Nursing voices/Jobs

I just want to post again about the contest over at Nursing Voices . You see, it's a Nursing Forum where Nurses and other people of the medical profession cal leave messages for each other about Nursing stuff and others. There's different categories to post under so it doesn't have to be specific to just nursing. The highest post this month (Until Oct 15th) and those who make mention in their blogs wins an iPhone. A second iphone goes to the person who named the winner (Hopefully me! ha ha) as the person who referred them. So tell them I sent ya!

Now for you nurses out there looking for jobs, a good resource would be to head over to NursingJobs .

It's worth a look!

Work, Kid, and iphone!

Work is getting better. Next week, My Doctor is out of town and my fellow RN is taking time off so I get to run the helm by myself for 4 days next week.

I expressed some ahem...anxiety to Doctor about this seeing as I've only been there a little more then a month and I'll be doing treatments, seeing follow up patients, and answering all calls.
She's given me all her numbers...cell, pager...and has encouraged me to text message her with any small questions.

I hope I do OK.

Ari's doing better about school and she's getting adjusted to the idea that this whole school business is not an option or temporary.
She's been getting reprimanded a lot more then last year for "Not paying attention or talking".
They use the Green light system where they have a clothespin on on Green at the beginning of the day and it can be moved to Blue(OK), Yellow(OOPS), Orange(Uh OH), Purple (Trouble) or Black (BIG Trouble).
She's averaging around green and blue and has gotten to Yellow once. A report is sent home daily but she's been honest with me about her "color" when I pick her up.
Another adjustment she's made has been homework. She didn't have any last year besides reading assignments that we could do at our leisure but this year she has daily homework all due on Friday and it;s been hard to get her to sit down and do it all.

too many sick people

I'm so exhausted today! I came in 15 mins early, only had time for a 30 min. lunch and left 45 mins late and me and my fellow office nurse STILL had stacks and stacks of charts on our desks.

I even offered to pick up my daughter and bring her back to the office with me to get ahead a little but my boss told me to go home.

I honestly think my Doctor has too many patients....and we don't have the man power to cover them all.

Also, I've noticed that the Endocrinology/Hormone biz has the highest maintenance type patients. I spent an hour on the phone today with just one couple....sorting out their issues with this and that.

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Daily reminder.......


Don't forget to stop by Nursing Voices and NursingJobs !!!!
Tell them Jo sent ya!
Pretty pretty please! ( iphone.....people! iPhone!)

Sony ImagePOO

I'm Mad!

Sony Imagestation.com is shutting down in Feb. I have all my pictures on there! That's how I print them, buy gifts, and send them out to my friends and family in one convenient place!

They have a deal with Shutterfly for transfer so I guess that's what I'm gonna have to do.

Still stinks though because I had them all arranged into cute little albums and stuff. :(

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Just another friendly daily reminder....


Don't forget to stop by Nursing Voices and NursingJobs !!!!
Tell them Jo sent ya!
You know you wanna! (Yes I'm gonna keep trying for the iphone)

Emmys

If I was in charge of the Emmys, these would be my winners:

Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)

Avatar: The Last Airbender
Robot Chicken
****The Simpsons~ You can't go wrong with this classic!
South Park

SpongeBob SquarePants

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Extras -Ricky Gervais
Monk -Tony Shalhoub
****The Office -Steve Carell ~ This man is a comedy genius
30 Rock -Alec Baldwin
Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal -James Spader
****House -Hugh Laurie ~ He won last year....I hope he wins again just to hear his speech
Rescue Me -Denis Leary
The Sopranos -James Gandolfini (Do these guys have to win EVERY YEAR?)
*****24 -Kiefer Sutherland ~ I'm torn, I love this character

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Desperate Housewives -Felicity Huffman
The New Adventures Of Old Christine -Julia Louis-Dreyfus
*****30 Rock-Tina Fey ~ I don't like the show much, but I like her
Ugly Betty - America Ferrera
Weeds - Mary-Louise Parker (I thought this was a drama??)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters-Sally Field
*****The Closer • Kyra Sedgwick- She's brilliant in this show

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit •Mariska Hargitay
Medium •Patricia Arquette (like the show....don't like her)
The Riches •Minnie Driver (I thought this was a comedy??)
The Sopranos •Edie Falco

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Entourage • Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama
Entourage • Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold
How I Met Your Mother • Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
*****The Office • Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute ~ His character is by far the funniest
Two And A Half Men • Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

(Side note....Notice how many former 80s TV/movie stars are in the line up?? weird)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal • William Shatner as Denny Crane (Capt Kirk is in a show now? How did I not know this?)
Grey’s Anatomy •T.R. Knight as George
*****Heroes • Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura~ Really crossing my fingers for this lil guy
Lost •Michael Emerson as Ben
Lost • Terry O’Quinn as John Locke
The Sopranos • Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

*****My Name Is Earl •Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner ~ I actually know people like this character
*****The Office •Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly ~ I want them both to win
Two And A Half Men • Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper
Two And A Half Men •Conchata Ferrell as Berta
Ugly Betty •Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater
Weeds •Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

*****Brothers & Sisters • Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon ~ Don't really care much in this category, but I loved her in 6 feet under so I vote for her
Grey’s Anatomy • Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens

Grey’s Anatomy •Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey

Grey’s Anatomy •Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang

The Sopranos • Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano
The Sopranos • Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

Entourage • Martin Landau as Bob Ryan
Extras • Sir Ian McKellen as Himself
Monk • Stanley Tucci as David Ruskin
*****My Name Is Earl • Giovanni Ribisi as Ralph Mariano
My Name is Earl • Beau Bridges as Carl Hickey

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal • Christian Clemenson as Jerry “Hands” Espenson
*****ER • Forest Whitaker as Curtis Ames ~ Really good plot line, and it's nice to see ER up there again
House • David Morse as Michael Tritter
The Sopranos • Tim Daly as J.T. Dolan

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip • John Goodman as Judge Robert Bebe
Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip • Eli Wallach as Eli Weintraub

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

Desperate Housewives • Dixie Carter as Gloria Hodge
Desperate Housewives • Laurie Metcalf as Carolyn Bigsby
30 Rock •Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy
Ugly Betty • Judith Light as Claire Meade
*****Ugly Betty • Salma Hayek as Sofia Reyes

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Grey’s Anatomy • Kate Burton as Ellis Grey
Grey’s Anatomy • Elizabeth Reaser as Jane Doe
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Marcia Gay Harden as Star Morrison
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Leslie Caron as Lorraine Delmas
*****24 • Jean Smart as Martha Logan~ One of the best/complex characters on so far

Outstanding Comedy Series

Entourage • HBO
****The Office • NBC~Probably lose, but most deserving I think
30 Rock • NBC
Two And A Half Men • CBS
Ugly Betty • ABC

Outstanding Drama Series

Boston Legal • ABC
Grey’s Anatomy • ABC
*****Heroes • NBC ~ One of kind...it really should win

House • Fox (Love it but Heroes was better last year)
The Sopranos • HBO (Probably will win since it was the last year)

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race • CBS
*****American Idol • Fox
Dancing With The Stars • ABC
Project Runway • Bravo
Top Chef • Bravo

If you are wondering why my picks snub the favorites to win like the Sopranos and Entourage...I personally think the Cable channels should have a category of their own. They're allowed more freedom then the network channels. So those are my picks if I were running the Emmys. :)

[ UPDATE: WOW! Only one of my picks won. Jaime Pressly from "My name is Earl". I knew the Sopranos would probably sweep it. But James Spader??! Really??!!]

$$$$$$$$$$$

Also Don't forget to stop by Nursing Voices and NursingJobs !!!!

Tell them Jo sent ya!

It's well worth the time! (Yes I'm gonna keep trying for the iphone)

Culture shock & Nursing Voices

There's something of a culture shock with my new job.

I'm learning to get used to working with patients with insurance and money.
None of that at the hospital I worked at before.

I'm having a hard time with my compassion meter when the housewife soccer Mom with the Husband, Lexus, 2 perfect kids from the nice side of town calls me to complain that her Thyroid medicine is not "high enough" for her to keep the pounds off and that she's OK with the heart palpitations and insomnia if it means she won't get fat.

I just have a hard time not thinking about my former homeless patients with nothing who were just trying to keep their kidneys working or their lungs moving.

I keep my mouth shut and feign sympathy. I still like it though...way better then other patients throwing punches at you!








Calling all Nurses, Student Nurses, Wannabe Nurses, or People who just like Nurses!

I have it linked on the sidebar!

I've been spending a lot of time there lately!

If you want to meet a great group of nurses and you are in the medical field (or just want to hear what nurses have to say)

Then check out the Nursing Voices Forum!

Hey Nurses! if ya got the time, also check out NursingJobs.org to find that dream position you've been waiting for. OR... Maybe....just to tweak your resume, check out a great deal on Danskos, or just read a good article. I checked out this site in great detail when I decided to leave the Hospital.

I do love the forum, it's picking up steam with posts and I haven't been apart of something like that since shortly after Mike died. Then...I was a regular on a young widows site. I felt I had to move on from there. No Reason to do that at Nursing Voices though! Great group of gals over there, lots who are fellow bloggers as well.

If you decide to register and join, please tell em Jo over at Coffee and Conversation sent ya!

(Yeah...there's sorta a contest goin on....shameless maybe.....but the prize is an iPhone! Oh and a second iPhone will be awarded to the person who registers and says I referred them IF I win....sweet! )

Patriot day- 6 years

I went back a year and read again my post from last year paying tribute to one man lost at the WTC on 9/11. It's one of my better posts and I thought I would repost it again.......to remember.


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From 9/11/2006:
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When I volunteered to write with 2996 on Sept 11, I had no idea how difficult it would be. I researched my assigned person, Gregory T. Spagnoletti for weeks. I found out a little bit about this man who suffered a terrible fate when the World Trade Center was attacked and collapsed in NY city.

I think the best way to pay tribute to him is to share with you what I found out.


He had a great smile.


His friends called him "Greg" or "Spags".

He worked for Keefe, Bruyette, and Woods as a Bond Salesman.

He was the 3rd Brother of Four.

They were all big hockey Fans.

He organized hockey games at Chelsea Piers.

Out of the 4 Brothers, he was called the "responsible" one.

He was known for dropping in to have coffee with his tailor.

He was engaged to be married to Gretchen Zurn.

They had just fixed up their new Apartment on West 72nd st, and he was very proud of it. His family said it would take him 45 minutes to give you the tour of all 1200 sq. feet.

His parents started the Gregory T. Spagnoletti Memorial Foundation. You can donate to it by sending to:
Gregory T. Spagnoletti Memorial Foundation
62 Wolff Street
Waterbury, CT 06708

But the biggest thing I found out about Greg was that this man was definitely loved. He is definitely missed.

He like all Americans had no idea as he got up and went to work 5 years ago that America was going to change that day. He had no idea that those 2 towers, which have represented the NYC skyline for 30 years, could ever possibly be brought down by terrorists. Those Towers would become his tomb. He was on the 89th floor of the South Tower when it went down. It took officials almost 2 years to identify some remains and return them to his family for burial.

Greg,
Five years ago I can say I was thinking about you as I watch the towers collapse on TV. But mostly I was thinking about Gretchen and the future she had lost with you. I was thinking about the children she would never have with you. I knew you were in a better place but I knew all too well the horrible place your loved ones were in. I prayed that God be with them on that day. I want you to know that America won't forget what happened what happened to you and 2995 other innocent people.

To my readers,

Please visit 2996 to find links to 2996 bloggers who have paid tributes to the victims of 9/11.

Crazy Friday

Friday was crazy and interesting. When I got to work, the first thing I noticed was all the doors are open.

They were open because the AC broke. Knowing the high that day was gonna be in the mid 90s, and how irritable I get when I'm hot, it was not a good start.

Arriving at my desk, my boss informs me that the other nurse was sick and that I will be running treatments and not Triage as usual.

I've gotten comfortable with Triage...I trained more with that. Treatments I've only trained 2 1/2 days for.

Luckily, the nurse I'm replacing (she left the position to go part-time float for school) was able to fill in for triage and was there to answer any questions that might pop up.

Things got sticky when my Doctor ordered an injection for a patient and I had no idea where we kept the supplies or drugs. At the same time I had 4 people in our waiting room waiting to be shown to a room (a lot for us). Prior Nurse saved me there too, she showed me where the supplies were and offered to give the shot while I got the patients into rooms.

At least I know I can do it now, and I'll be more comfortable next time.....but talk about being thrown to wolves.

And the AC was fixed by 10am....which was nice.

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Ari's having some real anxiety with first grade. Once this week while dropping her off, she refused to get out of the car. I had to park and coax her out, walk her to class. The next few days she was sick, with one day she was actually....really sick (A sinus infection with psuedo-pinkeye...the eye I think was irritation from the sinuses). The other days I think she was milking it.

I asked her what was wrong with school, she says that it's boring and not as much fun. That they are working too hard.

I kind of expected this shock with 1st grade, it's not Kindergarten fun anymore. I just didn't think she'd be so stubborn about it.

She's trying to convince me to be a stay at home mom and home school her. Not gonna happen.

Mike

I've decided since I won't be writing about anonymous patients anymore that it would be generally safe to post pictures of me here.

This pic is from a happy time...we were young, healthy (way thinner), and happy. 1995... Just about to get married so that the Air Force would ship me where ever he was stationed. Which turned out to be right next door in icky, yucky, smelly Shreveport,LA.

It'll be 6 years since he died...tomorrow. I still think about him everyday.

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