Accidental Nursing: Baby Rescue

This is the last in the series of "Accidental Nursing" in the community....originally posted on May 24th this year.   I am sure there have been other "incidents",  however, these are the three that  happened within recent memory - and therefore, remember best.   It goes to show that our Nursing skills can and are used outside of the hospital situation.   Here is my third and last "Accidental Nurse" story:

Speaking of Administering First Aid in the Community I had another "opportunity" last summer.

As you know, I have a different type of Nursing job - now doing office type work.  The "particulars" are hush-hush for now, until I retire. 

I was in the midst of a case assessment when I heard a desperate banging on my door.

I don't answer the door at the best of times, never mind while I am working.  No one ever comes knocking unless I am forewarned. Not that I mind....it's just that we are fairly new in this community and when a friend wants to come and visit, they make sure we are home and I'm not working  before bothering to drive all the way out here. So, usually the knocks on the door are someone trying to sell something or present their religious point of view.  Either way, I can't be bothered.  Except for the Girl Guide Cookie Girls (yes, they are called "Girl Guides" here in Canada - not "Scouts").  Fifty years ago I used to sell those cookies....and I am a sucker to buy a box full every time.

This was an unusually urgent knock. A knock like someone is in trouble. I had recently had one similar at five in the am  and it turned out to be a local jogger who found a little old lady with Alzheimers roaming the street.....so I could tell the difference between the sales type knock and the "Hey-I-am-Dying" type knock.

I poked my head out the door and looked up and down the street looking for.... whomever.  No one.   Then - out popped a head from the house next door. Desperation in her voice. A wave to come. "Please, come - my baby - choking....please" Very broken english.

 I sprinted next door, the mom guiding me - hysterically - into their living room. On the way, I tried to ask questions. Did you see what she was choking on? Did you see what happened? Does she have a fever? Medical problems? Have you called 911?

The poor girl had no clue what to do. She hadn't even known enough to call 911. From what I could figure out - she had been trying to phone her husband at work. The only other thing she knew - a nurse lived next door.

There on the floor - face up - was the 10 month old girl, limp, pale and greyish blue around the lips, no signs of breathing. No choking sounds. Just a limp rag-doll of a little body. I picked her up, flipped her over, straddled her on my arm supporting her head and gave back blows per protocol - working on the assumption that this little one was actually choking, as mom said.

"Call 911!" - I directed the mom again.

I could feel a strong heartbeat in the heel of my hand, so I knew she was still ok that way. I flipped her back over to see if there was anything dislodged. Now, I know you don't do finger sweeps at this point unless you can actually see something, but when I flipped her back, something in my mind clicked..... and I tried to pry her mouth open with my little finger to check...... Her mouth was clamped shut.

"She isn't choking - She's having a seizure"  I thought. I flipped her back to tummy down.

Looked over at mom - still clutching the phone - but not calling 911. Baby was slowly breathing now - spontaneous - color improving - as soon as I flipped over......it had been an obstructed airway, but only because of her tongue when lying on her back. Thank goodness - no rescue breathing required this time. I grabbed the phone from mom - punched in 911.

Dispatcher:  911 - what service do you require- ambulance, fire or police?

Me:   I need an ambulance please, I have an 10 month old - mom says is choking. I found her not breathing - Has a heartbeat - now is breathing slowly. Could have been a seizure.

Now I know that the address of whomever is calling comes up on the dispatch screen and they already have probably sent an ambulance - but they still need to double check.

Dispatcher: What is your address and phone number?

Ok. I know MY address, but not the neighbor's. AND - I don't know the neighbor's phone number seeing as how we never call them. If I need to talk to them, I do it over the fence or knock on their door, neither of which happens often.  I do have it on a neighborhood list - but that is in a drawer at my house....

Me: Let me give the phone to the mom.

Dispatcher: Wait...wait....no..........!!

Mom takes the phone, gives the address and phone number best she can, in broken english - then hands the phone back to me unable to speak enough english to describe what is going on.

The Dispacher on the other end berates me. Don't go passing the phone back and forth - I can't deal with that.

Sorry, I tell him. Mom is Korean, doesn't speak english, didn't know to call 911 so I had to do that for her while dealing with the baby....but then I don't know her address and phone....I am a Nurse and just happened to be home and she knocked on my door. I am actually supposed to be working right now.

Oh, yeah ok.....hey thanks...different attitude....and small friendly chat ensues. Here my brain cuts out....Gee, I should really get back to work.....they are going to wonder what happened to me at the office....

5 minutes after initiating the 911 call - the ambulance arrives.

I hand off the baby, who is now breathing evenly with fairly good color - as long as she is kept face down - but has that post-ictal sleepiness. Give a quick report -  in which the ambulance crew isn't really interested - and I walk out the door.

I am back to my paperwork and assessments and  the "interruption" was only 10 minutes, start to finish. I call my supervisor.....Ummm....hey Mo...just in case you were wondering where I was, trying to get a hold of me.....this is what happened......

Gave the whole story.

My supervisor : Wow. great job.  Nursing while Nursing.....

The whole episode lasted only 10 minutes and best of all, I didn't have to chart anything.

Epilogue:  Later that night the parents came over with baby and thanked me. She still had a IV lock in place for anticonvulsants. I advised mom to take the pediatric resusitation course and she did......the baby had 2 more seizures within the year, etiology unknown.  I didn't get any more calls.

Posted by Cartoon Characters at 1:00 PM

Flashback

The above video is disabled.  Find it here
This takes me back to the late 1960s...that era of folk and weirdness.  As a teenager I would grab my guitar on the warm summer nights that I was allowed to get away from work at my parent's resort, I would go - barefoot -  to the beach and we would sit around the fire and sing those songs of the 1960s that catapulted the  world into another era never before experienced.   Buffy St. Marie, Poppy Family, Neil Young, Ian Tyson, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, The Guess Who.....all those Great Canadian singers from that time.....it was just a different feel.....

Hello psychadelia and freedom.   I didn't experiment with drugs at all. It was all purely innocent.  The fun part of those days....but also the dark side too.  Self-doubt.  Questioning.  Withdrawal.  Suicidal Thoughts.  At the time I never thought for a minute that I would ever escape that era and those feelings and that time. I thought it would be that way forever.   Thankfully time changes things....and it really does march on.

In some ways there is a nostalgia, but in some ways a gratefulness that I never have to go through that time again.

And, for a moment, while I listened to Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.....I tasted the flavor of that time once again.....

Accidental Nurse: Near Drowning

On May 22, I posted this story while visiting/helping out my mother while she recovered from her  hip replacement.  The story tells of how I did some "Accidental Nursing" on the Island of Antigua. I will allow my narrative tell the story:

While at my folks' place I had a visit from my Aunt Phyllis** who lives nearby. My dad hates it when she visits because she is generally LOUD and obnoxious and high jacks any conversation - invited or not.

You've met the type.

 She also has a memory like an elephant and remembers everything - and I mean everything -  in minute detail - and will make sure she imparts each to you.

But - she is my dad's sister-in-law so he has to put up with it, albeit grudgingly. I don't mind her so much, but usually after the first 5 minutes dad toodles off into another room until the visit is over. Whenever I am in town, she feels she has to make the pilgrimage to say hello.

Why?

Well, funny you should ask.



Similar catamaran

 I went to Antigua a year and half ago to celebrate my cousin's (Phyllis' daughter) wedding.

It was a beautiful ceremony, and to thank the 13 people that took the time, effort and expense to attend, she and her new husband decided to charter a huge catamaran.

One hour into the day long trip we stopped near a coral reef to snorkel. My husband and I had brought along our own equipment, and looking at the ancient-looking stuff that was provided by the company - we were glad we did. Ours had the stopcocks so water wouldn't splash into our snorkels, and with the surface of the water slightly on the choppy side, that was a good thing.

Everyone grabbed their gear and jumped overboard once the required life preservers were belted on. Last minute, I decided against going. Really, I don't know why. I was geared up, ready to go.

I loved snorkeling and was looking forward to it. Yes, the water was a little rough, but I was a pretty good swimmer .... and it didn't look that bad. Still, something stopped me. My husband handed me his wedding ring and I slipped it on my thumb for safekeeping.

I hung over the bow and watched the little group swim away with Our Captain to the reef beyond.  I wasn't paying attention to my aunt who was in the process of getting her life belt on, didn't notice she only put on one - which sat on her back like a tiny little fanny pack - and I didn't notice as she climbed down the rickety narrow ladder that was the only way in and out of the boat. I did note that there was no platform near the surface of the water on this catamaran.

Approximate size of Dolores

Tired of watching the little bobbing heads off in the distance, I turned back to the cabin of the boat, looking forward to a little R&R .....when I glanced over to where my aunt had swum.

Everyone had told Phyllis to stay by the boat. She couldn't swim very well - if at all.  

The day before I had saved her from near drowning - and I have proof by the way.   My husband had been on the beach snapping photos as I floated around on my air mattress with the group and, unbeknownst to him, he caught the whole sequence - one frame at a time:

Big wave.
Me - surprised look....
Phyllis - going down....
Me- jumping up....
Phyllis - wiping the water out of her eyes with two of us at her elbows, holding her up.  

One of the many big waves knocked her off balance -  she lost her footing and then couldn't get up - because of her proportions.

Phyllis weighs at least 350lbs, and I am being VERY conservative.

Approximately 100 feet from the port side I could see Phyllis flapping her hands slightly on the surface and trying to lift her head out of the water.

Something wasn't right.

That uneasy feeling was confirmed when after a second or two I could no longer see any movement from her and she was laying like a starfish on the surface. 

A little aside note here - those tv shows that show drowning people thrashing about?? Let me tell you - they don't.  Usually they die very quietly, unnoticed.

 I screamed to the Assistant Captain (AC) in charge of the boat -  pointing - "She's drowning~~!!!!!"

I knew I wasn't a strong or fast enough swimmer to tow her back to the boat. A buoy on a rope was thrown out but of course, she was no longer aware enough to grab it.

The AC dove into the now increasingly choppy water and swam out to Phyllis and hauled her in with much difficulty - face down - the entire way.

Two of us tried to pull her the 8 or 9 feet up to the deck from the water's surface while her son-in-law tried to push her up. Limp. Dead weight. Literally.

Unfortunately for Phyllis, she had lathered herself with sunscreen lotion prior to her foray into the water. Slippery as hell. I could see that her lips were blue, her complexion, grey.

At this point Phyllis had not taken one breath since I saw her last hand motion on the surface. We grabbed the only thing that didn't slip out of our hands - her bathing suit straps and pulled.

I would never have believed how stretchy and strong Sears bathing suits were. I swear - those straps increased in length by at least a good two feet so that the scoop of the neck was well above her head.

 "At least the waves can't splash into her face", I thought.

At this point my cousin swims up to the ladder.

 "Mom! Mom!  Oh I am so sorry - Mom!!!"

She looks straight into my eyes, pleading "Please - Someone - can you please help my Mom??!"

 I had to jump in.

Wasn't wanting to, but there it is.

At some point,  when all else fails, what choice does one have?   As I jumped, I could see my husbands wedding ring slip off my thumb -  tumble end over end slow motion -  and splash into the sea below me  just before I hit the surface.

"Shit",   I thought. "Could it get any worse?"

Problem is, when you have a 350 lb dead weight that is as slick as a bar of wet soap in the shower......what do you do?

There was very little working room - only ONE person could be on the ladder - and to lift that much weight out of the water and up onto the boat - well, the task was near impossible.

Adding to the mayhem was the fact that the people pushing up from below had no leverage in the deep water -  in addition to the lack of grip on the slick body from above.

In the middle of all this, I tried to buy some time and was able to attempt two rescue breaths. I pinched her earlobe to test for response.

HARD.

Nothing.

Not even a little bit of a wince. After that - the bathing suit scoop neckline was a good foot over head. "Just as well", I thought, "at least her daughter doesn't have to see her waxen/blue-grey face."

what I was visualizing...

Funny things that run through your mind at a time like this.

"Holy shit, how are we ever going get her back to shore if she drowns? Tie a rope around her and drag her back?"

At this point my imagination was running wild.

"And what will my cousin think .... bad enough her mother drowns on her wedding/honeymoon trip but even worse that she has to watch her being dragged by a rope behind the boat the HOUR it will take to get back to the dock if we can't lift her out of the water???

And -  should we go slow???  Or fast - and risk her bouncing along on the waves like a fish on a line?"

I was frantically waving at my husband to come back to the boat.

We would need everyone on board so we can rush Phyllis to shore.  Two ambulances were ready and waiting at two different docks - whichever one we could reach first.

An "ambulance zodiac" was also dispatched with a couple of paramedics aboard to meet us at the closest place possible - to board the boat and help with resuscitation - if it was going to be required. Oblivious to the drama going on, my husband waved back and went about his snorkeling.

While all this was going on, the AC had whistled for the Captain, a big burly good looking guy with rippling muscles and ebony skin. A powerhouse. He rounded up the group and everyone swam back, Captain way out in front.

In record time he leapt up onto the ladder and grabbed Phyllis and gave one giant yank.

I figured, at this point, we had one last chance to haul her up.

I was in the water - directly below Phyllis - her shadow blocking out the sun and casting a shadow almost bigger than the boat - as the Captain gave one. big. heave.

I was looking straight up at that big limp body.

Crap.

One slip and a ton of dead weight would drop right on my head and I would be dead in the water.

I winced, saying a prayer. One last desperate scramble by the men to hoist her up and over - and Phyllis was spilled onto the deck like a giant floppy octopus.

I scrambled up the ladder and quickly surveyed the situation.

I don't remember how they all got back up on the deck, but the rest of the snorkeling bunch were pressed against the far side of the boat, eyes like saucers.

No help there.

Kneeling down, I pushed on Phyllis' forehead with the palm of one hand, plugged the nose and lifted up her jaw with my left hand. My mouth sealed hers and I gave two puffs.

Nothing.

Two more puffs.

A little cough. The salty taste of blood and sea foam in my mouth.

Come on - breathe......!!!

Stertorous breathing.

Then. Phyllis' eyes fluttered.

Mumble.

"Phyllis! Phyllis!" I screamed into her ear. The pallor left her face but her lips were still a grayish shade.

"Take some deep breaths! Phyllis! Come on!!"   More stimulation.

Then.

Normal rate but Shallow ... breathing.....

I pulled up her one knee and dug my knee into her back to roll her on her side, our Hero Captain pulling on her arm.

The crowd, once frozen, suddenly sprang to life and they handed over rolled towels to prop, bath sheet to cover and water so I could rinse out my mouth.

That salty, bloody taste stayed with me the rest of the day, no matter how much I rinsed and brushed my teeth.

"Hey Phyllis!"  I couldn't resist. "Did ya see a tunnel and a bright light at the end of it????"

She opened one eye and looked at me. " No" she replied weakly. " Just a couple of fishies...."

The Zodiac EMS*** met us halfway back to the dock and we briefly stopped to let them on board. I was never so glad to see anyone in my life. It's amazing what 15L of O2 will do to bluish lips.


* * * *

Antigua hospital in St John's where Dolores stayed overnight

Phyllis spent the next 24 hrs in the local hospital while the rest of us went over the incident over and over again at the bar over a mess of pina coladas and margaritas.

I heard from my Cuz that all her mother could do was complain about the dirty restroom, the old dilapidated facility and how awful and hot it was with no air conditioning.

Geez. You would think she would be grateful just to be breathing.   But - At least she was talking.

I never thought I would ever be happy to hear her say anything.

All the excitement I really wanted...

The next day - against my advice and everyone else's- the first thing Phyllis did when released from the hospital was to go "swimming".

Yup.

She was nearly knocked over by the waves again.

I couldn't stay to watch. My husband and I washed our hands of her. She was on her own. We avoided her the rest of the trip.

 I really don't think she realized how close she came to dying - because if she did, she would have never gone back in that water.

I swear, her apneic episode from start to finish was at least 15 minutes.

Fifteen minutes and not one breath.

Certainly she had no pain reflexes whatsoever. Yet, it seems, that not one brain cell was affected.

Me? I am just glad that we didn't have to haul her back behind the boat like some prize fish.

Unfortunately, what comes with "the rescue" is suffering the long visits that she feels she has to make every time I come home.

*sigh*


**Not her real name to save her from embarrassment
***Emergency Medical Services


Posted by A NURSE at 6:06 PM
4 comments rescued:


nurseXY said...
Holy crap!!

:O
May 23, 2010 8:10 PM

A NURSE said...
Funny thing NXY...that's exactly what I said..... =^@
May 23, 2010 11:00 PM

Albinoblackbear said...
That is a giant HOLY CRAP.

And the reason I pack a barrier device with me everywhere I go!

I don't want to aspirate on someone else's aspirate. :P

Nice work!!!
May 24, 2010 12:14 PM

A NURSE said...
Thanks ABB! :)

I should be smart about carrying a barrier device...even tho I pretty well am sure of her hx....ya just never know what evil lurks....

Should I say, "I remember the days when...?".......we didn't have any devices even within the hospital? :^P
(some of my earlier blogs cover that... !)
May 24, 2010 12:52 PM

Vanishing Twin Syndrome - Surprise in the Delivery Room

Just before I carry on with my Real Life Accidental Nurse stories, I want to insert a little story in honor of two of my favorite cousins who's birthday it is. 

Twins run in our family. My Midwife Grandmother had twins - my aunt and uncle.  My aunt had 2 sets of twins - a set of boys and then less than two years later, a set of girls.   One of those girls had a set of twins - a boy and a girl.   Another Aunt also had a set of twins - boy and a girl. 

Twins have yet to skip a generation in our family.  My mother wished so hard for twins - she dressed us all alike.  I have often been asked if the fear of having twins was why I never had children. (it's not)

So as I was wishing both of my cousins a Happy Belly Button day....it got me thinking about the interesting Birth story -  an amazing couple I looked after in L&D so long ago.  

Here is that story.

Snakes on A Plane!

Here is another Revamp from May 25th.   Sometimes as Nurses we get to "assist" people outside our workplace.
I wanted to adjust the posting to delete references to what I do now, since I am "laying low" - trying to stay below the radar.  So here you are, one of the stories that I get to tell about being a nurse in the community....."accidental Nurse".  I have several of these stories, so I will start with this one....my third. I will be posting 3 true "accidental Nurse" stories in a row for your amusement.

And sometimes when you are on a plane...SNAKES!

our plane, not the fated Alaskan flight......

OK. I've been blogging about my experiences with Non-Hospital Medical Emergencies so I may as well keep going.

I am sure you have heard about Emergency Calls on flights - you know - those overhead pages that call for any medical personnel - A Doctor - or if no certified MD - A Nurse......and wonder if you would ever get caught?............well. Let me tell you about my experience.

Five years ago my husband and I planned our Wedding. We decided that Mexico was the place to go for our nuptials along with 8 other family members. My husband and I had chosen our seats and made sure that we got the best ones for his viewing pleasure.....and reserved ahead of time to ensure we were sitting together. After all....it was our Honeymoon/Wedding trip.  This was going to be something special.

It is a four and a half hour flight from our departure city to destination. Two hours into the flight - there was That Dreaded Call.

"If there is any Doctor or Nurse in the cabin, Could you please make the flight attendants aware by putting on your call light....thank you."

My husband looked at me. I frown at him and shake my head. Nope. Not gonna do it. Usually there are plenty of Medical Mavericks in the crowd just waiting to do their duty.....I didn't want to get involved. Maybe some other time. But just not this time. Sounds terrible - but really....thirty years into my career, and needing a well deserved rest and finally getting married after 50 years of singleness....I really wanted to pass on it.

Anyway, I am the type to avoid any accident. Even "rubbernecking" past accidents aren't my thing.   My friend Jan actually stops for every single one. She says she doesn't but I don't believe her. Just recently she had to do resus on an MD that was in an accident.  The MD didn't survive....and that is my biggest fear in the situations I run across.

Personally, I think we as nurses/doctors are magnets for stuff like this.  Maybe we are dispersed among the population"just enough" so that when people do something stupid, there is someone nearby that can help them out of their situation.   Maybe our guardian angels play games like drawing straws - a roulette of sorts. The short straw is when we end up being *the one* at the scene of whatever disaster is happening. 

So, a few minutes later, when the announcement came on again, a little more pleading.....guilt got the best of me and I put my bell on. Shit. So much for careful planning.

Secretly, I was hoping and praying someone was in labor. That would be a great one to have. Easy Peasy. Nothing like a mandatory natural birth, just the way we like to do it.....

Nope. No such luck. It was a "cardiac" problem. Chest pain, SOB....... crap. Interestingly enough, there was another RN that answered the call. We compared notes. She was also L&D but she really hadn't worked for a while and also never did cardiac. Ever. So, I was the "short straw" this time. Lucky her - she sashayed back to her seat - leaving me - holding the old bag, so to speak.

I had done some float/telemetry nursing eons back and we did have some cardiac with the high risk L&D unit I worked on.  It was the Triage work that came in handy this time around.

Personally, if I had chest pain out in public - 911 would be a more appropriate call to make -but - on a plane 911 is not an option, and I guess they take what they can get.

Anyway, this lady had a previous history of chest pains but had been recently been ruled out re: any cardiac problems. Now, I know this doesn't really mean much sometimes but at least it was a hope to grasp onto at this point. Meds? Have you ever used nitro? Nausea? Does the pain go anywhere else? Your back?What kind of pain? On a scale of 1 to 10 ?Are you feeling light headed? Dizzy? Is it getting worse? Any worse when you deep breathe or cough or move?Any swelling in your calf - or anywhere in one leg? Have you coughed up blood? BP - check, Pulse - check, chest auscultation - check, diaphoresis - some, palpate chest, assess color ......blah blah blah...the entire history and assessment done in approximately 5 minutes.

She already had O2 on by the time I got to her. I thought of asking for an asa tab for her to chew but thought maybe I had better check with the Docs On the Ground to see what they would prefer since it didn't seem cardiac. Wasn't really sure what the protocols were at 3,000 feet in the air.

The attendants brought the cabin to ground headset and gave me quick instructions on it's use. Got a connection and rattled off the whole assessment in one big breath.

Wow...said the Person on the Ground. Great assessment .......

Me, thinking: Come on guys....lets get going......I have a vacation to get back to.....

crash and burn....story of my life....

Person on the Ground: Give her an asa...yup, thought so.....monitor her for the rest of the flight and we will meet the plane on arrival in Mexico.

What????

At that moment I was wishing that only healthy people were allowed to fly. I stood and stretched, took a look at my husband, alone, sitting in his comfortable first class seat waaaay up at the front - and I waved at him. He smiled and waved back- proud of his nurse wife.    How sweet.   I shrugged at him to let him to let him know how soon I could get back to him - and our wonderful honeymoon vacation.

The attendant: Do you mind sitting next to the patient and monitoring her until we land?

Me: Well...uh ..this is my Wedding/Honeymoon trip.....and my husband is up there.....pointing to my waving husband..........I wanted to make it obvious.

The attendant: Here, ignoring my comment and clearing out the seat next to the lady. Sit here....

So much for the rest of my trip, and my first class seat.  I was denied any alcohol, snacks, my good book, the movie, my personal effects, my husband-to-be and any other comforts I had in my carry on......to watch this woman. I suppose I could have declined, but how would that make me look.....as a nurse???  I shouldn't have worried about that - because when we landed, the plane was cleared and the Medics came aboard. I was basically brushed to the side like a piece of used toilet paper on the bottom of a shoe.

Don't get me wrong......I don't mind being helpful and I didn't expect a free flight out of it. But when I am left at a disadvantage for doing a favor for the airline ESPECIALLY on my honeymoon/wedding trip - and especially when bumped to the back of the bus....I would really appreciate - if nothing else- a THANK YOU. And - would it have killed them to maybe throw in a bottle of wine for our inconvenience?  Or a smile on my way out at the very least?

They made me write down my name and my address on the Medical Notes form next to all the documentation I did, so I know they had all the info they needed to send a simple letter of appreciation - if they wanted. I kept waiting to hear something. But...............

Nothing. Nada. Zip. Thank YOU Alaska Air for ruining my nice flight down.
We haven't travelled on that Airline since.

And next time I hear that overhead page.......it's someone else's turn to pull the short straw.

Or, if I do....I want it to be in a drink with an umbrella......

ahhhhhhhhh....!

Posted by Cartoon Characters at 12:40 AM 7 comments   preserved!

May 26, 2010 7:27 PM  

nurseXY said...

Huh, the flight I ever took was on Alaska Airlines.

Mmmm, warm cookies.

Thanks for taking the short straw!

May 26, 2010 8:42 PM  

AtYourCervix said...

I'm grateful that nothing like that has happened on the (many!) flights I've taken. Although, to be honest, I wouldn't mind helping out fellow man. But it would be easier if it was just a baby being born. Cardiac stuff? Yeah, ok, sure......ground control? Come in ground control!

May 28, 2010 7:00 AM  

A Nurse said...

Yes, I agree, don't mind helping out fellow man, but this woman was quite disagreeable....so on a supposed honeymoon trip plus days off....didn't make for a very pleasant time...then to have the staff abandon me...and not even allowing my husband moved...not that he wanted to - as he was perfectly happy up front...... I have to admit - it didn't ruin my whole vacation ;) - but it makes for a good story, and that's what blogging is all about, right? :)

May 28, 2010 8:02 AM  

A Nurse said...

Random thought: I wonder why birth of a baby rates so much higher than cardiac, when birthing is usually an easier thing to do (at least for me!) You always see people interviewed after a baby is born on a plane, not so much cardiac problems unless you are a celebrity.
Since youcan't fly if you are getting close to the due date...most babes born will be premie...but if they are over 32 wks...I would be ok with that...oh - and a female because they do so much better statistically speaking than males....

Nurse  XY: your turn next time! :)

May 28, 2010 8:08 AM  

nurseXY said...

haha, and btw, that would be, "the BEST flight I ever took"...

May 28, 2010 5:32 PM  

A Nurse said...

ya, ask for alcohol to "sanitize" yourself.... ;) and make sure u repeat q1h.........hahaha!!

May 28, 2010 8:59 PM

Weird Nurse Ads

I can't believe this advertisement for an RN to work in a Cosmetic Surgery Clinic.

Take a look at this ad posting - I have added the link below the photo  - as it appears, no disrespect intended :




Cosmetic Surgery Nurse Required



Cosmetic Surgery Nurse required for Dublin.
A Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Dublin City Centre is seeking a Cosmetic Surgery Nurse to join it’s team.
This is a fantastic opportunity and is a permanent Nurse job.
Requirements:
Must be an RGN with 2 years experience (minimum) with experience in phlebotomy
Experience in the cosmetic industry required
Must exhibit excellent communication skills
Must be available for city centre location
Commercial or Sales experience a strong advantage

Good computer skills

Attention to detail
Must be reliable and driven
Strong patient focus with an interest in the cosmetic industry.

I am not sure that THAT ad would really make me want to work at that particular clinic (or be a patient for that matter!). And, definitely, I can see why the nurse would have to have good sales experience if that is the photo they have on display as an example of their work.  You would also need attention to detail as listed - because the docs certainly don't seem to have any - if you go by the example above.  The clinic is in Dublin, Ireland.

Speaking of Dublin and Michael Jackson.....

 When I was  about to move back up to Canada (early 1990s) I remember visiting a little hole-in-the-wall second hand store in a shopping plaza in Dublin, California.   It had a mish-mash of various items for sale including antiques,  and one group of items caught my eye.

It was a small portion of the estate of Sammy Davis Jr.   Memorabilia framed and otherwise, little knick-knacks that used to belong to that late great singer, given to him by other stars.   I checked it all out and some of it was pretty interesting.  The store had the small block of goods for sale: all for $5,000.   The most interesting item?  A Michael Jackson sparkly glove with a signed "Thank-you" from Michael Jackson - framed in a shadow box.

I did contemplate on purchasing the lot at that time.  I thought that was a pretty cheap price for all of the framed signed photos from various artists of the time plus other items of interest. 

I bought a 1981 Mercedes convertible instead.

Looking back, the return for money spent would have been better had I spent the $5K on the memorabilia, looking at what Michael Jackson's one glove went for recently.  $190K!  and another one - the original moon walk glove - for $350K!


By the way, I bought my husband a 1983 Mercedes convertible for his birthday this year.  Price?
$5K.

Hindsight is 100%

Found After writing this note:

Interestingly enough, I found this article online in regards to Sammy Davis Jr's estate which was seized in 1992 by the IRS.  It was in the East Bay area, so it makes sense that the glove and some of the other memorabilia would be found in a store in Dublin CA which is in East Bay - round about the same time....circa 1993.  This glove was offered and sold on Ebay for $388K.... Here is the link. I don't believe it is the exact same glove because the one I saw was in a shadow box type frame.  Because there were a lot of framed signed photos of Sammy Davis Jr with other stars with documentation, I believe it was authentic...since this was something that apparently he did - hanging framed photos of himself and friends around him in his dressing room.

On the other hand, there are lots of fakes out there. And a lot of real ones. If nothing else, it makes for a good story! :)

Excerpt of Caption on the Glove when Posted on Ebay (in case the above link is broken):

"This white glove with crystals formerly belonging to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee came from the Bonnie Doone Estate in Palomares Canyon, California, in the San Francisco Bay area. There are traces of pancake make-up in the glove. The crystals are faceted like diamonds. The Victorian farm house built in 1870 is pictured below and was in my family for years. When I sold it in 1995, I took the glove with me to Challis, Idaho.
We purchased this glove from the estate of Grammy and Emmy award winning performer Sammy Davis, Jr. at an IRS seizure auction in 1992. The Glove was in one of Sammy’s Louis Vuitton trunks which we purchased at the auction. The article from the Contra Costa Times discusses these trunks and the broad spectrum of items enclosed within. Michael personally presented one of his trademark gloves to Sammy on stage at a tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. We believe this occurred in the early eighties. If anyone has more information, we would appreciate it. The photograph, which was also from the estate, goes with the glove. Sammy always decorated his dressing rooms with photos of family and friends, many of which he took himself.
We will be selling many personal Sammy Davis, Jr. items on eBay over the next few months. Included in his estate were platinum and gold records, crystal trophies, awards, plaques, personal photos, and stage costumes. There will be enough to put together a museum.
Look at the other auctions for antique, vintage treasures from the estate. I will be selling more every month, such as oil paintings by California and European artists, original works by Pablo Picasso with provenance, cast iron and copper kitchen accessories, molds, weathervane, whirlygig, folk art, and much, much more. Unfortunately, the vintage Rolls Royce limousine in the photo has already been sold. "

By the way. I am STILL accepting  names for the FREE BOOK.  Let me know if you would like this book to give to someone!!!  (yes I can have it sent to you  so you can gift it to whomever you wish!)

Last chance is September 30.  Just click on the book in the RIGHT COLUMN. YOU HAVE 4 DAYS LEFT!!!

Menopause

I swear.  Most of my day looks like this:

Well, maybe cut down on the sleeping segment.  Add a little more to the working segment.   That's my day.

I was a little "forgetful" in the first place but ever since Menopause set in.....honestly.  I can't remember anything.   It's horrifying.  My brain is like a sieve.  Thankfully it doesn't affect work - yet.  I told my manager....if it looks like it is, just let me know so I can retire gracefully.  She laughed.

Menopause isn't fun.

By the way. I am STILL accepting  names for the FREE BOOK.  Let me know if you would like this book to give to someone!!!  (yes I can have it sent to you  so you can gift it to whomever you wish!)

Last chance is September 30.  Just click on the book in the RIGHT COLUMN.

A Pregnant Belly - Don't Touch!

What is it about a pregnant belly that people think it is public domain...and they have to reach out and touch?

And the questions that get asked throughout the course of a pregnancy.....I can see how that alone would tire out a new mom-to-be .......  I was just talking to a co-worker yesterday at work, asking her the "usual" questions....she was kind enough to answer without looking exasperated....

I didn't ask to touch.....as an L&D RN.....I knew better........besides...I have touched waaaay too many pregnant bellies...I know what they feel like!!!

By the way. I am STILL accepting  names for the FREE BOOK.  Let me know if you would like this book to give to someone!!!  (yes I can have it sent to you  so you can gift it to whomever you wish!)

Last chance is September 30.  Just click on the book in the RIGHT COLUMN.

A Travesty of Sorts

OK.  I am not a "degree nurse"....I am a "diploma nurse".  But,  I am an RN. 

I received my education before mandatory BSNs were introduced in my province - and also before many were getting their degree.   At the time I attended College (now a university),  I could barely afford to eat never mind put out more money for years more of classes* - and the College I attended did not offer a BSN at the time.   When I was finally making money - and being technically single until age 50 -  it was quite difficult to pay a mortgage and go to school and have a social life too.  There was no such thing as "online school"....and the time off was seldom granted to attend inservices let alone University courses.

 I almost went into financial ruin during my RN training.....and wasn't wanting to do it again.   And now?   Right now I am too close to retirement and have other interests that I would rather pursue than Nursing -  such as Painting or Music.

After graduation, when you go to work on the ward,  it all comes out in the wash.  As an BSN or Diploma RN -  there is no difference in your function if you are a "general duty nurse".    IF you wish to go into management or research or Public Nursing etc, a degree is a necessity.  I have always enjoyed General Duty Nursing.   The degree doesn't make you a "better nurse" on the floor,  and despite what a certain nurse inferred  in the comments section of another nurses excellent blog that RNs without degrees are somehow ignorant in things of business - I beg to differ.

 I understand that an anomaly does not a body of truth make. BUT - it still stands that I have no formal training in business yet I have parlayed what I have learned in the real world through experience into what will be a  comfortable  retirement.  I am respected enough to have a CEO request me to sit on the board of directors of a NPO (non profit org) to assist with multi-million dollar decisions about senior housing projects.

But.  Having said that.... I am puzzled that value that isn't placed on having a degree by rewarding those that have one. I would be the first in line to argue that if you have a degree, there should be appropriate compensation. Take a look at the stats that were sent out by an advertising spammer that I am sure - if you are a nurse - you received in your comments, along with permission to post.  The graph made me do a double-take.

 If it this information is true - I am wondering - why is there not much of a difference in monetary compensation between RN and BSN?   The graph actually shows that an RN makes MORE than a BSN**.    I know money isn't always the measurement of success or prestige in our hearts,   but in the real world - the way value is shown is usually in monetary compensation and I don't see that happening with the degree nurses.

Check out our BCNU Nursing wage grid.

Per BCNU contract,***  Nurses with degrees get $100 per month stipend.  If you have a One Year accredited course from a University in a specialty area and only if it is an area you work  in which it can be utilized, you get an extra $25 per month.  If you have a Master's degree, that's an extra $125 per month.  Oh. And it gets better.  You can only qualify for ONE of the above....multiple compensations are prohibited. 

That doesn't seem - to me -  to be much in the way of recognition for the extra work done, nor the body of knowledge accrued never mind adequate reimbursement of educational dollars spent.   Lucky for the employers, BSN is now entry level nursing for any new grads from the Universities and Colleges in our province.   (btw : no such thing as "associate nurse" or "LVN" in BC)

What do you think?


* In fact, I was an LPN first, then after working and scraping together money for tuition and working full time while taking university courses, I wrote the challenge exams for 2nd year entry, quit and did my RN classes for a solid 1 1/2 yrs holding my breath.....
** yes, I realize there is a shift diff payout, but still..... 
***pg 107, BCNU Provincial Collective Agreement Apr 1'06 - Mar 31'10



By the way. I am STILL accepting  names for the FREE BOOK.  Let me know if you would like this book to give to someone!!!  (yes I can have it sent to you  so you can gift it to whomever you wish!)
Last chance is September 30.  Just click on the book in the RIGHT COLUMN.

DISASTER - DISASTER - DISASTER

Funny that when I moved to California (East Bay to be exact) - I would experience 3 seperate disasters.  Everything comes in THREES.  But I had no idea that meant absolutely EVERYTHING.

I have just reposted my old entries from June 2, June 15 and June 16 which I retell the stories of the 3 Natural Disasters I lived through while living in "The Golden State".  Not so golden for me.   But ONE thing it did for me was give me the training for Labor and Delivery..... and for that I am very thankful.

If you would like to re-read these revamped, relaundered and renewed posts.....or if you have never read them before - WELCOME - just follow these three links:

CALIFORNIA FREEZING

THE FIRESTORM

THE BIG ONE: EARTHQUAKE!



By the way. I am STILL accepting  names for the FREE BOOK.  Let me know if you would like this book to give to someone!!!  (yes I can have it sent to you  so you can gift it to whomever you wish!)
Last chance is September 30.  Just click on the book in the RIGHT COLUMN.

Thanks for stopping by! :)