Proverbs Thirty One: Thirty

I survived my first week of orientation, kiddos, and 12-hour shifts! And so did Jon! (I took a part-time, day/night flex, 12 hour shift on the Pediatrics floor)

Even though they were long days and I felt out of my element, I didn't mind going back the next day ... something that hasn't happened in a long time!

So many things I don't miss about med-surg:

• Trying to decipher if you're really in pain or you just want drugs.
• 40 year olds acting like 2 year olds.
• I have seen my share of restraints...
• Icky puking.
• Icky pooping.
• Icky, icky, icky.
• Gross wounds.
• Confused, strong, mobile 90 year olds.
• "They pulled out their"... NG tube, IV, catheter...
• No babies.
• Going where I'm needed = always being on the busiest floor.
• Certain floors not giving you an aide, "but only 2 patients," but then post-ops later.
• No "home."
• "Can you hand me a kleenex; can you move that pen; no, can you move it over there; can you put my socks on; can you hand me my blanket; can you put my head down; that's too much; can I have a warm blanket; can I go to the bathroom."
• So many meds! My record was 29 - 8am meds.... that doesn't count the fact that each med consisted of 1-3 pills each!
• Some things, you just don't want to know about!
  

I could go on and on... Let's move on to brighter things!

I LOVE Peds! I was getting a little nervous last week before I was officially done. "Do I really want to go to a place that isn't exactly what I want?" "I'm giving up a great schedule!" "I'm leaving all my friends." But really, everyone has been super nice and excited to see me when they do! They have all taken into account that I am not a "new" nurse and realize there are many thing I know how to do. And I realize there are a lot of things I don't know how to do and I ask a lot of questions!

It's so nice to know that I'm going to the same place every day and there are a max of 17 rooms on the floor! A normal census is ~8-10 patients on the floor. I'm used to somewhere around 25-28! Although, today we started with 9 patients, cleared them all out, and ended with around 6 patients! Total, I went through 5 patients today.

AND! A place where I get pink thank you notes from the cutest 6 year old ever! See!



Although, I have already gotten a kiddo that hit, screamed, kicked, whatever in response to anything I tried to do. The difference? I am bigger.

And what place is better than a place where I get to give stickers and prizes and bribes and treats and toys! Yeah! So, just remember, if you take your medicine and let me listen to your heart like a good boy/girl, you will get a sticker for your star chart!

And for the first time, I have a locker!! I will have to take a picture of it sometime because that's how excited I am about it! I down-graded my "going to work bag" to a small bag that only fits my lunch and a few odds and end things it it! Oh, so nice.

Anyway, it was a good week and I'm still happy I moved. We'll see what happens when the night shifts come!

Although... I very much miss my husband and my baby! It's hard to miss out on an entire day of Breyton's and not get home until his bedtime or after! Sad. But when I'm done with orientation, I will only be working 1-2 shifts/week and that will be worth it!

Ok, time to rest up so I can enjoy my 3 day weekend! I've earned it! :)