The Tale (or two) of Kelly as the 2nd Unit Director
A new month is underway! As of yesterday I've been at my job for 3 weeks!!! It has been crazy, stressful, frustrating and hectic at times. Yet despite all of that, I'm still standing upright. The positives I have received far outweigh any crap that has hit the fan. Yesterday I was at Barnes and Noble when I ran into somebody I worked with. We talked about our days we've worked and she said she was looking forward to working with me next weekend. I'm serious. It's really the little things that really uplift me in this field I work in.
I've learned in the past four days that I have worked so much about me not only as a nurse but as a person. Last weekend, this past Thursday and Friday I've had the opportunity to become the charge nurse for the unit. This has been because our patient census has been really REALLY low in those past four days and the policy is that for a census of less than 10 only 2 staff are needed (one nurse and one tech). Anyway, since our census has been so low for the past four nights it's only been me and the assigned tech for the day. And let me tell you this has probably been one of the best group of patients I've had thus far. Everyone is friendly, energetic, willing to participate, engaging and best of all they're totally happy fending for themselves. Now what I mean by that is in the past sometimes I've had patients come up to the nurse's station every few seconds saying "I'm bored" or "I need something to do." Not that I mind meeting those needs as they come up, but sometimes it's nice to just not have to hear someone asking if they can do this/that every 2.5 seconds. But this group, they're playing games, talking, watching movies on TV or whatever. I'm a firm believer of making your own fun. But they also participate in group, they're nice to each other and to us staff. In those four days I only had to do one admission, which is not bad at all...again, just a lot of paperwork.
On Friday night, we were talking to one patient and we were just shooting the breeze about school and past teachers. At the end of our conversation she mentioned she liked the tech, then she looked at me and said "I like you too, Miss Kelly." You know, especially in my field, I never expect to hear anything like that. I don't expect much, and I'm not trying to say that in a negative way. But these patients I encounter have gone/going through some of the most unimaginable circumstances. There are those who let that chip on their shoulder stay there, and no matter what you say or do nothing makes them happy. They come to my unit either because they have to or else...I don't know. They eat, sleep, smoke and aren't engaged in groups or don't even go. I've encountered many patients like that. Then 2-3 weeks later, they're back and the cycle repeats. Then there are other patients who sometimes get on your nerves, can't remember your name to save your life yet say their pleases and thank-yous when you answer their many questions, even if you just answered the same question 5 minutes prior. Then there are those who know they need to be there, are involved in group, ask questions, take initiative and every day you see them get a little bit better. And those are the ones you won't see walk through the doors again. That's my job. It's what I do.
Sometimes certain patients get to you more than others, or at least they do for me. When I'm on my break or when I'm driving home, sometimes I think about those patients and the others I cared for that day. I ask myself "did I do something to make them feel better today or at any given moment, whether giving them a medicine or a smile?" With every patient I see, I always ask them how they're doing, whether I see them at the med door or in the hallway. You know, I have so many people who tell me "oh my gosh I could never be a nurse." I shrug and say yeah. Yeah. Anybody could do what I do. When you get past the technical skills and the copious schooling that adds up, all you do is love on people. And if you're a Christian, heck, you get PAID to do what we are called as disciples to do! That's one thing I don't really get to interact as much with the patients as opposed to being the med nurse. Yet on Friday night, me, 4 patients on the unit and the tech I work with (who is awesome!!!!!!!) were sitting in the common area watching a movie. I think we were watching Shallow Hal. We were just laughing, talking and being real with each other. It's not only therapeutic for them, but I think it is for us staff as well. You can get burned out in a job if you let it. Even in my shoes, I still haven't felt too burned out yet (blame the paperwork for the burnout).
I've learned in the past four days that I have worked so much about me not only as a nurse but as a person. Last weekend, this past Thursday and Friday I've had the opportunity to become the charge nurse for the unit. This has been because our patient census has been really REALLY low in those past four days and the policy is that for a census of less than 10 only 2 staff are needed (one nurse and one tech). Anyway, since our census has been so low for the past four nights it's only been me and the assigned tech for the day. And let me tell you this has probably been one of the best group of patients I've had thus far. Everyone is friendly, energetic, willing to participate, engaging and best of all they're totally happy fending for themselves. Now what I mean by that is in the past sometimes I've had patients come up to the nurse's station every few seconds saying "I'm bored" or "I need something to do." Not that I mind meeting those needs as they come up, but sometimes it's nice to just not have to hear someone asking if they can do this/that every 2.5 seconds. But this group, they're playing games, talking, watching movies on TV or whatever. I'm a firm believer of making your own fun. But they also participate in group, they're nice to each other and to us staff. In those four days I only had to do one admission, which is not bad at all...again, just a lot of paperwork.
On Friday night, we were talking to one patient and we were just shooting the breeze about school and past teachers. At the end of our conversation she mentioned she liked the tech, then she looked at me and said "I like you too, Miss Kelly." You know, especially in my field, I never expect to hear anything like that. I don't expect much, and I'm not trying to say that in a negative way. But these patients I encounter have gone/going through some of the most unimaginable circumstances. There are those who let that chip on their shoulder stay there, and no matter what you say or do nothing makes them happy. They come to my unit either because they have to or else...I don't know. They eat, sleep, smoke and aren't engaged in groups or don't even go. I've encountered many patients like that. Then 2-3 weeks later, they're back and the cycle repeats. Then there are other patients who sometimes get on your nerves, can't remember your name to save your life yet say their pleases and thank-yous when you answer their many questions, even if you just answered the same question 5 minutes prior. Then there are those who know they need to be there, are involved in group, ask questions, take initiative and every day you see them get a little bit better. And those are the ones you won't see walk through the doors again. That's my job. It's what I do.
Sometimes certain patients get to you more than others, or at least they do for me. When I'm on my break or when I'm driving home, sometimes I think about those patients and the others I cared for that day. I ask myself "did I do something to make them feel better today or at any given moment, whether giving them a medicine or a smile?" With every patient I see, I always ask them how they're doing, whether I see them at the med door or in the hallway. You know, I have so many people who tell me "oh my gosh I could never be a nurse." I shrug and say yeah. Yeah. Anybody could do what I do. When you get past the technical skills and the copious schooling that adds up, all you do is love on people. And if you're a Christian, heck, you get PAID to do what we are called as disciples to do! That's one thing I don't really get to interact as much with the patients as opposed to being the med nurse. Yet on Friday night, me, 4 patients on the unit and the tech I work with (who is awesome!!!!!!!) were sitting in the common area watching a movie. I think we were watching Shallow Hal. We were just laughing, talking and being real with each other. It's not only therapeutic for them, but I think it is for us staff as well. You can get burned out in a job if you let it. Even in my shoes, I still haven't felt too burned out yet (blame the paperwork for the burnout).
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