOWERED BY 0930!!!). Thankfully, the team leader came around just then to help hand out the DD (Dangerous Drugs) Drugs (e.g. morphine etc.) & this RUDE lady demonstrated her attitude to her ... stating the patient had no pain so she didn't need to be on such strong pain relief (Um, lady, it is the Dr's call to cease such strong pain relief ... there could be potential terrible results if we suddenly took this patient off her pain relief!). My team leader was great - stating the patient wasn't in pain as she was taking this pain relief etc. But I was so offended & upset ... this dear patient, I have looked after for the past week & I have always gotten her up for a walk & mobilised her & she had just complained of pain a bit earlier so I said we might wait till she has had her DD med & then get her up for a shower then which was fine with the patient (it is called implementing good time management!). I was so upset that this stupid lady was indicating that I was not caring for my patient (my favourite patient) well enough ... I just starting crying & since I couldn't leave the team leader with the DD meds (policy to have 2 RNs at all times with the trolley) I ended up crying in front of the patient ... her grabbing my hand & saying things like "I didn't get you into trouble, did I, dear? You are such a wonderful nurse! I love you looking after me" was wonderful but just didn't help stop the tears! I just had to leave the ward then and there! :(

Thankfully, I have a good relationship with the Educator & we had morning tea together & once people knew I was just having a shitty day, I had a fair bit of support ... still hard going & it just didn't seem to stop .... things not working out etc. It was terrible!!

Even the hope that my hope that I would lose a patient since he was being transferred to a Nursing Home didn't happen ... when the ambulance came to pick him up, they couldn't wake him up ... really really unresponsive & his level of consciousness had dropped ... had to do obs, BSL (blood sugar level - just in case!), and then the CMO (Dr on call, basically) came & reviewed him & decided that he wouldn't be discharged & he needed to have bloods taken, a CT of the brain to be booked & an ECG (test of the heart basically) done. I then needed to run to the heard ward & borrow the ECG machine & take this patient's ECG ... I did it with the Educator but somehow we only printed out half the ECG ... so when the CMO came around a bit later, we needed to redo the ECG (meaning, running back to the heart ward, reborrowing the machine, and reconnecting the machine to 10 different leads!!) & then it just wouldn't read one of the leads!!! I grabbed the team leader & the educator to help me ... & they ended up needing to call Clinical Support & sending me for lunch (as it was almost 2pm!) The ECG did end up being done but WOW!! It was just a bit crazy!

And basically, that was my day (normally, there are meds, showers, obs, meds, obs, and maybe some tests) - a truly BAD day! I am thankful that I only had to stay 1/2hr late ... and that is mainly because of the ward staff meeting we had after lunch!

So, yes, I cried! AGAIN!! And yes! I had to learn to get along with a huge variety of people!! And i had to learn how to ask for help & care for myself as well as 6 other people! Let me tell you one thing, nursing is a truly draining job!! It is hard. It is tiring. It is demanding.

But as the cleaner pointed out today - it is the sort of job you need to have a passion for. And I guess this year, is the year where I find out if I have a passion for nursing. It is the trials that test my passion. And i pray that I continue to be so determined & stubborn to have a passion for nursing & force myself to return to work after having shitty days like today.

Anyway, that was my day - just wanted to share - it has been a while since I had a good BITCH!! :D

Oh, but my favourite patient is discharging tomorrow & I said goodbye to her at the end of my shift & both her & her sister gave me hugs & said the nicest things about my nursing ... at least, the shift ended on a good note, huh? :D

Thanks for listening to my vent & rant & rave! :D

The world is not a nice place.

I just came across a trailer for a movie called "The Road to Guantanamo" & the trailer alone made me cry. It about three British muslims who get kidnapped & taken to Guantanamo without trial or conviction. Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbCXyjd7hjc

Whatever happened to Human Rights?

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

My life's update

Hey all!!

What can I say? I have been so busy lately ... so busy I just haven't been able to post blogs or keep in touch with ANYONE (yep, my parents are starting to wonder if they actually do have a daughter or if I am just a (bitter) sweet memory/iilusion!!).

Well, I am now working on Onology (cancer) which so far as been ok ... the staff on this ward are so much nicer than before. I still have anxiety attacks & stress out but I have conquered the steep learning curve of Rotation 1. I know it won't all be down hill from here but I think I have learnt some coping methods which will make things easier to handle. I haven't lost a patient yet but it is only a matter of time ... pretty scary & I reckon I will be a bit of mess when it happens but it is one of those things a nurse needs to face. :p

My social life is kinda down the toilet but I am able to still do stuff ... not much but some. Michael & I took off randomly & saw Kris & Chris last week for a quick visit which was really nice!! :D I miss my college mates! :(

Actually, am planning on going paintballing at the end of this month! :D Wahoo!! :D Top three things on my list to do (eventually) is: paintballing, white water rafting (bit cold - may need to wait a bit) & suba diving (of course, it is handy that my b/f goes on a semi-regularly basis, huh?).

Stuff at church & cell is going well ... it can be hard because I don't always have work off on Sat morning & Wed evening but when I do get to go, I enjoy it! :D I will be in a play this coming weekend (nothing too exciting ... 3 lines, but it is a start ... and since I haven't acted in ages and ages, it will be a nice beginning!). And I may just be leading out at cell in the near future. :p

Driving is going well... got the hours but I just don't have the confidence or the experience ... but definiately working towards a licence. :D

May be going hiking in October!! I miss hiking!! So I am really excited!! Just need to get equipment!! :D Hiking!! Camping!! Wahoo!! :D I miss all that stuff so much! :D

Oh, and just because I can, Michael & I celebrated our 1 month anniversary yesterday!!! He brought me roses!! :D

Ok, sorry, just had to gush for 5 secs. It's ok. I have a grip on myself now! :D

Well, that's about all the news for the moment ... what can I say - I am becoming quite boring with working ALL the time!

Hope you are all going well & finding some time for yourselves! :D

Blue Nurse