Stu's RN Nightshift Revisited
Last week, I wrapped up month #7 as a new Registered Nurse, working in the ER after ending my career with the Macon Fire Department as a paid employee. No, I don't want to go back to the ole FD, and I don't miss it, either. I miss some of the guys I worked with, but the faces all changed when they promoted some 80 guys to new status and jumbled them all up in new stations. I miss driving Engine #103 sometimes, too.
The big question for now is whether or not I think I can continue working nights, since it messes up everything that I use to believe was normal. I don't have trouble sleeping, but I do staying awake, like in church last night, for example. I sacked out between services and my wife had to practically drag me out of bed. I thought it was Monday morning and couldn't figure out why I had to wake up so dang early.
Stuff Bothers Me
Some of the stuff that bothers me is doing critical care, things they do in the ICU, but since there ain't no rooms available at times, we have to hold them in the ER, or, Emergency Room. I'm talking multi-system failure, the Vent®, sedative drips and surgical procedures. A young woman patient miscarried last week, went to surgery for procedures but the produit de concepcion was left behind in a little plastic cup. I picked it up and looked in the eyes of a fetus, about 1-inch long, and wanted to cry for the little feller. Stuff like that.
Faces Change in ER, Too
Since April, some 26 nurses have left for other hospitals or positions. My best bud went to day shift last week, but I still have my bud from Nigeria. I love nights working with my extern buds because we're all learning together and helping each other out: teamwork. I still have to ask the veterans plenty of questions, but feel like I'm getting into the swing for the most part. So I guess there'll be a new crop of folks filling in all the empty spots soon, but right now we're all working overtime to make up for the gaps. Overtime is good on payday.
Don't Call This Guy a Nurse
Actually, I don't have any problems being called nurse, and so far no one thinks I'm gay for that fact. With guy nurses in general, once you scratch the surface, there's usually some EMT or Paramedic in his background. But the face of nursing is changing gender-wise, as males are filling in for the huge vacancies left by retiring nurses and the female population who are choosing other majors, such as bidness, marketing, and finance, to name a few. Too bad they're not checking into the fact that nursing pays good, better than entry-level business majors. Us guys'll take it from here.
And Speaking of Females
Certain procedures in the ER can only be performed with a female present, for legal and policy purposes. Figure out which ones for yourself. So we ask female techs or other nurses to help out, and it is often a hassle to do so. But the overall landscape of females in my workspace is good, considering I worked with a 100% male staff at the ole Fire Department. Most female co-workers are helpful and self-confident, while others see male presence as a hostile takeover, and keep their distance and attitude accordingly. Some simply need to quit and take up a new career, say, in polar research.
Don't Forget My Beloved
Did I mention my beloved, my wife, in all this? Oops. Yeah, she does have a say, and she's used to me being gone nights from the ole FD days. She's been a great wife, cooking meals ahead encrockpotte or fridge so all I have to do is crank up the oven, or else sling it on a plate. She sees some of my patients upstairs, after they get transferred to ICU, and we talk about patient care in general. She's a great teacher, and I can say those kinds of things about her since she never reads this blog. We're working together to pay off debts, loosely following Dave Ramsey, so one day she can look forward to full-time mom.
The Road Goes On
After all the info I delivered to you, faithful reader of House Calls, rest assured that I feel like I made the right decision to be an RN. When I'm in my niche, Level II or Fastrackin', I love my job and the work and the pay and the people. It really is a people job, and I try to treat folks the way I would want to be treated if I went to the ER feeling rotten as a patient (sound familiar?). I had the chance to pray with a few patients recently, and don't know how they were affected, but they seemed to appreciate my gesture. In fact, there is an opportunity when assessing each new patient to discuss their religious preferences. Looks like a window of opportunity I need to explore more.
Last week, I wrapped up month #7 as a new Registered Nurse, working in the ER after ending my career with the Macon Fire Department as a paid employee. No, I don't want to go back to the ole FD, and I don't miss it, either. I miss some of the guys I worked with, but the faces all changed when they promoted some 80 guys to new status and jumbled them all up in new stations. I miss driving Engine #103 sometimes, too.
The big question for now is whether or not I think I can continue working nights, since it messes up everything that I use to believe was normal. I don't have trouble sleeping, but I do staying awake, like in church last night, for example. I sacked out between services and my wife had to practically drag me out of bed. I thought it was Monday morning and couldn't figure out why I had to wake up so dang early.
Stuff Bothers Me
Some of the stuff that bothers me is doing critical care, things they do in the ICU, but since there ain't no rooms available at times, we have to hold them in the ER, or, Emergency Room. I'm talking multi-system failure, the Vent®, sedative drips and surgical procedures. A young woman patient miscarried last week, went to surgery for procedures but the produit de concepcion was left behind in a little plastic cup. I picked it up and looked in the eyes of a fetus, about 1-inch long, and wanted to cry for the little feller. Stuff like that.
Faces Change in ER, Too
Since April, some 26 nurses have left for other hospitals or positions. My best bud went to day shift last week, but I still have my bud from Nigeria. I love nights working with my extern buds because we're all learning together and helping each other out: teamwork. I still have to ask the veterans plenty of questions, but feel like I'm getting into the swing for the most part. So I guess there'll be a new crop of folks filling in all the empty spots soon, but right now we're all working overtime to make up for the gaps. Overtime is good on payday.
Don't Call This Guy a Nurse
Actually, I don't have any problems being called nurse, and so far no one thinks I'm gay for that fact. With guy nurses in general, once you scratch the surface, there's usually some EMT or Paramedic in his background. But the face of nursing is changing gender-wise, as males are filling in for the huge vacancies left by retiring nurses and the female population who are choosing other majors, such as bidness, marketing, and finance, to name a few. Too bad they're not checking into the fact that nursing pays good, better than entry-level business majors. Us guys'll take it from here.
And Speaking of Females
Certain procedures in the ER can only be performed with a female present, for legal and policy purposes. Figure out which ones for yourself. So we ask female techs or other nurses to help out, and it is often a hassle to do so. But the overall landscape of females in my workspace is good, considering I worked with a 100% male staff at the ole Fire Department. Most female co-workers are helpful and self-confident, while others see male presence as a hostile takeover, and keep their distance and attitude accordingly. Some simply need to quit and take up a new career, say, in polar research.
Don't Forget My Beloved
Did I mention my beloved, my wife, in all this? Oops. Yeah, she does have a say, and she's used to me being gone nights from the ole FD days. She's been a great wife, cooking meals ahead encrockpotte or fridge so all I have to do is crank up the oven, or else sling it on a plate. She sees some of my patients upstairs, after they get transferred to ICU, and we talk about patient care in general. She's a great teacher, and I can say those kinds of things about her since she never reads this blog. We're working together to pay off debts, loosely following Dave Ramsey, so one day she can look forward to full-time mom.
The Road Goes On
After all the info I delivered to you, faithful reader of House Calls, rest assured that I feel like I made the right decision to be an RN. When I'm in my niche, Level II or Fastrackin', I love my job and the work and the pay and the people. It really is a people job, and I try to treat folks the way I would want to be treated if I went to the ER feeling rotten as a patient (sound familiar?). I had the chance to pray with a few patients recently, and don't know how they were affected, but they seemed to appreciate my gesture. In fact, there is an opportunity when assessing each new patient to discuss their religious preferences. Looks like a window of opportunity I need to explore more.
posted by stu at 8:27 AM
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