My Holiday: Leave Mommy Alone, I have to Study.

The holidays were rough this year. Mostly due to time - there was not enough of it for me, it seems. I started my journey to obtain my BSN in a year. Since I already have a degree, I mainly have to take nursing courses except for 2 classes. In order to follow my year plan, I had to figure out how to take a 3 credit computer class in the least amount of time.. somehow. I found a 15 day "mini-mester" course at a local community college. I have never taken one of these courses, so I expected the course load to be heavy, but really...how much could you fit into 2 weeks? Well, I discovered - all of it.
In those 2 weeks, they managed to map out reading the whole text, a quiz on every chapter with 3 exams and one comprehensive final, 10 discussion posts, and 10 labs in various computer programs and online research. Unfortunately, I had scheduled some shifts to work during this time which added the stress of doing double on the days I had off. Most days I had around 10-14 hours of schoolwork.
This was a big mistake on my part because it was during the weeks of Christmas & New Years. I have no real background in computers - I was sitting at my computer trying to learn how to write html code in notepad because I had to design a simple website and thought, "What the f#@* was I thinking by taking this class?!!".

I had to pass on a lot of our Christmas traditions this year. I didn't have time to send out cards (except one to my former patient that lived when I was in EMS - see previous year's post), I couldn't have my Christmas cookie bake day that my kids look forward to, I didn't have time to take them to see the light display at a local park. I did manage to triple up on one day (it nearly killed me) in order to have Christmas Eve with no school work so I could make 2 batches of cookies with the kids. They were very understanding and still enjoyed it.

My daughter asked me if I plan on taking a class like this again. She said it was too crazy because I would go into my office around 9am and ask them not to disturb me. I would pop out for breaks and ultimately be done well after they went to bed. Laundry was piling up, housework was non existent although everyone helped as much as they could. I'm glad it's over, but I feel like I missed the holiday experience this past year.

I'm still catching up with doing things around the house and my other obligations that were ignored. I've got 2 weeks before my next class starts and 3 weeks until my second one begins. This is going to be a rough year.

Frozen Toes and Oranges

I was outside about to close my garage since it got dark and the weather turned frigid. I noticed this little kid running up my driveway. He was completely under dressed for the weather and wearing only socks.
"What the hell?"
I recognized him when he got closer and saw it was my son's friend from down the block.
"Hey Bobby, what are you doing outside?"
"You have to come quick, Jason is choking and my mom sent me to get you."
"What?!! Is he breathing?"
"No, please come quickly, he's in trouble."

I yelled to my son to stay here and that I would be back.
I started running down the block in my slippers and sweats, halfway there I was absolutely freezing.
"What is he choking on?"
"He was eating an orange and I think it got stuck."

Once I arrived at his house, his mother was standing outside with the 2 year old. He was being held closely to his mother's chest and breathing.

"I'm so sorry to bring you out in this. He finally threw up and it cleared his throat."
I looked him over and made sure that I couldn't hear anything obvious when he breathed deeply.
"Did you call 911?"
"No, we had to call an ambulance one time and it took them 25 minutes to get here. I thought you could help faster than they could. Sorry again. He's fine now."

I told her if she had an emergency, she could call me, but to make sure to call 911 too.
Once I returned home my toes were frozen. I need to get thicker slippers.

Back to School

I've spent a considerably amount of time trying to find something else to do besides nursing in my area. I've been unsuccessful. Or perhaps I'm not that creative. Regardless, I made the jump and started going back to school. I'm not thrilled with it, but I'll do it in order to get away from being a bedside nurse. I can't envision my aging future as an ER nurse, running around, dealing with the constant stress and frankly, turning into a geriatric grump.

We had a video information session that I missed due to work. The professor posted it for those that missed it. My God, it was frustrating. There are a lot of dumb asses in this course. The questions asked could have been answered by simply reading the message he wrote to all of us which was posted under "START HERE". I don't think many people started there. So...for an hour video, there must have been perhaps 10 minutes of quality information.

"Do I need my book for the first week? I haven't bought my book." Really?!
"How do I find my TA?"  He had just finished speaking about that and performed a demonstration on the whole process.
"I need a video chat with you because I can't find the TA."  Slaps head.
He would show us how to perform simple tasks that were already addressed in the START HERE message and people would still ask about it.
At the end, the cherry on top was the final question, asked for the 5th time, "Do I need my book or can I use the power point for the test?"
I couldn't help but yell out at my computer.

I noticed 4 categories of students in this class. Those that were totally clueless and verbal about it, one guy that was quite funny with good questions, one man that was a complete kiss ass (for lack of a better term), and the quiet masses that we're either trying to get information from the chat and yelling at their computer or they had simply fallen asleep.

I take my first test today.

-----On a side note: After 4 weeks, hubby's leg still hurt as much as the first day. We went back to the ortho doc who did another x-ray (making it his 4th). We discovered he's been walking around (if you want to call it walking) on a fractured leg for the past month. We were happy to finally have a diagnosis for his leg. It also means that he'll be spending another 2 months home. The motorcycle is still broken and sitting in the garage. I'm okay with that.

Time to Heal

Hubby is now in an ortho boot. Thankfully, after an ultrasound and follow up with an orthopedic surgeon, he does not have to have pins placed and his hematomas do not have to be evacuated. He tore ligaments in his lower leg which will require time to heal. So, he's gimping around in his franken foot. It'll be another 4 weeks and then a follow up.
He's not too happy about being incapacitated for such a long time, but that's a chance you take when you ride a motorcycle. Yes, you can clearly see I'm not a fan, not at all.

On the positive side, I get to see him every day. Normally, his career requires him to be gone for 24 hour periods. It's nice to have him home every evening. I figured I would have to wait until after his retirement to have this type of time together. The kids like it too. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

10 Days Post Crash

It's been 10 days since the motorcycle accident.

The following Monday, I called his PCP to make an appointment for a follow up.
They asked the reason for the visit and once I told the receptionist, she cut me off.
"We don't see patients that have been in a car accident."
"He wasn't in a car accident, it was a motorcycle accident."
"Uh, yeah, we don't see those patients."

Before I could say another word, she placed me on hold. Someone else picked up the line and asked me what I needed.

"I need to make an appointment for my husband."
"Well, we don't see patients involved in accidents."
"Okay. Who does he need to see then? He was told to follow up with his PCP. He needs to see a doctor. Dr. *(^&)*^ is his doctor."
"Please hold."

I was not arguing with these people, more like flabbergasted that they refused to see an established patient.

"This is the office manager. We do not see patients that have been in any type of motor vehicle accident."
"Yes, that has been established quite clearly. What I am trying to find out is who WILL see him."
"Look the reason for this is because we do not get involved in disputes between parties about which insurance will cover what medical bills."

Ahh, so it's a money thing - always a money thing.

"There was no other party involved. If I call his medical insurance company, the one you have on file and they say they will cover the visit, then can he see the doctor?"
"Yes."

I had to have my husband call the insurance company because they said they had to talk to the patient directly. Sigh. Once that was all hashed out, I called back and got an appointment for later that day.

I went to change his road rash dressing and my heart sank as I took the bandages off. He had a massive infection that would need IV antibiotics. Shit! Now I had to call the doctor's office again and speak to the nurse about my assessment. She said she would call me back after informing the doctor. I waited, then waited a little more. I called back and wouldn't you know it, they were at lunch.

I wanted to kick small kittens and puppies at that point.

I guess once their lunch was finished, she called me back and told me that she would cancel the appointment and to go to the ER. I was already on my way, had texted my charge nurse that we were en route and she had saved a room for him.

What a cluster%^&*.

Ultimately, he got the antibiotics, his arm was improving the next day and I still had to make a follow up PCP appointment.

I saved that for another day. Small animals stay away from me!!!!

The PITA Patient

I looked at the patient and knew he was going to be a pain in the ass.
He was in a motorcycle accident and fell onto his left side resulting in road rash to the left forearm with a deep laceration, shoulder pain, and left lower leg pain.

I got some pillows and ice packs for his leg and arm. While I was elevating his leg, he exclaimed, "Urrgh! That hurts. Leave it alone."
"You need to elevate it. Of course it hurts, you were in an accident."
"Seriously, leave it alone."
"No, let me do my thing. Stop being so prissy - I know you're in pain."
He made a stern grimacing face at me.

When he returned from radiology, I had some things together to clean up his arm abrasions before the doctor irrigated the laceration.
"Okay, this is going to hurt," I stated.
"I know. Stop saying that."
"Saying what?"
"That it's going to hurt. You keep saying that."
"Well, it is."
"Ya know, your bedside manner sucks."
"Do you want to do this yourself?"
"No."
"Then be nice. Seriously, you're kind of a sucky patient."
"Fine."
"Fine."

I cleaned the area and it hurt - Just. Like. I. Told. Him.
I gave him some pain medications beforehand, but it was all raw, exposed skin.

After discharge, I rolled a wheelchair into the room.

"I don't want to be in a wheelchair."
"You can't walk on that leg. Just sit in the chair and I'll roll you out to the car."

He made a sigh and a grimace trying to get into the chair.
I drove the patient home.
I swear, my husband is going to be such a pain in the ass through this whole ordeal.
I hate motorcycles.

Pretty

From my 95 year old patient:

"You're kind of pretty for a white girl."

"Umm, thank you."

"I like your white teeth and you have pretty hair. Yup, you're not bad for a white girl."

"I appreciate you noticing. <lol> You're nice looking too."

"I know! I'm pretty for a black woman! But I do like your teeth!"

I smiled at her and said, "Thank you, but I'm not giving them to you."

She smiled a large toothless grin, "Dang it!!! I tried!!!"