Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Uh, yeah. So it looks like I'll be blasted out of my skull on Lortab for the rest of the week...

...and thus won't be doing any nursing to speak of. Unless you consider shoving ramen noodles and icee-pops down my gullet "nursing".

Therefore, it's once-in-a-blogtime offer time! You got any subjects you'd like me to cover? Any questions you want answered? Any arcane subjects on which you need tips? Leave suggestions in the comments, or email me, and I'll be happy to apply my wonked-out brain to 'em.

PS: Don't, please, ask me when I wrote a particular post. Honestly, I don't recall when I did things, and you'd probably be much more efficient than I am at browsing through the archives. Especially right now.

24 comments:

Loki said...

Tell us about your first crush!

Alternatively, regale the story of the longest time you've gone without any sleep.


I'm glad to see you're still blogging. You're a constant feature of my reading and an inspiration that adds to the motivational fuel to finish nursing school and get into the field. <3

Homemaker Man said...

Worst hangover ever. Preferably one you had on work day.

Worst day of doubt you had about your ability to become a nurse.

Best day you had early on when you realized you could do the sh*t out of your job.

Cartoon Characters said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kathy Rogers said...

Probably a good week for being blasted out of your skull anyway.

Good luck.

Celeste said...

I like family recipe stories, love stories, and dirty jokes. Basically anything uplifting.

Anonymous said...

Since you are smart and insightful, I'd like you to explain why piles of mail and assorted paper on the kitchen counter grow exponentially, and why scientists cannot harness the phenomenon to cure cancer.

Crazed Nitwit said...

Tell us about your very first days as a newbie nurse! Hope you feel better soon!!!!

Anonymous said...

Most embarrassing date in high school (or college). Most embarrassing outfit you ever wore. Worst and best meals you ever ate. Best car you ever owned. Worst car (probably more interesting) you ever owned. Worst prank you ever pulled as a child.

Penny Mitchell said...

This is SO not fun, but I want to discuss it anyway. It's getting to be crunch time for me, and I'm going to have to decide if I'm going to A.) stick with my tenuous career and pray I make it to retirement, or B.) cash out my 401(k) cry and cry for days over how much money I lost out of it and use the scant balance so that I can quit work and go to nursing school.

There are NO jobs for new grads in the Denver area. NONE. Are there jobs for new grads elsewhere? WILL there be jobs for new grads in two years?

Discuss. Please. I need all the input I can get.

Anonymous said...

How are you dealing with being the one on the other side of the bedrails, metaphorically? (I was a real PIA of a patient, to the point after the fourth or fifth surgery in 18 months I signed myself out AMA--of my own hospital!)

Why are cats SO much better as pets than dogs?

If you could write a letter to all the drug seekers and mailingers you have had as patients, no holds bar, what would it say?

You can have one day in your past to live over...tell us about it?

NEVER ask an instructor for questions!! :-)

ps--stay ahead of the pain, not trying to play catch-up with it. Drugs can be very, very good.

pps...give yourself 30 minutes a day to worry and "what if". If it ain't "worry myself sick" time, then find something funny to watch or do.

ppps---get better.


Pattie, RN

Anonymous said...

Icepops sound a great idea. Would frozen grapes be any good for you?

Animal stories, tales of the bizarre and food/drink suggestions (if that's not too tortuous in your non-eating mode) are possible interesting topice for an ask-Jo week. Am I right in remembering that you like Belgian beer? How did you get to try it out for the first time? I still remember my first Kriek (cherry beer) - something that should be totally repulsive, but somehow works... particularly on a canal terrace during a rare sunny day in Ghent.

Sending you lots of good thoughts,
Pixi

Birdie23 said...

Glad most of capt. lumpy is gone!Sorry eating is a challage, Got drugs?...love reading your post, more info on the animals.

Elsie said...

I'm curious about why you did not want the propofol during your procedure. I remember your making a comment about being responsible for your own airway ... does propofol automatically mean intubation? I ask because intubation is one of those things I never ever ever want to have to experience. Irrational fear on my part? Maybe.

My other question stems from the fact that I, too, am a natural redhead and have been putting off a dental surgery (something about fixing receding gums by harvesting material from my soft palate -- ew) because of my low tolerance for pain. As a redhead, do you also have a low tolerance for pain? Or am I just a delicate flower?!

Thanks so much for continuing to post during your week of healing and waiting for results!!

messymimi said...

Continue nursing yourself back to health.

Meanwhile, any further plans for redecorating?

Anonymous said...

Penny - if you take out the money from your 401K to pay for education expenses you are only taxed as if it was income. you do not pay any additionaly crazy fees. That is how I am paying for nursing school (and my past career was as an accountant).

Jo - sending you lots of good vibes...

Robert said...

How can a graduate nurse present themselves so that a nurse manager would look past other candidates with experience when hiring?

Katie said...

Is it possible to be a good nurse manager? And if so, HOW? (praying for you) (please answer)

Lori said...

How do you get along with difficult coworkers?

pita said...

Elsie, my sister and i both had that same surgery. We too are natural red heads. i didn't have pain issues unless i didn't wear the plate they gave me to wear after wards to protect the roof of my mouth. my sister on the other hand had pain where the tissue was grafted to. the surgery itself was ok. they did give me valium to take before hand and though they didn't knock me out, they did give me something to make me loopy i just can't remember what. i think i only had to take the pain killers the day of and the day after. After that otc meds were enough.

Earl said...

I liked your stories about those crazy bastards you worked with on night shift. More. More.

btw, good luck.

Elsie said...

Ooh! Thanks, pita! Always good to hear of others' experiences. Appreciate it!!

Katie said...

Glad to hear the Cap'n is out anyway and hope you are feeling better. I've been reading your blog for a while now and really like it, especially hearing about your animals, neighbors, and experiences with the new unit. Enjoy your Ramen and keep us posted!

Dr. Alice said...

Recipes. I'm a sucker for those. Do you cook in bulk and freeze? Any recipe you swear by for basic stuff like chili, soup, pasta sauce or just your favorite would be great. Family stories, reminiscences and dog pics would also be great.

Brian said...

What do smart nurses do when their feet hurt?

My school is experimenting with twelve-hour shifts for some clinicals. I just finished my first two twelves, and despite good shoes and insoles, my heels are pretty sore. I wondered if you had any tricks or suggestions besides NSAIDs and rest.